Warhammer: Chaosbane Is Coming To Scratch That Diablo Itch
We know that the Nintendo Switch is getting its own Warhammer game, However, other consoles are not going to be left out. Bigben and Eko Software are announcing that preorders of Warhammer: Chaosbane are now available on Xbox Store and on the PS Store, ahead of its June 4th release!
The first hack and slash to take place in the Warhammer Fantasy Battles world, Warhammer: Chaosbane plunges the player into the heart of the Old World, a continent marked by the Great War Against Chaos, a bloody conflict which ravaged the Empire of men. They will embody a human, a high elf, a wood elf, or a dwarf, and discover the iconic locations of the Warhammer Fantasy Battles universe
And if game descriptions are any indication, we might be getting a Diablo-like experience we’ve been clamoring for.
Preorder Warhammer: Chaosbane, Dominate In The Beta
Players can preorder Warhammer: Chaosbane for the PlayStation and Xbox One prior to its June 4 release. You preorder the game in any of these retailer near you, or via the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store. This allows you to be prepared for two (2) upcoming beta phases, both of which will remain accessible to preorder players.
According to folks from Bigben and Eko Software, preorder players will receive a permanent experience bonus for their characters’ progression. They will also receive four (4) legendary crates.
Preorder players can get the exclusive opportunity to explore the beginning of Chaosbane’s campaign in the two (2) beta phases. This gives them the chance to test the different synergies of the available classes in coming cooperative modes. Bigben and Eko Software will be providing more details on the dates and the content of these phases, which will occur in March and in April. So far, what we know are the following:
- Players can experience the First Act of the game.
- Fans can try out the Human and Elf characters.
- Beta players can try out cooperative multiplayer features, either locally or online.
Chaosbane: The First Hack-and-Slash Warhammer Fantasy Title
Warhammer: Chaosbane will serve as our first look into a hack-and-slash title set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the game allows players of four (4) characters to team up and decimate the forces of Chaos. The game takes place in what’s called the Old World, a continent affected by the Great War Against Chaos. In this harsh continent, forces of Chaos prevail. And it’s up to the player and their friends to help restore order to the conflict-infested land.
The game offers both offline and online elements, allowing players to either team up with AI or with friends. The four-person squads will be composed of characters based on a human, a high elf, a wood elf, or a dwarf. This setup bears a lot of resemblance to other cooperative shooters such as Left 4 Dead and Evolve.
Unlike the aforementioned titles, Chaosbane offers players an edge against the harsh armies of chaos: Bloodlust. This unique mechanic allows players to let loose devastating sets of powers that can definitely give them an edge in every match. Players need to charge their Bloodlust meters using red orbs collected from enemies. Bloodlust affords players the opportunity to unleash different skills against enemies that would otherwise overwhelm them.
Bloodlust abilities, and strategic options in general, depend on the character of your choice.
A Diablo Experience We Might Need
Recent announcements indicate we might be ways off another Diablo game. This saddened fans, especially those who still play Diablo 3. And more especially for those who still enjoy Diablo 2. One can’t deny the impact the series had in terms of transforming isometric perspectives into entertaining hack and slash experiences.
However, Chaosbane appears to hold potential in this regard as well. Granted, we’re still absorbing what’s happening in the beta experiences. However, the game does appear to offer a similar experience to the aforementioned hit franchise.
Is this such a bad thing? Not exactly – dark fantasy settings aren’t exactly always unique with one another. Chaosbane deviates thematically from Diablo in terms of its setting. Both games do feature grim and dark scenarios, but Chaosbane offers dark fantasy compared to the Gothic atmosphere from Diablo titles.
The Four Heroes: Restoring Order To The Realm
Chaosbane offers a unique cooperative experience that’s yet to be seen in any Warhammer Fantasy video game. Granted, Warhammer Online perhaps served as the most “definitive” Warhammer Fantasy experience for fans, but Chaosbane amps up the action to 1000-percent. The game appears to have a story as well, experienced through the eyes of four (4) characters. We know what races the characters will be, but only one character has been revealed so far:
- Bragi Axebiter ravages the battlefield as a hand-to-hand expert. He’s a dwarf Slayer, which means he specializes in demolishing enemies in close combat. Bragi vows tocleanse his honor by dying in combat against a formidable adversary, a trait befitting his combat style. The Slayer has a high degree of mobility that makes him an asset to deal with huge enemy forces. Bragi’s special ability allows him to throw his axe and launch himself at whatever the axe hits. However, this also allows Bragi to deal deadly blows to his opponent before jumping to another target. His worship of Grimnir, the Slayer’s ancestral god, allows him to access a unique skill tree of various spells.
Warhammer Fantasy Battles: Swords, Axes, Clash In Dynamic Four-Way Alliances
Fans of Warhammer will likely recognize the franchise for its grimdark futuristic Warhammer 40K wargame. And while this definitely made its mark in the hearts of a lot of gamers (glory to the God Emperor!), Warhammer Fantasy does have its own appeal.
Like WH40K, Warhammer Fantasy takes place in a universe where mankind isn’t exactly as “alone” as they thought. Elves, dwarves, orcs, lizardmen, undead, and other races exist across a myriad of alliances, intentions, and conflicts. And similar to its futuristic counterpart, Warhammer Fantasy allows players to remake battles based on official lore and their own stories.
In the case of Warhammer: Chaosbane, creators of the franchise bring Warhammer Fantasy to a more contained and action-oriented perspective. This also lies in stark contrast with Warhammer: Age of Sigmar – Champions, which serves as the collectible card game “translation” of the fantasy line.
Players will likely appreciate the depth of flavor the game offers with the races and factions surrounding its fantasy setting. Elves and dwarves remain conflicted internally and with each other, but forces of Chaos, Order, Death, and Life also clash in terms of principles and goals. Fans and enthusiasts looking for a new tabletop experience will likely find an immersive universe with Warhammer Fantasy. And in turn, Warhammer: Chaosbane may likely fulfill this need as well.
Players can dominate the battlefield in Warhammer: Chaosbane this June 4, 2019 on the PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Owners of the Magnus Edition can play much earlier, with the game releasing on their end on May 31.
