DESCRIPTION

You are a space marine commander of an elite fighting squad called the Terminators, a specialized unit that is part of the Blood Angels chapter of the Imperium. Under the guidance of the Emperor, the Imperium has been able to gradually expand across the galaxy using Warp Drive technology. This invention has revolutionized space travel, allowing for great distances to be covered in a matter of hours.

Of course, there is a downside to expanding one's territory in the 41st millennium: alien hostility. Various dangers now threaten the livelihood of mankind. Your mission? To eradicate man's greatest foe: the Genestealers, a purple-skinned race with razor-sharp teeth and six limbs. Since they reproduce by finding other races to serve as hosts, they are an aggressive threat that must be stopped at all costs. The plan calls for intercepting their ships known as Space Hulks, before they can infest an unsuspecting planet.

Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels is a part tactical strategy and part first-person shooter. You must embark on a campaign to board a Space Hulk and eliminate its deadly cargo. While you begin the game as a rookie, you will eventually command a team of your own, issuing orders on the overhead tactical screen to carry out the mission at hand. Once finished, the game will switch to a first-person perspective looking through the visor of your Tactical Dreadnought armor.

Missions range from sealing off doors to prevent Genestealers from escaping to placing explosive charges in key sectors, or carrying specific objects from one part of the ship to another. You'll also have to be on the lookout and protect your team from five types of enemies: pure-strain Genestealers, Hybrids, Magi, Patriarchs and Chaos Space Marines. Should any member of your squad perish, you'll have to continue the next mission shorthanded!

Ten different weapons range from Assault Cannons to Lightning Claws, although some have limited amounts of firepower (Heavy Flamers, Grenade Launchers and Assault Cannons). Seek out objects to replenish your arsenal and you might have a fighting chance against the Genestealers! If you need to take a breather, memory card support (one block) allows you to save campaign progress and statistics such as completion time and number of kills for each mission.

Four game modes await budding space marines, including Space Hulk Originals (missions from the original tabletop game), Classic Missions (missions from Electronic Arts' 1993 Space Hulk game for the PC), Training (four missions designed to accustom you to the controls) and Famous Missions (where you step into the boots of former Terminators to relive past battles). This title is based on British company Games Workshop Ltd.'s tabletop strategy game of the same name, set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide