Recent reviews by =][= was @lpharius

Was once a good game, but now requires an Epic Games account.

Short Version

I kind of expected this game to be a update and upgrade version of Space Marine.
But if feel I got it got downgraded instead.

Long version
As I expressed in the short version, i expected to be a game that take the multiplayers part of Space Marine.
And then refine it. Making improvements to the original formula and fix the errors of Space Marine.
So let see how it does, by comparing it to the old Space Marine.

Single player?
In the old Space Marine we got a single player campaign that allows us to stomp through the enemy and gave us the feelings of being an astartes.
Eternal Crusade does not have a single player campaign, but as this is a pure multiplayer game. So I will not let this affect my review of the game.

Heavy Weapons.
In the old game, I got the feeling that heavy weapons where the king of long range.But the maps where not big enough so give them too much of a edge over other weapons.
In Eternal Crusade I do not get this feeling. You would expect that heavy weapon are the bane of infantry and vehicles alike. But it lack any punch and takes a long time to kill something.
I feels like it's just in the game to be able to hurt vehicles.
So that downgraded in my book.

Tactical Weapons.
In the old game you can make a lot of working set ups that fit your playstyle. Somewhat flexible and workable.
In Eternal Crusade i feel that you are a class with supstander weapons that are need in the game to capture points.
Another downgraded

Healing classes.
Where not in the old game. So having it in Eternal Crusade is a improvement.

Melee classes.
In the old game it was quite effective when you got in to close contact with your enemy.
But you need to get in to close contact first and that was not alway easy.
Eternal Crusade they try to make in more complex and tactical.
But it feel like they put to much in to it. Make it the king of the game.
The other clase have a hard time competing if they do not have a melee setup themselves.
So it another downgraded in by book.

Friendly fire.
In the old game you could only damage yourself with friendly fire.
In Eternal Crusade there is friendly fire making it hard to support other in close combat and to be around team members in general. That would not be a problem if close combat wasn't such a big part of the game.
But I would not call this a downgraded, nor is it an upgrade as it put a limit on the game in my opinion.

Map size and balance
In the old game you have "small" maps, where each class has the chance to do what they are best at.
It did have a some problems with spawn camping.
In Eternal Crusade you have "big" maps, but the only class I feel get a chance to do their stuff is the melee classes.
The other class feel like they are just there to do stuff and get killed.
And that just play old bad.

Servers.
In the old game, there where on servers. You join the game and hope the host had a good computer or it would become a lag fest. Something that killed the old game multiplayer for me.
Eternal Crusade has some decent servers, so you do not have the same proble as in the old game.
That a big upgrade.

PvE
In the old game. I has a size decent map and feel to it. A bit repetitive, but still fun.
In Eternal Crusade.... Well I haven to a chance to test enough to say it good or not.
It just see like something that they just added because they feel they had to.
I had hoped for something like a big group of players defening against an endless wave of Tyranids.
Something like a Battle of Thermopylae, where you know that you can win, but it a challenge to see how long you can last.
And not just a 4 man scourge and purge in maze of corridors.

Customization. Making your toon look cool.
In the old game is was so good that I still use it to test out color schemes for when I paint my figure.
It not perfect by any means, but give you that chance to add your personal touch to the game.
In Eternal Crusade its not that personal.
Sure you can start a Ultramarine toon and give him a unick look for each set up you make.
But there is not much to choose from. No company colors, only limited choice in "bling"
And you have to buy those choices. No way to unlock the trough game play.
And if you want to play as a Dark Angle in another set up? Well the you have to make a new toon.
And you can only make 4 toons. And that a problem where you have 4 races to choose from.
The choice of sub-faction could be made in the set up choice and not locked to the toon when you only have so many toon to make.
So that a big downgraded. Impressive when they added to new race to play and customize.

Verdict.
I expected this to be Super Space Marine. The kick *** addition.
What I got was Eternal Crusade. The big letdown addition.
A game with stable servers, big maps and no balance or customization.
With is sad, because I want this game to be good, I want it be more that it is.
And I hope that in time it becomes what I hope it would be.

Until then I would not recommend this game

SWEEEET Game.