Fatshark’s excellent Warhammer Vermintide 2 gets it first DLC, Shadows Over Bögenhafen.
Taking more than just a leaf out of zombie slashers Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, Vermintide 2 is a third-person melee combat game whereby player take a role in a party of four. Like it’s zombie- filled Left 4 Dead cousins, your three companions can either be computer-controlled bots or other players. The game also features drop-in/drop-out multiplayer. This makes hosting or joining a game super-easy with no annoying wait time.
Vermintide 2 is the sequel to the first game, Warhammer Vermintide: End Times, following the Heroes of Uberreik during the apocalyptic End Times that eventually sees the demise of the Warhammer world in Games Workshop’s pen and paper tabletop wargame.
The game is initialised from a hub-like area called The Keep where missions can be selected and equipment modified. It is here that the party can vote on the next location, for the host can start the mission.
The missions, themselves flow to form a loose narrative, but they also act as standalone chapters, similar to those in Left 4 Dead. This makes add-ons like Shadows Over Bögenhafen easy to stitch into the main games.
The combat is chaotic and bloody. Players must not only take on the warriors of chaos, but also overpowering hordes of the rat-like skaven. The environments are filled with ammo crates and potions to help you thought the battles.
The Shadows Over Bögenhafen DLC adds a further two levels to those in the main game, plus new quests, challenges and items.
The first level, The Pit is a discussing slum. Our heroes start on the beach, heading inland towards the city of Bögenhafen. Fighting through the mud our heroes must take on the attacking skaven and find the source of the Nurgle infection blighting the city.
The second level, The Blightreaper, follows the heroes as they seek out the tainted legendary sword responsible for all the troubles in Bögenhafen. The level starts in the unlit sewers, requiring one member of the party, at least, to carry a torch to light the way.
Back on the surface the adventures must battle their way though the enemy. Fighting chaos warriors and ogres the heroes must reach the temple at the top of the city and steal The Blightreaper.
All told, The Shadows Over Bögenhafen DLC adds forty-minutes of extra play to the game. But as with the main levels they are immensely replayable, each playthough being different. Playing with different characters, and different real-life players also offers some variation. The challenge and huge loot incentives will keep you coming for more.
The game also looks superb, but it on console or PC. The lighting and the architectural detail are amazing. The huge number of monsters that come at you is a technical marvel and credit to the developers.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 and its predecessor are both games that could be easily overlooked. With the release of The Shadows Over Bögenhafen DLC there’s no better time to jump aboard this great fantasy slasher franchise.
9/10