Warhammer 40,000: Carnage

Did You Know?

• Carnage first launched on iOS in May 2014 and was generally well received.
• Many described the character upgrading and customization as the best feature of the game.
• Criticisms included the repetitive nature of the title and concerns over in-app purchases.

Gameplay

Warhammer 40,000: Carnage is a side-scrolling action shooter built for a single player, where you control a Space Marine from one of several Chapters. This marks a shift from the strategy-heavy approach of many other games set in the same universe. The game includes a strong RPG component: you advance your Marine, gain levels, and gather Wargear to grow stronger as the missions get tougher. On the battlefield, you can move left or right, jump, and block, with two primary attack buttons for shooting and melee combat. Grenades and a Rage Attack become usable under the right conditions. Every weapon has its own traits and abilities, and some feature a special charge attack for extra damage. A key part of the experience is selecting the best combination of Wargear for each mission, since the challenges vary with different enemy types and obstacles. The action unfolds on the planet Mithra, located on the edge of the Imperium, with a storyline penned by Warhammer 40,000 novelist Graham McNeill. You start the game with only an Ultramarine as a playable character, but you can unlock other Chapters like the Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels through various means. New Chapters are added on a regular basis through content updates. Each Space Marine Chapter has its own campaign and exclusive missions, all set on the same campaign map. Currently, there are three campaign maps, each offering over 60 missions per Chapter. The narrative is revealed through the Codex, with entries unlocked as you progress through the campaign; each Chapter also unlocks its own set of Codex entries. There are more than 600 pieces of Wargear to collect. Melee options include variants of Chainswords, Thunder Hammers, and Power Fists, while ranged weapons cover many types of Boltguns, Bolt Pistols, and Storm Bolters, each with distinct attributes and abilities. Armour comes in three visual tiers for each Chapter, covering the Head, Chest, and Greaves, plus accessories like Jump Packs and Purity Seals. Wargear quality is divided into five tiers: Common, Superior, Rare, Epic, and Mastercraft, with Mastercraft being the rarest and most valuable.