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"So… does anyone have any questions?"

Jerry Edsall, Lead Programmer at Relic Entertainment, has just finished showing an extended version of the Warhammer® 40,000™: Space Marine™ trailer to a packed booth of wide-eyed journalists. And everyone’s hand goes up.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a brand new action-RPG for Xbox 360 and PS3, announced to the world just days before E3 with a blistering trailer (playing now on THQ TV). Visitors to THQ’s E3 stand have been treated to a behind-closed-doors screening of the game, but it seems everyone wants to know more. And the first question is, invariably...

"When are you going to show gameplay instead of CGI?"

That question has been asked all day, and luckily it’s one Jerry is more than happy to answer.

"All the action sequences you saw used our brand new game engine. Even that last scene, with the Titan in the distance and the Nuke going off."

The engine in question is codenamed Phoenix, and has been built from the ground up for console development. Although Relic have an impeccable PC heritage with Homeworld, Dawn of War, Company of Heroes and Dawn of War II (the latter two being powered by Relic’s formidable ‘Essence’ engine), Space Marine is a console-only experience which needed a bespoke set to of tools to bring it life.

The result is Warhammer 40,000 like you’ve never seen it before - brutal, visceral and very much up close and personal.

In the demo, we see a Space Marine equipped with a jump pack powering through the skies before slamming down amongst a heaving mob of Orks, and smashing them aside with a gigantic Power Hammer that crackles with blue lightning. A Space Marine Sergeant goes toe-to toe with a gigantic Ork Warboss, his Chainsword sparking against the Ork’s armour plating before parrying the retuning strike and tearing into an exposed flank in a torrent of gore. In another scene, a Sergeant strings together a deadly combo with a Power Sword, cutting down two opponents in quick succession. The demo is drenched with blood, and in one sequence we see an Ork slump to the floor with his head severed at the jawline, exposing a tongue and the bottom row of teeth...

There’s even a variety of ranged combat on display too – one Space Marine wields a Bolt Pistol, and another drives back an onrushing hordes of Ork warriors with a volley of Heavy Bolter fire.

All in all, a far cry from the Real Time Strategy gameplay of the Dawn of War series. Space Marine puts you in direct control of an individual unit – but the game also adds RPG elements to the action. That unit will be customisable, as a work in progress screen showing a Space Marine swapping out the standard back pack for a Jump Pack illustrates. That kind of customisation will extend to weapon load-outs, and it seems we’ve only seen a sample of the vast armoury available to humanity’s finest.

But Space Marines fight in Squads – what does that mean for Multiplayer? It’s the next question to get asked, but this time Relic are being a little more coy...

"We’re not announcing any details about multiplayer right now, but as everyone knows, Space Marines travel in units. Compelling, innovative multiplayer is a huge focus for us – it’s a core part of the Relic ‘brand’ and you can be sure that Space Marine will deliver in this area."

And what about other Warhammer 40,000 races? The plot, as revealed to date, tells the story of the Space Marine’s attempt to reclaim a Forge World – one of the Imperium’s factory planets where tanks, weapons, even Spacecraft are built – from an Ork invasion. But eagle eyes amongst the gathered press have already noticed another Warhammer 40,000 race on the horizon of the final scene in the form of a Tyranid Carnifex.

"We’re not announcing any details about other factions right now" repeats Jerry for the 10th time today, "But the 40k universe presents us with a rich tapestry of armies and characters, and we’re determined to make this game the definitive Warhammer 40,000 experience."

There are other clues in the demo as to what we might expect to see in the coming months – in the final scene, an Ork Warboss looms over a stricken Space Marine Dreadnought, and a burnt-out Predator tank appears in the background… does that mean we’ll see other vehicles too?

"We’re not announcing..." begins Jerry, and we get the message. There’s a huge amount of secrecy around Space Marine right now, but also a staggering wealth of potential. For the time being, be content with the fact that it looks to have nailed the Warhammer 40,000 look and feel with a truly stunning game engine.

You can check out our video interview with Relic’s General Manager, Jonathan Dowdeswell, which includes exclusive scenes from the E3 show that you won’t have seen anywhere else and a few more details to whet your appetite.

As for the rest of those unanswered questions, we’ll have more on THQ.com in the coming months...

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_{Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Copyright © Games Workshop Limited 2009.  Space Marine, the Space Marine logo, GW, Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000 Device, 40,000, the Double-headed Eagle device and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products, illustrations and images from the Space Marine game and the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2009, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world, and used under license. All Rights Reserved.  Developed by Relic Entertainment.  THQ, Relic Entertainment and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.}

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