Am I burnt out? Or have I just forgotten that "It is better to die for the Emperor than live for yourself"?
I'm not saying that Relic Entertainment's Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Definitive Edition cured my depression, but it definitely arrived at the right time. After being unceremoniously canned from my last position, I was understandably pessimistic about my job prospects, leading to a general malaise as I attempted to figure out how to fill my time. But like an old friend that comes through when you've hit rock bottom, Relic arrived with an excuse for me to experience my introduction to the world of Warhammer 40K.
This version of the game includes not only the original Dawn of War campaign, but its three subsequent expansions, a fantastic excuse to clear my schedule. The original Dawn of War is considered by many to be one of the best RTS titles of all time, and it quickly became a personal favorite when I first played it in 2003. Relic's take on the over-the-top factions and units of Warhammer 40K quickly became cemented in my impressionable psyche, largely thanks to the memorable quotes attached to each unit.
Other RTS titles like Starcraft and Warcraft 3 were slightly more serious in how their units are portrayed (outside of their easter egg quotes, of course), but the majority of the units in Dawn of War have at least one unique, somewhat unhinged quote that not only embodies the attitude of its respective faction, but also reminds you of the absurdity of the 40K setting. "Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment," and "Glory for the first man to die!" might as well be tattooed in my grey matter.
While the more character-focused Dawn of War 2 would build on this with a wealth of distinct VO for each unit and context-sensitive quotes, the performances in the original Dawn of War cemented my expectations of what different 40K factions and units sound like. From the panicked cockney accents of the Astra Militarum, to the hollow and metallic Dreadnaughts.
Relic may have touched up the voice acting slightly for the Definitive Edition of Dawn of War, but left the overall performances untouched. Which meant hearing all of my favorite Grimdark units again felt like coming home, and ironically, helped me get back in a more positive frame of mind.
Given the current state of politics and just the world in general, it's easy to feel like the forces of Chaos always have the upper hand. To that I say, "I will endure a thousand deaths before I yield."
