Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate

I getting the demo of this game with one of the many PC Gaming magazines back in the day and playing it over and over, I was hooked. When I saw this on GOG I jumped at it and I can finally play it in its entirety. I’ve just finished the first mission and it’s just how I remember it, so fun. They must have patched the game, because I see a lot of people complaining it doesn’t work but it works perfectly for me on Windows 10.

In contrary to some newer reviews, this game works well by itself and it isn't "bullshit lucky shot fest" as some claimed. It present an "old school" approach to tactical games, what mean you have to THINK ... and read the manual to actually understand, how to play. You dont have big, flashy cover markings, so you must use ground heights and various objects to cover your troopers from hostile fire (... or order them to crouch, it makes them "smaller", y'know). Going into open or right into possible trap might be less deadly, if you deploy smoke screen first, clear corners with frag granades or make a use from scanners. Using long range weapons to clear out some outposts may save yourchilds of glorious Guilleman from certain death, as well as droping Assault team just behind enemy strongpoint. Even your Psyker can help by whipping some filthy Chaos fans. Also, theres a time to attack, but also, time to hold ground. If you think before act, then you do fine work and please the Emperor. Also, it isnt flawless design. In loadout phase, you see a bunch of similar guys in blue armors, so checking their stats and moving them between squats takes some time. There are also restrictions, what firearms may or may not be taken by your folks, what may be kind of balancing the game, but meanwhile it makes tactical squats a bit behind after you progrees through game. Some technical problems also happens, as your troops occasionally stacks in terrain blocks or enemy keep hiting the obstacle right in front of them. Some minor issue is, that game does not provide any tutorial, because everything is in separate game manual. Its the how the game used to be made, but its quite inconvinient today, as you dont have a hard copy to check things when you have to and games encyclopeadia is quite messy. Overall, its quite solid production, with great ambience, nice animations (remember its 1998's stuff) and some rough edges. Think of it as a original UFO, but with Warhammer 40k setup.

I first played this game the week it released, back then. Due to some bug I never finished it. Around 20 years later I did. Chaos Gate is surprisingly still a fun turn based tactics game. The graphics haven't aged too well, but they do their job. Large maps, walking forward, crouching, standing up, walking... missions can get a bit longer than necessary. Soldiers level up, but besides psychic powers for your librarian, you are not involved in this. Still, the game manages to give you a sense of progression, a joy of leveling up. Somehow, it all is simply a well functioning fun game - even acknowledging the nostalgia glasses. For 40K fans, probably one of the best games the IP ever got.

Would love to play this game. Unfortunately it is not compatible with Windows 10 and when run you will get 3-4 black and white screens of the game. GoG know of this issue and have not updated the website. They have said it is unlikely it will be fixed in the future.

26 years ago Warhammer 40k Chaos Gate was the first game I worked on in my career. Finding it on GoG and getting to step back into levels I tested and built all those years ago has been a special treat. I hope everyone who picks this up enjoys it half as much as I have just by seeing it still playable.