TheWarhammer 40,000franchise has had its fair share of games over the last three decades or so, and while there’s been some pretty great experiences, none have ever managed to surpass the 2004 classicWarhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.Dawn of Waruses its real-time strategy perspective to its maximum potential, givingWarhammerfans a range of iconic units, and integratingcomplex upgrade systems and RTS elementsto capture the essence of the tabletop game perfectly, while also providing an experience that’s accessible for newcomers.
However, despite all of its deep mechanics and engaging world-building,Dawn of Waris almost 20 years old, and it’s starting to show its age. While enhanced editions of the game exist, helping the older game to run on modern hardware, installing mods successfully can be a little tricky, and even at its highest settings,Dawn of Waris no visual treat. With theannouncement of a newSpace Marinegame, and with more people than ever taking up the hobby, it’s the perfect time for aWarhammer 40K:Dawn of Warremake.
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A Grim-Dark Visual Overhaul
When revisitingDawn of Wartoday, players are likely to notice the general graphics of the game first, as that’s the aspect that hasn’t aged as gracefully as the rest of the game. The game has some muddy and unclear textures, and unit models can be a little pixelated.
ADawn of Warremake would be able to fix this problem with absolute ease, using the latest engines to provide a top-tier level of graphical fidelity. A potentialDawn of Warremake could use Creative Assembly’s Warscape engine, for instance, that’s been used fortheTotal War: Warhammerseriesof strategy games. While it isn’t a perfect graphics engine, Warscape would be able to provide a decent level of graphical fidelity and crispness to aDawn of Warremake, giving it that grim-dark visual style that is so vital to theWarhammer 40Kuniverse.
ADawn of Warremake doesn’t need to be the most visually stunning game around, but it would help to draw in new players if the game at least looked like a modern RTS. The “Army Painter” customization feature could also do with a bit of an overhaul, giving players a range of new customization options based on the vast array of factions that the 40K universe boasts. Rather than justallowing the player to paint their units, aDawn of Warremake could allow players to kit-bash their units, changing up their visual appearance and swapping out armor pieces and gear.
There’s 18 Years' Worth of Units to Add
The originalDawn of Warhas a pretty solid selection of units for each faction, with the game’s subsequent expansion packs adding even more. And whileDawn of War’s decent range ofinfantry, vehicle, and air unitsrivals even some modern strategy games, aDawn of Warremake could go one step further, and introduce even more units to the game.
Since its release in 2004, Games Workshop have added countless more units and unit types to the tabletopWarhammer 40Kgame. ADawn of Warremake, therefore, would have no shortage of inspiration to draw from. The Ork faction could have sub-factions that include recent models like the Beast Snaggas, and theSpace Marines could include the new Primaris unitslike the Eradicators and the Bladeguard Veterans. On the vehicle front, the Adeptus Custodes' hover bikes could be introduced into the game, along with the Grey Knights' Dreadknight mechs.
If aDawn of Warremake wanted to give a complete overhaul to how factions worked in the game, then it could emphasize the differences between each of the sub-factions a little more than just their visual appearance. For example, the remake could use the tabletop’s unique faction traits, likethe Salamander Chapter’s penchant for flame weapons, or the White Scars' fondness for rush tactics.
ADawn of Warremake could even take this one step further, and give each sub-faction a range of units that are wholly unique to them. The Space Wolves, for example, could have a range of cavalry units, whilethe Raven Guardcould have access to some unique stealth-based units. There’s a lot that a modern dayDawn of Warremake could add to the original experience.
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A Dawn of War Remake Should Integrate Mods
TheDawn of Warmodding community is still hard at work on adding new units, and factions to the game, along with tweaking its mechanics and lifting some limitations. This community has spent the last 18 years trying to make the game as perfect as it possibly can be, and their hard work should be recognized in any theoreticalWarhammer 40K:Dawn of Warremake.
Modding sites like Mod DB have tried to make modding simple and accessible for years, and now with even official storefronts likeSteam integrating their own modding workshop, it’s never been easier for a player to install mods into their favorite games in a quick, easy, and safe way. A newDawn of Warcould use these sites and tools to make accessing mods for the game even easier.
Better yet, aDawn of Warremake could actually integrate the original game’s most beloved mods from the get-go, building them in to the game inherently. The incredible “Ultimate Apocalypse” mod, for example, would immediately make aDawn of Warremake stand out from the original, withthe mod’s new factions, units, and the increased population cap adding a scale to the game that just wasn’t there in the original.
Mods that improve upon the original’s multiplayer component could also be integrated into the game from the start. The “DoWPro” mod is a perfect example,bringing new units and factions to the multiplayerof the game while still ensuring that the experience is balanced for all, with a particular focus on competitive skirmish matches.
