Warhammer 40,000 Squad Command downloadable demo

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 24th 2007 at 12:12PM }

It's been a while hasn't it? Finally, after months of nothing -- we have a new downloadable demo to enjoy. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, here's Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command. This strategy game has some pretty good looks, and will attempt to teach you the very basics on how to play the game.

1. Download the demo zip file.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy ULUS10313 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

Gallery: Warhammer 40,000

Tags: demo, warhammer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

txa1265 @ Oct 24th 2007 12:35PM

Note - this requires 3.71 to launch. I thought my slim was updated, but found I was still at 3.70 ...

CcoconutBoy @ Oct 24th 2007 12:42PM

Nice. I'll grab this one when I get home.

jesus torres @ Oct 24th 2007 12:42PM

awesome, awesome, awesome!

dan the man @ Oct 24th 2007 1:41PM

Sweet! Nothing brings new life to my psp for a day or two like a new free demo. Thanks psp-fan-boy.

Random1448 @ Oct 24th 2007 1:43PM

finally a good demo, I haven't played any strategy games in a while this could be fun.

p-diddy @ Oct 24th 2007 2:09PM

just dl'ed/installed/played it (thank you blackberry for using the same USB cable). It's pretty nice - the game play takes a little getting used to with no immediate instructions (some are presented after you've used up your AP (action points) - big help), but anyone can pick this up with ease; no need to have prior WH40K experience.

The presentation is beautiful. Very smooth, above average graphics, and decent sound.

Gameplay: Each unit has a certain number of action points they can use per turn. Moving a chit (for lack of a better term) uses an action point as does using certain weapons (I think). Before you go into battle you can select different weapons for each unit with each weapon having an associated number of times it can be used.

Off the 5 minutes I played, I'd give it a gut 7 to an 8, but I'd need to see how many missions are presented, what options are available for additional weapons, etc.

Based on the demo I will definitely be picking this up.

-p-

pixelator @ Oct 24th 2007 2:13PM

@Dan - you might try playing some of the new games out there. I find nothing 'breathes new life' into my PSP like Jeanne D'Arc (these days).

Hopefully this will live up to the Warhammer legacy - we could use a SOLID turn based strateger.

retaeluos @ Oct 24th 2007 3:23PM

pretty cool demo...

...except for the part where it froze up and I had to reset my psp.

this happen to anyone else?

merc25 @ Oct 24th 2007 5:35PM

Andrew your filter is being draconian, I didn't even cuss

merc25 @ Oct 24th 2007 8:48PM

one last time:
p-diddy 24 maps total, 9 of which are mutiplayer only. I don't know if the single player missions will playable online. I'm operating under the presumption that one mission = one mission, feel free to correct me if that presumption is wrong. I'll hex edit it later so I can play it.

I can't say the "A" synonym presumption?

" Gamers play as the elite Space Marines of the Ultramarines chapter and strive to combat the encroaching evil of the ruthless and daemonic influenced Chaos Space Marines through 13 cinematically-tied missions. With a multiplayer mode featuring 9 unique missions, gamers will team up and go head-to-head with other gamers worldwide as either the Imperium of Man or Chaos Space Marines, ensuring hours of replayability." -IGN

http://psp.ign.com/objects/664/664939.html

biffpow @ Oct 24th 2007 9:07PM

Thanks for the IGN recap, Merc. 13 missions? Um, if, as you note, "one mission = one mission", that's kind of weak. You get like 45 or so "missions" in FF Tactics, not to mention replaying maps during random battles. It looks great, actually, I just want more than 13 maps in solo. Or maybe a "mission" equals many maps that lead to one larger goal per "mission." Which would be great.
Anything in the demo on the landscape items (buildings and such) being permanently affected (aka destroyed) by player fire and the like? I seem to recall that was a selling point during preview notes on this one.

blitzkrieg999 @ Oct 24th 2007 10:48PM

Mine locked up on me, too. Lost all my space marines and my Dreadnaut was going to be dying soon, and suddenly everything froze. Oh well, all was lost anyways...

I'd agree with the 7 out of 8. Depending on the release price, I'll most likely be picking this up as well.

merc25 @ Oct 24th 2007 10:51PM

Andrew your filter is being draconian, I didn't even cuss.

p,(I think the language filter hates your name) 24 maps total, 9 of which are mutiplayer only. I don't know if the single player missions will playable online. I' operating under the assumption that one mission = one mission, feel free to correct me if that assumption is wrong. I'll edit it later so I can play it.

Lord Rinja @ Oct 25th 2007 3:33AM

I've never played Warhammer 40K before but after playing this demo, I can definitely say that I am buying this. I asked my friend at Game Stop when it is coming out and he said on November 12th. He also said it was only $30.00. This demo was just plain fun and I need more. Chain Swords rock! I also like the point system. It's cool how you can pull off multiple attacks in a single round with one character if your enemies are close to each other. I know 40K came before this game but the setting reminds me of a turn-based version of Starcraft with better units and cooler weapons, minus the whole resource gathering thing.
Yoon, thanks for the upload on this. I wish more companies would wake up and release downloadable demos for the PSP. More games would sell if they did. I hate to see great games like this go to waste just because it's not "Mainstream" or heavily advertised. We need more demos. People are more likely to buy if they can try the game first. This is how I mad my decision to get Killzone: Liberation and Bounty Hounds. Now, I am going to be adding Warhammer 40K and God of War: Chains of Olympus to my list because the demos kicked @$$!

Bryan @ Oct 25th 2007 8:15AM

this is different... very different. but GOOD! i like this game so far. its hard for me but i think im getting the hang of it.

icepulse @ Oct 25th 2007 10:40AM

Things I hope they add to the final release:

•Camera that follows (visible) enemy action (or at least snaps to your teammates that are under fire).
•Digging in (trenching).
•Routing.
•Rotatable camera / Zoom feature.
•Jump packs like in Chaos Gate.
•More special items in general.

Please add comments to this list!

asuma08 @ Oct 25th 2007 11:39AM

You know, I've never been a big strategy game fan, but I have to say that this demo was pretty good and I'm also thinking about picking it up. It was kinda hard for me too, Bryan, but I'm getting the hang of it. Also, I totally agree with Rinja. Developers need to come out with more demos for their games, especially through the use of USB downloads like this one. Ever since I got a PSP, I've been checking out demos quite a bit. I hope the PlayStation Store will bring more attention to PC to PSP downloads.

NumberTwo @ Oct 25th 2007 12:34PM

If this even gets through... Joystiq's been a pain to post on lately...

Being a demo I'd say this game has a great core as far as gameplay. I love the real-timeness of the turn based action and the 3-dimentionality of the shooting with taking cover behind random stuff. As an animator and a 40k wannabe-geek though, Im insulted by the way the Space marines and Chaos Space Marines moves. Instead of running about like the giant god-men that they are portrayed as in books, they seem to tip toe around like ballet dancers in wooden shoes. The sound they make when they walk around is weak too.

I have every game in the Dawn of War RTS series and what comes across the most in those games is the mood and presentation which, from what I've seen in the demo, is lacking. I hope this is a very early build because I want this game to be awesome... I want to buy it. And I dont want its short comings to overshadow a great turn-base action game.

NumberThree @ Oct 25th 2007 12:34PM

@17

- Hero characters (Company captains or even Primarchs would be dope)
- More voice work (I want to hear "Die, Chaos Scum!" or "For The Emperor!" when I chop up cultists)
- Better run cycles
- Better sound fx (The sound SM make when they run is
- I hope Terminator Squads are in
- Items maybe? (Grenades and such?)

The game is great now, its just got short comings I have a hard time overlooking.

Viper_Bravo @ Oct 25th 2007 11:49PM

Fun Fun Fun, all 5 mins the demo takes to play through and win. I play the miniatures game, this demo mimics the real game well. Move up to 20" in, and if you have any points left use them to fire! LOL

Viper_Bravo @ Oct 25th 2007 11:51PM

Also, i wish there were more levels in the demo. I have a felling it will get high ratings!

n0m4d @ Oct 29th 2007 8:40AM

I had no problem with installing and playing this demo at all. The game itself was very easy (almost too) I lost one space marine due to clumsiness - placing it too close to the third wave of chaos, those darn terminators with flamers. Gameplay is really nice, reminds me alot of chaos gate. Downparts is.. all marines can carry plasma gun? Wth? In a tactical squad ONE marine can exchange his bolter for a sweeter weapon. Otherwise, the pretty sweet thing added is that you can 'charge' a shot with more AP and making it a 'better' shot :). (A Plasmagun shot takes 8AP, charing it with 16AP (the double) makes your little marine capable of knocking Terminators in one shot.)

raindogtoo23 @ Oct 29th 2007 12:33PM

I'm very greatfull for this. Not only because I haven't gotten the God of War demo yet (and yes I got a confirmation; wasn't that going to be downloadable too?) but also I've been a Warhammer 40k fan ever since the first box sets for the TT game came out.

Certainly reminiscent of Chaos Gate. As for what else it needs:
Another army. Orks, Eldar, Something.
Does this game just have (Chaos) Space Marines in it? Both are good but way too similar; in fact with the recent updates to the TT game, the two army's are almost identical. That was one of the things I disliked about Chaos Gate: it needed an alien race.

But yes, I will most likely be getting this, though I'm not sure if I'll be getting this or the DS version.

Azrael @ Nov 5th 2007 1:07PM

Definitely going to be picking this up, and not just because I'm a 40K geek. >.>

It's great fun, especially the destructible environments. To whoever asked that, yes, everything seems to be fully explodable. Cover tends not to last that long.

Although it is annoying that only Marines/Chaos Marines are featured. Both humans. Boring. Lets bring the Tyranids into one of these games for once.

Hey, that's a good idea for a sequel. Ultra's hate 'nids as well, so you don't even have to change the good guys. Bonus.