Info about Space Hulk: Ascension (Classic):

Official game description:
Re-release
==========
Originally released in 2014, _Space Hulk: Ascension_ is the standalone sequel to its 2013 predecessor, Space Hulk, and builds on its faithful adaptation of Games Workshop’s classic board game. With added RPG elements, deeper progression systems, and expanded tactical options, it earned a dedicated following within the Warhammer 40,000 community. It now returns to Steam with a range of updates, ensuring a smooth experience on modern systems (see “WHAT’S INSIDE THIS RELEASE” in the section below).
Includes
========
This re-release includes:
*   Base game
*   Successor Chapter Pack DLC
*   Dark Angels DLC
*   Salamanders DLC
*   Imperial Fist DLC
About the Game
==============
Set in the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of ancient vessels lost in the graveyard of space, players lead a small force of fearless Space Marine Terminators in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory, alien Genestealers.
The standalone sequel to Space Hulk brings an all new and improved single-player experience for the turn-based strategy game.
**WHAT’S INSIDE THIS RELEASE**
------------------------------
This edition updates Space Hulk: Ascension to run smoothly on modern Windows systems, delivering improved user experience. The game’s UI now scales properly up to 4K resolution, and Steam Cloud saves are supported. Based on community feedback, various gameplay and interface improvements have been introduced to enhance overall usability, including reducing unintended actions during gameplay.
**Please note:** This version no longer includes native Linux and Mac support. A previous version with native support remains available via the “Legacy” branch in the game’s properties.
**FEATURES**
------------
**New Ultramarines Chapter**
An all new Space Marine chapter, including a Terminator armed with Cyclone missile launcher.
**Terminator Progression and Customisation**
Earn XP during missions and level up attributes and skills, and give your Terminators a personal touch by customising their names, weapon loadout and appearance.
**Campaigns and Missions**
100+ missions spread out over 3 complete campaigns, and all new flash missions. These are opportunistic mini-missions encountered as you explore the deep unknowns of the Space Hulk that can yield a tactical advantage or be a deadly trap.
**Rogue Mode**
Play random generated Hulks in this all new way to play Space Hulk collecting points to challenge friends and foes on Steam Leaderboards.
**Exploration and Discovery**
Terminators reveal the layout of the Space Hulk as they venture deep into the darkness.
**Additional Weapons, Tactical Options and Game Rules**
Game mechanics have been reworked to make Space Hulk Ascension a true video game experience. Combi-weapons (Combi-Melta, Combi-Plasma and a Combi-Flamer) have been added to the game as well different firing modes like aimed shots and alternate flamer patterns.
**Genestealer Variations**
Genestealers with Fleshhook, Feeder Tendril and Acid Maw biomorphs have been added to the game, each with their own special game mechanics. You can also encounter biomorphs with scythes that have multiple attacks or carapace for increased armor.
**WARHAMMER CLASSICS**
----------------------
_Warhammer Classics is a collection of the greatest titles from the annals of Warhammer video game history, spanning the last 30 years, brought back to life as a series to celebrate their iconic legacy. These games have been revived in their original state. Because of their classic nature, some of the content may not accurately reflect current depictions, lore, or presentation within the current Warhammer universes and settings._

Release date: Aug 12, 2015

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Tactical RPG, Squad-based Combat, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Single-player, Exploration

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Fair; summary: The game uses a traditional DLC model where additional missions and chapters are sold as separate packs. While some players express dissatisfaction with the cost and availability of DLC, there are no microtransactions, pay-to-win elements, loot boxes, or currency obfuscation. The monetization is standard for its genre and era, with no predatory mechanics.
- Steam Deck: score 18; verdict: Seamless; summary: The game runs well on Steam Deck with minor graphics adjustments. The only notable drawback is the lack of Steam Cloud saves, requiring manual save transfers for switching devices.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews explicitly state that the current base price of $19.99 is too high, calling it 'ridiculous', 'overpriced', and not worth the full price. The game is described as an older title (released 2014) with limited content and simple tactics, and reviewers consistently recommend waiting for a sale. Given typical discount patterns for older games (50-75% off), the community suggests a fair base-game price range of $5 to $10, where the game is considered acceptable value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 100.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 5.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote implies completing all base campaigns once takes roughly 30 hours (60 hours for two completions). The fourth quote suggests total gameplay including DLC is around 100 hours, so gameCompletion is set to 100 representing full base + DLC completion. The second and third quotes provide conflicting session lengths: mission-level ~0.5 hours vs. typical session ~5 hours; the more explicit player-recommended session length is 5 hours, so sessionLength is 5. No reliable evidence for storyCompletion (single-campaign time) or endgame hours was found; storyCompletion is left null because the data only covers total campaigns or mission counts without per-campaign time, and endgame is absent from all reviews.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Space Hulk Ascension has a steep early learning curve and buggy tutorial that frustrates new players, but the deep progression system and squad customization make the game more engaging after a few hours of play.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: hard tutorial; unfair starting missions; slow character progression; repetitive level design; buggy game breaking issues
  - Unlock drivers: character progression and customization; improved AI; addictive squad growth; expanded campaign and missions
  - Conditions: single-player focus; patience for early difficulty; tolerance for repetitive missions; interest in tactical board game adaptation; strategic mindset
- Player Archetypes:
  - Warhammer 40k Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersion in the Warhammer 40k universe and faithful adaptation of the Space Hulk board game experience.
    - Playstyle: Methodical and cautious, using overwatch and positioning to purge aliens while absorbing the grimdark atmosphere. Comfortable with slow pacing and high difficulty if it serves the lore.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Warhammer 40k fan; Space Hulk board game fan; franchise enthusiast
    - Reference games: Space Hulk (board game); Space Hulk 2013
  - Tactical Strategy Veteran (sale)
    - Motivation: Mastering difficult turn-based combat through squad progression, gear optimization, and strategic planning.
    - Playstyle: Carefully plans each move, uses overwatch, grinds for better equipment, and often plays on high difficulty or Ironman mode. Appreciates the depth of skills and customization.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: turn-based strategy veteran; Ironman player; XCOM fan
    - Reference games: XCOM; Jagged Alliance; Darkest Dungeon
  - Achievement Completionist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion, unlocking all achievements, and experiencing all campaign paths.
    - Playstyle: Repeats campaigns on different paths, restarts missions to avoid negative random events, and grinds for rare achievements. Tolerates repetition for the sake of completion.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist; hardcore gamer
    - Reference games: Space Hulk: Ascension


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Best Space Hulk adaptation (weight 0.43): Players consider this the best video game adaptation of Space Hulk, praising its faithful recreation of the original board game.
- Deep RPG character progression (weight 0.36): The game features robust RPG elements including perks, stats, skill trees, and equipment upgrades that provide meaningful character development.
- Extensive campaign content (weight 0.28): The game offers numerous campaigns and missions, including DLC content, providing dozens of hours of gameplay across many scenarios.
- Diverse weapon arsenal (weight 0.27): Players appreciate the wide variety of weapons with different stats, firing modes, and tactical uses, including combi-weapons.
- Faithful Warhammer 40K atmosphere (weight 0.25): The game excellently captures the grimdark atmosphere of Warhammer 40K lore, with many noting the authentic feel of the setting.
- Good improvements over predecessors (weight 0.2): Players appreciate the improved graphics and interface compared to the previous game, making for a better overall experience.
- Immersive tactical turn-based gameplay (weight 0.17): The turn-based tactical gameplay is praised for being deeply strategic and immersive, with an action point system that adds depth.
- One of best 40K games (weight 0.17): Multiple players state this is among the best Warhammer 40K games ever made, highlighting its quality and faithfulness to the source material.
- High replayability value (weight 0.17): Players report hundreds of hours of replayability thanks to the strategic depth, varied content, and customization options.
- Suspenseful darkness and limited vision (weight 0.16): Darkness and limited vision mechanics significantly increase tension and atmosphere, making exploration more suspenseful.
- DLC offers good value (weight 0.16): The DLC expansions are considered worthwhile, providing additional campaigns and content that justify their cost.
- Extensive terminator customization (weight 0.16): Players enjoy the high level of customization for terminators, including weapons, equipment, perks, and appearance options.
- Percentage hit system replaces dice (weight 0.16): The replacement of dice rolls with a clear percentage-based hit chance system is well received, as it feels more reliable and informative.
- Cold Corridor mod enhances game (weight 0.15): The Cold Corridor Combat Overhaul mod is noted as a fantastic modification that greatly improves the game experience.

Common complaints:
- Game is abandoned and buggy (weight 0.28): The game appears abandoned with no further development, and some bugs remain unfixed, with game-breaking bugs present from the tutorial.
- Missing undo button causes frustration (weight 0.25): The removal of the undo button from the original game leads to forced errors and accidental wasted actions, causing significant frustration, especially from mis-clicks.
- Low mission variety (weight 0.24): There are too many missions with little variation, leading to a lack of mission variety and repetitive objectives.
- Gameplay becomes repetitive over time (weight 0.21): Players report that the gameplay becomes extremely repetitive after a while, with many finding the core loop lacking in variety.
- Controls are wonky and unpredictable (weight 0.19): Controls are awkward, causing unintended movement, and are described as unclear and unforgiving.
- Lack of enemy variety (weight 0.19): Enemy variety is lacking, with only different health versions of genestealers and endless spawning.
- Chapters lack distinct features (weight 0.19): Chapters and campaigns are all fairly similar, lacking distinct features or significant differences between them.
- Melee combat is unreliable (weight 0.16): Melee combat is considered useless and unreliable, like a roulette, as xenomorphs are always stronger in close quarters.
- Missing story and cutscenes (weight 0.16): Players report almost no story or cutscenes in campaigns, resulting in a lack of narrative depth.
- Missing multiplayer and co-op (weight 0.11): There is no multiplayer mode or two-player co-op, which reduces replayability.
- Gameplay is excruciatingly slow (weight 0.11): The gameplay feels incredibly slow and plodding, which can be frustrating.
- Not worth the full price (weight 0.11): Many players feel the game is not worth its full price of around 30 euros due to its issues.
- Missing language support (weight 0.1): The game lacks support for Chinese and Russian languages, limiting accessibility for some players.
- Some graphics lack polish (weight 0.1): Some graphics, such as character cards, lack polish and detail.

Gameplay feedback:
- Turn-based tactical core (weight 0.61): This game is fundamentally a turn-based tactical strategy title, closely mirroring board game mechanics with an overhead view and strict action point system. It emphasizes strategic positioning and area control over fast-paced action.
- Warhammer 40k Space Hulk setting (weight 0.57): The game is set in the Warhammer 40k Space Hulk universe, faithfully adapting the board game of the same name. Players control squads of Adeptus Astartes Terminators in claustrophobic, hostile environments.
- Squad management and customization (weight 0.56): Players command one or two squads of up to five Terminators each, with deep customization options for weapons, equipment, perks, and appearance. Squad progression carries over through missions.
- RPG progression system (weight 0.42): Players can level up their Space Marines, allocate stats, unlock skills, and customize equipment. The RPG elements include experience gain, perk selection, and class specializations like melee or sharpshooter.
- Overwatch and gun jams (weight 0.34): The Overwatch mechanic allows units to react during the enemy turn, but weapons can overheat and jam, adding risk management to tactical planning. This system is a key part of the combat flow.
- Fog of war and limited visibility (weight 0.26): The overhead view (3/4 perspective) includes fog of war and darkness, restricting player awareness and heightening tension. Exploration of unseen areas carries risk and consequence.
- Challenging but limited missions (weight 0.19): Missions are challenging, requiring strategic use of limited resources, though some players note they lack variety in complexity. Mission duration is typically between 10 and 30 minutes.
- Terminator stat and leveling detail (weight 0.19): Each Terminator has individual stats (e.g., melee, sharpshooter) and can earn experience to level up, unlocking improved abilities and equipment options.
- Campaign-breaking bugs fixed (weight 0.12): Earlier versions had bugs that prevented campaign completion, but these issues have reportedly been resolved in current updates.
- Slow and methodical gameplay (weight 0.12): The pace is deliberately slow, encouraging careful planning and deliberate actions. Matches feel tactical rather than reaction-based, fitting the source material.
- Action point system governs actions (weight 0.12): Characters use action points to move, use equipment, reload, and activate Overwatch, creating a tight resource management puzzle each turn.
- Multiple campaigns and chapters (weight 0.11): The game features three campaigns, each with three chapters, offering a decent amount of single-player content. Each campaign focuses on a different Space Marine chapter.
- Permadeath toggle included (weight 0.1): Squad members can be permanently lost if killed, but this feature is toggleable, allowing players to choose their preferred difficulty level.

Performance notes:
- Stutter and freezing issues (weight 0.15): Players encounter occasional camera stutter and crashes after each mission. Additionally, game freezing is linked to mod installation, indicating instability in certain scenarios.
- Game runs slower than expected (weight 0.12): Multiple players note the game runs slower than anticipated, with slow code and general sluggishness on various hardware configurations. This suggests the game is poorly optimized for current hardware.
- Performance issues on lower-end machines (weight 0.12): Lower-end computers experience laggy graphics, especially during the Salamanders campaign. High movement on older hardware also causes lag, making the game less accessible to players with modest setups.
- Works well on Steam Deck with tweaks (weight 0.06): One player reported that the game runs nicely on Steam Deck after reducing graphics settings or disabling the shoulder camera, providing a viable portable gaming option for those willing to compromise on visuals.
- Smooth performance for some players (weight 0.05): A single positive review states the game runs smoothly, indicating that while many face issues, there are reports of acceptable performance on certain configurations.

Recommendations:
- For Space Hulk fans (weight 0.95): The game is primarily recommended for fans of Space Hulk and Warhammer 40k. Many positive clusters highlight its appeal to this niche audience, though some warn it may not satisfy others.
- Turn-based tactics appeal (weight 0.56): The game is frequently recommended to fans of turn-based strategy and tactical games, with comparisons to XCOM and similar titles. It appeals to players who enjoy slow, thoughtful gameplay.
- Not recommended for everyone (weight 0.55): Several clusters explicitly advise against purchase for non-fans or casual players. The game is described as niche, slow-paced, and inaccessible to a broad audience.
- Strongly positive feedback (weight 0.35): Several clusters express unreserved strong recommendations, calling it a must-play for the genre or awarding high scores. These reviews are enthusiastic but less common.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.34): A common recommendation is to wait for a discount before purchasing. Some suggest buying with all DLC or from third-party key resellers to get better value.
- Recommended with conditions (weight 0.32): Positive recommendations often come with caveats, such as playing on hard difficulty, using mods, or being a dedicated fan. The game is praised for its core mechanics but criticized for minor flaws.
- Technical issues present (weight 0.3): Several clusters mention bugs, lack of support, and the game feeling like a beta. Some reviewers initiated refunds or advise waiting for patches before purchasing.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.19): The game is described as difficult, slow, and requiring patience, making it unsuitable for casual gamers or those seeking a quick, accessible experience.
- Compare to original Space Hulk (weight 0.19): Some reviewers prefer the original Space Hulk game over this version, citing better mechanics, balance, or multiplayer. However, others appreciate this iteration for its tactical depth.
- Mixed board game adaptation (weight 0.16): Opinions are divided on how well it adapts the board game. Some enjoy the faithful interpretation, while others cite broken balance or randomness as issues.
- Content and DLC concerns (weight 0.13): A few clusters criticize the game for splitting its content behind additional purchases, making the base game feel incomplete. This affects the overall value perception.
- Difficulty recommendations (weight 0.12): Some reviewers advise playing on higher difficulties for experienced players, or starting on normal for a balanced experience. This suggests the game offers adjustable challenge.
- Tutorial issues (weight 0.09): A few clusters report the tutorial being rough or stuck, which could frustrate new players and impact first impressions.
- Accessibility issues (weight 0.07): A cluster labels the game as not universally accessible, reinforcing its niche appeal and potential barriers for new players.
- Mod suggestion (weight 0.04): One cluster recommends using the 'Cold Corridor Combat' mod to enhance gameplay, indicating community-driven improvements to address vanilla issues.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated by the game's reliance on random instant death mechanics, particularly in melee combat where a single miss can be fatal. Technical issues like game-breaking bugs, crashes, save file corruption, and the game being removed from Steam with DLC inaccessible compound the frustration. Poor UI design, lack of an undo button, and confusing controls further hinder the experience, making it feel unpolished and unrewarding.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players feel satisfied because the game faithfully adapts the Space Hulk board game, capturing its tense, tactical atmosphere and punishing difficulty, which makes success feel earned. Improved systems like weapon and attribute management, along with bug fixes and responsive developer feedback, enhance the experience. The game provides a deep, immersive challenge that appeals to Warhammer 40k fans.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Disappointment stems from the game's repetitive missions, lack of enemy and chapter variety, and deviation from the strategic depth expected from a tactical game. Issues like poor optimization, missing language support, and the publisher or developer abandoning the game with unresolved bugs leave players feeling let down. The lack of storytelling, cutscenes, and multiplayer, combined with a need for additional purchases for full content, also contribute to the negative sentiment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game for its faithful simulation of the board game, offering a good challenge with decent strategic gameplay and atmospheric tension. The RPG progression, customizable terminators, and many missions provide engaging and addictive gameplay. Fans of Warhammer 40k find the game fun and satisfying for short or long sessions, with improvements over the original enhancing the experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement is driven by the game's return to Steam and the inclusion of 8 campaigns, offering hundreds of hours of replayability and deep customization. The tense atmosphere, high-difficulty battles against waves of genestealers, and new mechanics like exploration and light toggling create thrilling gameplay. Players appreciate the faithful adaptation of Warhammer 40k's spirit and the improvements over previous versions.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger arises from the game's perceived deliberate difficulty with instant death mechanics and useless unit classes, making it feel unfair. The pay model, with content locked behind paywalls and a high price for a product that remains broken and unsupported, leaves players feeling ripped off and frustrated with the developer's abandonment.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by missing Steam Cloud saves, requiring manual file transfers, and dark maps that hinder navigation. Small but persistent issues like limited character portraits, weak sound effects, invisible setup markers, the removal of the undo button, and death resetting customization and experience create minor but cumulative irritations.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation stems from the game including all DLC in the base game, making it a complete package. Players value the successful adaptation of the board game with meaningful improvements for PC, the authentic Warhammer 40k aesthetic, and the developer's quick responsiveness to community feedback on forums.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from the game becoming stale due to repetitive chapters and limited complexity. The slow, plodding gameplay with few enemy types and tedious difficulty, such as hard mode spawning genestealers immediately, fails to maintain engagement.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt because the game, once thought lost, has returned to Steam, making it available again. The improved overwatch system also alleviates previous frustrations, allowing players to enjoy the game without fear of it disappearing.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from discovering 8 full campaigns instead of the expected 8 missions, exceeding initial expectations. Players are also surprised by how fun the game is despite initial skepticism or a general dislike for turn-based games, finding themselves addicted.
- Tension (weight 0.01): Tension is created by the strict action point system and limited visibility, which impose constant pressure on decision-making. Dynamic lighting and sound effects enhance the claustrophobic, dangerous atmosphere of exploring spaceships.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is achieved through the authentic Warhammer 40k atmosphere, with in-character dialogue and environments that feel true to the universe. Darkness and lighting effectively simulate the experience of exploring dangerous, dark spaceships.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is expressed by players who rate the game highly, comparing it favorably to other titles in the genre. Some simply find the game awesome, praising its overall execution and design.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Desire is fueled by the want for delisted DLC, which is no longer available, leaving players wishing they could obtain it. There is also a desire for a remaster that includes proper cutscenes and dialogue to enhance the narrative.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is shown by players recommending the Cold Corridor Combat mod, highlighting its positive impact on gameplay. The game is also praised as the best adaptation of the board game, worth playing for tactics and atmosphere.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is maintained by the game's plentiful missions and new mechanics that make the experience more immersive. The progression system and variety of missions and chapters keep players interested in continuing to play.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun is derived from having many missions that are enjoyable to play through. The removal of random bolter malfunctions means failures are due to poor tactics rather than luck, making the gameplay feel fair and rewarding.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness comes from the game's high difficulty, which is seen as enjoyable and challenging. For example, a player expresses happiness with the game as their first Steam purchase, finding it a positive experience.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Delight is felt due to new content and greater control over characters, which are very pleasing to players. Gameplay improvements make the current version far superior to its predecessor, providing a more satisfying experience.}