Review - Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader... All Guts & Glory

Image courtesy of Owlcat Games

"The God Emperor protects!" I know what you're thinking, but no, not that one.

    Every so often, a game comes around that demands 10 to 15 hours of your time. This isn't one of them. Rogue Trader requires ten times that amount, easily, in order to see the story unfold in all the meaningful directions that it can.

    I would like to preface my review by saying that I knew next to nothing about Warhammer 40K when I started up the game. I really only found myself drawn to the title because of my love for Owlcat's previous two entries in the Pathfinder world. That being said, Owlcat once again does a great job of putting the lore of their assigned universe into their work, and after 140 hours of gameplay I feel like I'm decently well-versed in plenty of the God-Emperor's vision of humanity's future.

The Good

Rogue Trader starts off where your main character is handed over the reins to the titular position by means of an uprising on your predecessor's ship. When I say ship, I don't just mean a little frigate in the same vein of the Golden Age of Piracy. A voidship in the Warhammer 40K universe has upwards of 50,000 inhabitants across multiple decks that span several square kilometers a piece. This is your home base for all intents and purposes of the journey. All major decisions will be made here alongside roughly a dozen companions that will join you in your foray across the galaxy in attempts to solve a mystery involving a dead matriarch, stolen stars, and alien races' terrorist attacks on humanity. A compelling tale, to be sure, and every moment is packed with causes and effects that can only be expected in a tabletop-turned-video game experience.

    Those causes and their effects are truly the bread and butter of Rogue Trader. A lot of the game is reading, but you don't want to skip or even skim what it is that you come across because it could have a pretty massive impact on something down the line. Or it might even have an impact in the immediate present. Luckily, as you go through making these decisions that can impact the billions in your protectorate (the systems of planets and their resources entrusted to your care), you have all your companions at your disposal to use as advisors.

    The cast of Rogue Trader is another boon for the game. Each character is fleshed out in a fully 3-dimensional way that makes them stand out from one another. This doesn't mean they are all going to be good, loving, souls that are packed together for a common united purpose like they're some kind of fellowship working to destroy a ring. They all have some baggage, and some animosity too, that they aren't too ashamed of. They will also throw their weight around the entire game, with those who hated one another in the beginning still finding plenty of problems with each other after all the months they've spent in close proximity. For some, that dislike is even stronger. This aspect of the game lends itself to some realism that most games don't even dream of. In virtually every other experience, there tends to be a mutual respect and love by the end amongst every character because of what they've gone through together. Rogue Trader couldn't care less about that lovey-dovey shit. They all come from different walks of life and some characters are too dogmatic to understand a single thing about another culture, and the God-Emperor would forbid it anyway.

    Rogue Trader's story stands out as an incredible mystery. It's long-lasting, but in a lot of ways that works to its advantage. Your characters progress in a timely manner, as well, coming up on the final level (55) right around the end of your journey. Even the Void Shadows DLC fits seamlessly into the overarching narrative and only adds to the lore and intricacy of the tale.

The Bad

The worst part of the game is certainly the length. I knew going into an Owlcat game that this would be a long one. Hell, Kingmaker took me a third try to actually get involved enough to finish it. That being said, it's still a daunting size for any game. I wish about 30% could be trimmed off to make the game an even 100, or even 110 hours. Anything beyond the 100 hour mark just felt like the game was overstaying its welcome a bit. I wanted to see the end, and the overall outcome of every choice I made, but getting there started to become more of a chore as the tasks continued to go on instead of concluding.

    Another part that I would say was a bit disappointing had to do with those final moments in the story. A doomsday-type of weapon is revealed close to the finale that had really not been alluded to much throughout the rest of the game. It just seemed a little shoehorned in there, but it could be my own lack of Warhammer 40K knowledge that makes it feel this way. Even if that is the case, Rogue Trader did such a great job at building out the lore beforehand that it's odd they should drop the ball on that one so close to the finish line.

The Glory

Overall, it was a pretty glorious experience. I've never played an RPG where I kicked someone out of my party at any point... until now. Oftentimes RPGs play with some sycophantic followers that will never step on your toes, or at least not too hard, but Rogue Trader is not afraid of having your companions do so. Sorry, Heinrix... I just couldn't find it in my heart to forgive you, you overzealous turd.

    While Rogue Trader overstayed its welcome a bit towards the end, the experience was well worth the hours spent. This is something that Owlcat certainly pays off in spades in the final slides. Every character with enough significance to have a first and last name has a mention or two in these final moments as we discover what happened to them. And in typical Warhammer 40K fashion... it's not always good. But that's not what matters.

    "For the Emperor." 

8/10

Glorious

Here's my own foray into worlds of fantasy, swords, and guns.