It’s been some time since I’ve felt as genuinely combined over a recreation as I’ve for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer. Coincidentally, the final recreation I felt this conflicted over was Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, however for dramatically totally different causes, as the one issues they’ve in frequent are the IP and unstable efficiency.

Whereas the 2022 title was a horde shooter, Owlcat’s tackle the 40,000 universe is the primary CRPG entry. It shares so much in frequent with the developer’s earlier Pathfinder video games however stands out within the library. Once more, that’s in optimistic and adverse methods.

Rogue Dealer is a superb recreation, but it surely might’ve been implausible, and that’s what’s irritating about it. For each shining high quality, there’s normally one thing tacked on detrimental to the general expertise. It’s a grim, haunting journey for all the proper causes given the universe, however just a few tedious encounters and bugs made for some extraneous distress alongside the best way.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer (PC [reviewed], PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X/S)
Developer: Owlcat Video games
Writer: Owlcat Video games
Launched: December 7, 2023
MSRP: $49.99

A gothic interstellar journey

Rogue Dealer‘s premise sees gamers tackle the titular title after inheriting it from a distant relative, Theodora. Whereas the story initially has you monitoring down Theodora’s supposed killer, this deviates right into a story of life as a Rogue Dealer.

A lot of the plot after the primary chapter revolves round humanity’s conflicts with numerous Xenos species and the protagonist defending their colonies. Rogue Dealer‘s writing is by far its strongest trait, but it surely feels oddly paced because the story shifts from its preliminary premise for dozens of hours.

And whereas a few of that drags, Rogue Dealer does excel in its moment-to-moment writing, like in your interactions with Kronos Exapanse’s inhabitants and different characters. People, like Argenta and Hendrix, who zealously serve the Imperium, accomplish that with totally different approaches. Whereas the previous is gleefully religious, the opposite is coldly brutal, however what’s clear is their dedication.

Even Xenos companions like Yrilet do a beautiful job coming off as really alien beings regardless of being humanoid. As my major romance, Yrilet led me down a surprisingly emotionally charged arc about breaking down cultural obstacles and residing with the grief of a life you’ll be able to by no means return to. It’s her little touches, together with phenomenal and distinct voicework from the forged, that actually make Rogue Dealer sing.

Supplemental particulars filling in what gamers can’t or received’t witness are woefully enchanting. Once I’m not proven one thing taking place, textual content descriptions weave their very own flavorful tales that do the job simply positive. Rogue Dealer‘s most brutal scenes are sometimes conveyed by way of textual content, and it serves its cruelty much better than any photos of gore and violence would.

The mini-text adventures play with writing types, framing my character’s deeds and character from a number of angles. As an illustration, one casts me as a robust determine incapable of wrongdoing, whereas one other voice seeks to show me into prey. Seeing an enormous passage forward is all the time a deal with, even when I do lengthy for extra voiced dialogue.

With the pliability the Rogue Merchants themselves have, some nonetheless really feel railroaded down explicit paths and assigned containers — that’s due to labeling sure decisions Dogmatic, Iconoclast, and Heretical. Choosing these choices enforces the protagonist’s worldview, with sure dialogue choices opening up as soon as far alongside these paths.

These paths boil down to precisely what their names infer, too. Dogmatic decisions replicate zealotry, whereas Heretical ones dictate clear rebel. Iconoclast choices replicate Heretical ones in that they deviate from norms, however usually for extra selfless causes. It’s the trail I went for since I attempted to play as an outlaw who broke conventions for altruistic causes.

It’s akin to Mass Impact’s Paragon and Renegade system, sharing its similar ups and downs. After exploring all my choices, there isn’t a lot of a cause to deviate from the one ideology. If I stray too far, I threat endgame decisions for little profit. Conceptually, it’s neat to tie that morality to gameplay, however but once more, it’s limiting and robotic in apply.

Preventing within the Imperium’s title!

As with Owlcat’s earlier video games, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer makes use of turn-based fight, with all combatants utilizing motion and motion factors. Managing your useful resource pool between decisions to maneuver round and assault grows extra advanced over time, as you’re solely allowed a single assault till later ranges allow extra.

The variety of assaults additionally varies relying on a personality’s Archetype, Rogue Dealer’s class equivalents. Whereas there are only some, character backgrounds and talent variations inside an Archetype supply vital flexibility. These evolutions make characters shine, even when sharing some decisions. The scoundrel Jae and voidship navigator Cassia may begin as Officers ordering others round, however one can evolve right into a frontline commander, whereas the opposite stays within the again specializing in buffs.

Whereas that pulls some parallels to Owlcat’s Pathfinder video games, Rogue Dealer meaningfully expands on these efforts, notably on the subject of positioning. You’ll want to notice strategic spots for canopy and weapons with choosy ranges. I’ve realized that the exhausting approach with my highly effective Operator sniper, who grows extra ineffective the nearer enemies get.

The one actual drag on the subject of battles had been area fight classes, because the participant’s voidship is fairly weak beginning out. As the sport progresses, nonetheless, the inverse slowly occurs. Some on-foot battles stay enjoyable and quick, however boss encounters grew to become more and more irritating. Though I not often died greater than as soon as in a struggle, a number of bosses had been depressing.

One notably egregious struggle despatched me in opposition to somebody taking additional turns when his minions had been attacked. I managed to beat him on the second attempt, but it surely was irritating to the purpose the strategic intrigue not mattered — I simply needed to hurry by way of for the story. It was an optionally available struggle, positive, however I needed to do it for the Psyker Idra’s companion quest.

In the meantime, ship battles enhance as you acquire new allies and kit, however the problem closely pivots into non-existent. It’s not unhealthy, however Rogue Dealer struggled to seek out its candy spot, a steadiness someplace to really feel like I’m bettering and rising to the event. It’s all good things, however there are little layers of irritation. I in the end loved these encounters, however when it drags, it actually suffers.

Is the Warp distorting actuality, or is {that a} bug?

Regardless of some encounter ups and downs, Rogue Dealer by no means failed its settings. Many of the recreation finds gamers in human worlds, the place you’ll be able to scent the filth and dirt of locations like Footfall. Distinction this with the participant’s voidship, whose gothic and industrial aesthetics make it oppressively regal, and also you’ve received one thing really spectacular in its scope and distinction between places.

A part of that setting owes its stellar ambiance to its music and basic sound design, too. The voidship theme shines as notably haunting with its low choir, and serves as one thing appropriately unwelcoming to the hub. Different tracks gently fade into the background, or rely closely on ambient sounds, however all of them learn as thoughtfully crafted for every scene.

And whereas artwork type actually drives Rogue Dealer’s moody setting, texture high quality is actually missing, particularly irritating with the way it runs. Efficiency is surprisingly unstable on an honest gaming PC, with the framerate usually dipping beneath 60fps with DLSS enabled. It’s not a giant cope with a recreation like this, but it surely’s by no means enjoyable seeing efficiency abruptly tank in fundamental areas just like the voidship. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous had comparable efficiency points for me, and it’s a disgrace to see them carry over.

Much more weird are the bugs current and the way they worsened the longer I performed. Whereas the efficiency hiccups prevailed all through my playthrough, by hour 45 it wasn’t unusual to see NPCs t-posing, and on one nasty event, everybody simply stopped shifting and compelled me to restart. Owlcat is patching Rogue Dealer, however I can’t assist however really feel like I’m witnessing its actuality collapse in on itself.

Regardless of the deep points I’ve with Rogue Dealer, I can’t assist however adore it for what it’s. The servitors in my voidship is likely to be perpetually t-posing, however the gothic spaceship stays an incredible hub. Late-game fights can grow to be a slog, however the synergy amidst my occasion delivers limitless satisfaction when builds come collectively.

Rogue Dealer is gargantuan and annoying from time to time, however haunting and fantastic by way of and thru. It captures what makes Warhammer 40,000 so charming and horrifying by way of its presentation, setting the temper in a approach that retains me enthralled by way of the worst of it. If Owlcat is something, it’s a studio that creates RPG diamonds. It hasn’t made one with out tough edges simply but, although I hope it will definitely perfects its craft.

[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]