In the 41st millennium, there is only war and now that war has stretched across the furthest reaches of space. From BigBen and NeoCore Games comes Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor – Martyr, a deep and involving Action-RPG that tasks player with defeating the darkest enemies of the Galaxy. Despite a rough interpretation on consoles, it is a fantastic and engaging action experience that is great for players, regardless of their familiarity with Warhammer.
The Imperium of Man wages an unending battle against the forces of evil across the entire Galaxy. There are many enemies that threaten the Imperium of Man. Orcs, mutants, Chaos Marines, reborn forces, and armed dissidents. To protect the Imperium of Man, the Emperor creates a conclave, filled with the Emperor’s best forces. Those that enter this conclave are sworn to a life of secrecy. They are genetically and mechanically augmented, with mental and physical forms changed. For their allegiance, they are given a ship, a support team, and access to the best combat equipment that the Imperium can muster. For those that take the oath, they embrace one of the most honorable roles of humankind: An Inquisitor.
In Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor – Martyr you play as an Inquisitor tasked with fighting an unending battle against the most dangerous enemies that threaten the Imperium of Man. Players will go through numerous missions, both secondary missions and primary missions, all in an effort to protect mankind. Players are given a vessel that will take them across the galaxy to various star systems. Initially, the ship will be barebones, but inevitably, players will be able to add new crew members to construct new weapons, enhance abilities, and join other inquisitors on various missions online.
Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor – Martyr gives players plenty of choices. Players can choose one of the three classes: The Crusader, the assassin, and the psyker. Crusader is a tank, using a variety of ranged and close-range weapons to slay foes. The assassin relies on long-range weapons and stealth to infiltrate hostile territories. Finally, the psyker uses telekinetic abilities to channel dark energies and smite foes with powers, not of this universe. For me, I fight like a warrior, getting into the grit of combat with various weapons and explosives. The Crusader class was for me.
For any veterans of Diablo III, a well-respected action RPG, this game plays in the same way but is set within a rich sci-fi universe. Players will have different actions and abilities tethered to both their class and the equipment they take. Some moves have more cooldown than others and each weapon will have its own capabilities to consider. For my character, I typically carried a two-handed weapon, such as the greatsword, and also dual wielded weapons, such as the auto pistol, and the laser pistol. Other weapons included plasma rifles, shotguns, chain sword, bolt rifles, and shields. Each weapon set is different, depending on your class.
Fighting the vicious enemies of the Imperium is challenging, but a lot of fun! There is never a dull moment as all sorts of twisted creatures and soldiers aggressively attack the player. Each enemy has their own attack patterns, and abilities as well, keeping the player on their feet the entire time. This is most notable with larger boss-like enemies that will require quick reflexes and strategy to successfully defeat. Being able to crush enemies with impunity with a Mars Grenade Launcher, and utilize a plasma pistol to vaporize unfortunate foes is thrilling, as players will feel like a one-man army.
One of the Inquisitor’s biggest strengths is it’s large, procedurally generated galaxy, where dozens of missions are readily available for players to embark on. As players level up and gain new equipment, their battle rating increases. This will determine your combat ability, as well as your efficiency in missions. If your character is at a battle-rating of 300, and the mission you are embarking on is at 285, your outcome of success for this mission is high. If the rating is higher, you may possibly survive the mission, but the higher the rating, the more dangerous the mission.
From assassinations to escort to purging, there is a large list of missions to take on in Warhammer 40: Inquisitor: Martyr. Each one, when successful, is immensely satisfying. Players will also be able to to take the fight online with changing assignments, weekly goals, and being able to fight the enemies of mankind with other players. This is a game that constantly rewards the players each time they play.
Perhaps my only grievance with Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor – Martyr is its console presentation. While some may think that the PC version is the best version of any multi-platform game, the PS4 version is rough around the edges and could have been better. The PC version will have a higher framerate, details, and depth while the PS4 version had to be tuned to a degree. The game runs at a solid 30 frames per second, but it can slow down when the action gets intense.
That being said, the game is still visually sharp, but there can be stutters and a lack of syncing in cutscenes. Still, the game is a solid port to the system and is much more than functional. Bringing games that are normally designed for a keyboard & mouse can be a challenge, but NeoCore games were greatly successful in doing this. As of now, the game continues to be updated, bettering the overall experience.
Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor – Martyr is an engrossing and fun action game. The gameplay kept me coming back almost daily, even now, and the fascinating universe to which the game takes place in will definitely intrigue curious players looking for a change of scenery from today’s action games. Each moment was rewarding and captivating, and it kept me wanting to come back for more. There is no better time to honor mankind.
For the Emperor!