PC impressions: Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
Unlike many RTS titles, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos only has a very basic level of base building, instead choosing to concentrate on tactical planning and the outfitting of very ornate helmets. The visual aspect of the game is heavily touted and, for the most part, they deserve to be--the level of detail present in each unit making up your army is impressive, right down to the customizable armour and clothing that gently glistens in the harsh sun. Of course, a lot of it's just cosmetic, a fact made especially clear once a flaming rock hurled from a catapult lands amidst your troops and sends them flying in all manner of directions. It's an amusing sight, to be sure, but the sad reality is that it probably means you're losing the battle.
Mark of Chaos actually places you in charge of the evil invading force, so the pitiful humans are the ones that usually find themselves on the losing end. It's easier when you effectively command your powerful hero units to lead the charge, as they often boast a very welcomed level of customization and plenty of useful spells. It's by no means an original concept, but Mark of Chaos is hoisted above its "me too" level by some truly excellent presentation, perfectly capturing the look and feel of epic battles erupting between the game's powerful factions. A particularly nice touch is how the very environment begins to change as you march across the land, with grass dying and the sky growing dark. It drives home the illusion of a full, living world caught in the grips of war, something that very few real-time strategy games can claim to have accomplished.
