Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000

Last updated
Final Liberation
Warhammer40k FinalLiberation CoverArt.jpg
Developer(s) Holistic Design
Publisher(s) Strategic Simulations
Director(s) Andrew Greenberg
Ken Lightner
Producer(s) John Eberhardt
Programmer(s) Ken Lightner
Artist(s) Brian Mead
Composer(s) The Samsara Project
Series Warhammer 40,000
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
ReleaseNovember 20, 1997 [1]
Genre(s) Turn-based tactics
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Final Liberation is a turn-based tactics video game released for Microsoft Windows in 1997, and re-released on GOG.com in 2015. The game is best known as the first video game based on Epic , a table-top wargame set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, in an attempt to recreate the table-top experience on a computer as opposed to using it as a backdrop for games in other genres. As a result, the game borrows heavily in terms of rules and style from the table-top game, demanding a combination of luck and tactics necessary to succeed in game warfare.

Contents

Gameplay

The game features two modes, campaign and skirmish. In the campaign mode, the player works through a series of linked games to eradicate the Ork presence on the planet Volistad. The recruitment of new units has an experience point system attached, meaning newly recruited units are less effective than seasoned veterans. The campaign mode is only single-player, and only the Imperium of Man is available to the player. In the Skirmish mode, the player can set up a battle which pits the player against an array of computer or human-controlled opponents via a hot-seat mode, or network play over a local network or the Internet. Such battles can be played on maps ranging in size from vast to small.[ citation needed ] Unlike the campaign, Orks are fully playable in this mode.

Each battle in the game operates a turned based system where players carry out all actions for all of their available units, or where players take alternate turns acting with one unit at a time.

The campaign features a non-linear story line where the player controls the Imperial forces to liberate the planet of Volistad [2] from Ork raiders. The territory controlled at each stage determines the points available for the replacement and repair of units.

Unit and formation selection plays a large part of the campaign mode of the game. Both sides, the Orks and the Imperium, are presented with a wide variety of units. These units include a large selection of infantry, ground vehicles (tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and artillery) and aircraft drawn from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Winning certain maps gives access to specialist units such as superheavy tanks or Titans.

The game also includes live action cutscenes mixed with CGI.

Reception

PC Gamer US 's T. Liam McDonald wrote, "Final Liberation is a fun, tactically challenging game that faithfully captures the Warhammer system for the first time on PC." Although he criticized its graphics, he concluded that "computer gaming finally has a game worthy of the Warhammer name." [4] In Computer Gaming World , Tim Carter echoed McDonald's criticism of the graphics, calling Final Liberation "perhaps the ugliest game I have seen in ages." However, he enjoyed the game, and summarized, "Other than better graphics, what more could you ask for?" [3]

Phil Thé of Computer Games Strategy Plus felt that the game contained "quirks and idiosyncrasies", criticizing its artificial intelligence, interface and full motion video cutscenes. However, he concluded, "If you're a 40K fan, you're probably going to buy this game; if you're not, perhaps you should." [5]

Final Liberation was a runner-up for GameSpot's 1997 "Best Cinematics" award, which went to The Curse of Monkey Island . The editors wrote, "SSI's conversion of the popular science fiction tabletop war game packs a special surprise: full-motion-video cinematics to rival those of the biggest-budgeted game release you could think of." [6]

Reviews

Related Research Articles

<i>Warhammer 40,000</i> Miniature wargame

Warhammer 40,000 is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, and the tenth and current edition was released in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epic (game)</span> Tabletop wargame

Epic is a collective term for a series of tabletop wargames set in the fictional Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 universes. Whereas Warhammer 40,000 involves small battles between forces of a few squads of troops and two or three vehicles, Epic features battles between armies consisting of dozens of tanks and hundreds of soldiers. Due to the comparatively larger size of the battles, Epic miniatures are smaller, roughly one quarter the size of those in Warhammer 40,000, with a typical human being represented with a 6mm high figure, as opposed to the 28mm minis used in Warhammer 40,000. Since being first released in 1988 as Adeptus Titanicus, it has gone through various editions with varying names.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War</i> 2004 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment and based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. It was released by THQ on September 20, 2004 in North America and on September 24 in Europe. Three expansion packs have been released: Winter Assault in 2005, Dark Crusade in 2006, and Soulstorm in 2008. Its first sequel, Dawn of War II was released in February 2009. Another sequel, Dawn of War III, was released in April 2017.

<i>Gorkamorka</i> Tabletop skirmish wargame

Gorkamorka is a tabletop skirmish wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is set on the desert world of Angelis in the Warhammer 40,000 setting, and prominently features Orks.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate</i> 1998 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate is a video game set in the gothic science fiction backdrop of the Games Workshop game system Warhammer 40,000. In it, players take command of a number of squads of Ultramarines to do battle with their ancient enemies the Word Bearers Traitor Marines, Chaos Demons, and their commander the Chaos Lord Zymran. A sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, was released in 2022.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War</i> 1999 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War is a turn-based strategy game based on the Panzer General 2 engine by SSI. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. It was produced by Games Workshop in 1999, and concerns the invasion of a Tyranid Hive fleet and the Eldar and Imperial efforts to defeat it. The game was re-released in 2015 on GOG.com.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Dark Crusade</i> 2006 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Dark Crusade is the second expansion to the real-time strategy video game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. Based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame, Warhammer 40,000, Dark Crusade was released on October 9, 2006. The expansion features two new races, the Tau Empire and the Necrons. Including the Imperial Guard from Dawn of War's first expansion pack Winter Assault, a total of seven playable races in this expansion.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm</i> 2008 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is the third expansion to the real-time strategy video game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, developed by Iron Lore Entertainment. Like its predecessors, Soulstorm is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000, and introduces a multitude of new features to the Dawn of War series, including two new playable factions in the form of the Imperial Sisters of Battle and the Dark Eldar. It is a stand-alone game and does not need the original Dawn of War disc to run, but players must have the prior games installed and valid cd-keys in order to play as anything but the two new factions online.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II</i> 2009 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is a real-time strategy-tactical role-playing video game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ for Microsoft Windows based on the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. It is the sequel to the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War video game series. Dawn of War II was released in North America on February 19, 2009 and in Europe on February 20, 2009. A sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, was released in April 2017.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Glory in Death</i> 2006 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Glory in Death is a turn-based strategy video game for the N-Gage, produced by THQ. It is based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe by Games Workshop and is known for being one of the last game released for the console in North America.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine</i> 2011 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a third-person shooter hack-n-slash video game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. The game was released for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in North America, Australia, and Europe in September 2011. It was released in Japan and published by CyberFront on October 27, 2011.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Storm of Vengeance</i> 2014 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Storm of Vengeance is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Eutechnyx. It was released for Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android. It was set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, it follows the Dark Angels, commanded by Grand Master Belial, and the Bad Moons, commanded by Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka on the planet Piscina IV. It was released on April 3, 2014 for Windows and iOS, and on April 22, 2014 for Android.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Regicide</i> 2015 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Regicide is a turn-based strategy chess-like video game developed by Hammerfall Publishing for Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android, set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game was released in an early-access form via Steam on May 5, 2015. The game was fully released on September 8, 2015.

<i>Battlefleet Gothic: Armada</i> 2016 video game

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a real-time tactics video game developed by Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. It is set in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, and is specifically an adaptation of the miniature wargame Battlefleet Gothic by Games Workshop.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector</i> 2021 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Black Lab Games and published by Slitherine Software for Windows on July 15, 2021. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2</i> 2019 video game

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 is a real-time tactics video game developed by Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. It is a sequel to Battlefleet Gothic: Armada from 2016. It is set in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, and is specifically an adaptation of the miniature wargame Battlefleet Gothic by Games Workshop.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon</i> 2014 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is a computer wargame developed by Flashback Games and The Lordz Games Studio, and published by Slitherine Software for Windows on 26 November 2014. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch</i> 2015 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch – Tyranid Invasion is a turn-based tactics video game developed and published by Rodeo Games. Initially released for iOS on July 16, 2015, ports for Windows and PlayStation 4 were released as Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch – Enhanced Edition. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. The game has been described as a spiritual successor to Hunters series.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an isometric role-playing video game developed and published by Owlcat Games set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game was released for Windows PC, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S in December 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Staff (November 17, 1997). "Now Shipping". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
    Now Shipping: "Warhammmer 40K: Liberation..."
  2. ↑ "Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000".
  3. 1 2 Carter, Tim (January 16, 1998). "Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000". Computer Gaming World . Archived from the original on August 16, 2000.
  4. 1 2 McDonald, T. Liam (February 1998). "Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000". PC Gamer US . Archived from the original on February 26, 2000.
  5. 1 2 Thé, Phil. "Final Liberation". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Archived from the original on February 19, 2005.
  6. ↑ Staff. "Best & Worst Awards 1997". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Backstab Magazine (French) Issue 08".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.