Software:Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command

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Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command
Warhammer 40,000 - Squad Command Coverart.png
Developer(s)Ubisoft RedLynx
Publisher(s)THQ
Producer(s)Miika Tams
Designer(s)Leo Kihlman
Programmer(s)Sebastian Aaltonen
Artist(s)Antti Ilvessuo
Ville Anttonen
Composer(s)Jarno Sarkula
SeriesWarhammer 40,000
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
ReleasePSP
  • NA: November 12, 2007
  • EU: November 23, 2007
  • AU: November 29, 2007
DS
  • AU: December 6, 2007
  • EU: December 7, 2007
  • NA: December 17, 2007
Genre(s)Turn-based tactics[1]
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command is a turn-based tactics game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, released in 2007 for the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. It was developed by Ubisoft RedLynx. The game features three Space Marine Chapters pitted against three Legions of Chaos (two and two for the DS) battling it out on the planet of Ruhr III. The game features units from the tabletop wargame.

Gameplay

Single player

The single-player campaign follows the Imperium's Ultramarines over the course of 15 missions as they fend off an incursion by the Word Bearers Legion of Chaos marines on the planet Ruhr III.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer function can support up to eight players on local wireless connection or globally via Wi-Fi. There are nine different maps and players choose between three Space Marine chapters or three Chaos Legions to side with and battle against.

The DS version has a versus download play option, featuring four different chapters to choose from.

Features

Squad Command uses a turn-based gameplay system to mimic the play of the tabletop wargame. It features destructible 3D environments and over 20 weapons.

Squad Command uses Hit Points (HP) and Action Points (AP). Hit Points are used to calculate damage to a unit. When a unit's HP is reduced to zero they are removed from the battle as a casualty. Action Points represent the time a unit has to act in a round, and are expended when the unit moves or uses a weapon. Movement uses up varying amounts of AP depending on the distance moved, whereas weapons have a minimum amount allowable. The player can use more APs to aim a shot to increase accuracy. This is depicted by a band of fluctuating color, which tightens and darkens as more APs are spent. Terrain is destructible, allowing for sufficiently powerful weapons to destroy an object and simultaneously damage enemies taking cover behind it.

If a unit ends its turn with enough AP to fire their weapon they enter "Overwatch" mode during the enemy's turn. In Overwatch the first enemy unit that enters the Overwatch unit's line-of-sight is fired upon.

Some heavy weapons lower the amount of AP a unit may use in a turn, to simulate their weight and complexity.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DSPSP
1Up.comC+[4]B−[5]
Eurogamer7/10[6]7/10[7]
Game InformerN/A7.5/10[8]
GameProN/A4/5 stars[9]
GameSpot4.5/10[10]6.5/10[11]
GameSpyN/A3/5 stars[12]
GameZone5.8/10[13]N/A
Hardcore Gamer1.25/5[14]N/A
IGN4.5/10[15]5.4/10[16]
Nintendo Power8/10[17]N/A
OPM (UK)N/A6/10[18][19]
Pocket GamerN/A3.5/5 stars[20]
Aggregate score
Metacritic57/100[2]67/100[3]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2][3] Eurogamer said of the PSP version: "It could and should achieve so much more - but frankly it achieves enough by making a specialist subject matter and a specialist genre as fun and accessible as it does."[7]

References

  1. Erickson, Tracy (July 19, 2007). "Hands on with Warhammer 40k: Squad Command on DS". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/warhammer-40-000-squad-command/hands-on-with-warhammer-40k-squad-command-on-ds/. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command for DS Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/warhammer-40-000-squad-command/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command for PSP Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/warhammer-40-000-squad-command/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. 
  4. Gallegos, Anthony (December 10, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (NintendoDS)". Ziff Davis. http://www.1up.com/reviews/warhammer-40000-sq. 
  5. Gallegos, Anthony (December 10, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". Ziff Davis. http://www.1up.com/reviews/wh40k-squad-command. 
  6. Lyon, James (January 2, 2008). "DS Roundup". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-dsroundup-020108. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Meer, Alec (November 27, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/warhammer-40-000-squad-command-review. 
  8. Biessener, Adam (January 2008). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". Game Informer (GameStop) (177). http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/B81240F9-5163-4A14-9656-BC446D7FA6DF.htm. Retrieved May 5, 2023. 
  9. Kim, Tae K. (December 4, 2007). "Review: Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/reviews/151348.shtml. Retrieved May 5, 2023. 
  10. Todd, Brett (February 6, 2008). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command Review (DS)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/warhammer-40000-squad-command-review/1900-6185681/. 
  11. Todd, Brett (November 21, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command Review (PSP)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/warhammer-40000-squad-command-review/1900-6183245/. 
  12. Joynt, Patrick (December 4, 2007). "GameSpy: Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". IGN Entertainment. http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/warhammer-40k-squad-command/839466p1.html. 
  13. David, Mike (January 4, 2008). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command – NDS – Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/warhammer_40_000_squad_command_nds_review/. 
  14. Venter, Jason "HonestGamer"; Peeples, Jeremy (April 2008). "Review: Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (DS)". Hardcore Gamer (Prima Games) 3 (10). https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-warhammer-40000-squad-command/30701/. Retrieved May 5, 2023. 
  15. Clements, Ryan (December 18, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command Review (NDS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/18/warhammer-40000-squad-command-review. 
  16. Clements, Ryan (November 16, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command Review (PSP)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/17/warhammer-40000-squad-command-review-2. 
  17. "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command". Nintendo Power (Future US) 224: 87. January 2008. 
  18. "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc): 112. January 2008. 
  19. "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command". Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine (Future plc) (96): 107. March 2008. 
  20. Hearn, Rob (December 10, 2007). "Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (PSP)". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/warhammer-40-000-squad-command/warhammer-40-000-squad-command/. 
  • White Dwarf issue 335

External links