Warhammer looks to break into a new console audience with third-person shooter Space Marine, Tom Hoggins takes a first look

Space Marine is the latest video game set in the popular Warhammer 40k universe. I was interested in giving the title a go as I used to be a big fan of the Games Workshop table top game it is based on.

Good graphics/sound that capture the spirit of Warhammer; nice selection of weapons

The main campaign could be longer; disappointing final boss; combat can get repetitive

Many people will be screaming about Gears of War when this game hits the shelves but I"m here to tell you that Warhammer 40k beat GoW with this type of game well over twenty years ago.

Set within the Warhammer Universe, this game is a third person action title combining elements of melee fighting and shooting in what ultimately felt like a very uninspiring game that had so much potential and unfortunately really did little for me to make me come back and play it.

Say what you like about Dawn of War and Company of Heroes - and if you're anything like us then what you will say is "they're awesome", in any case - but you can't deny that Relic knows and loves Warhammer 40,000.

Imagine being surrounded by a horde of angry orcs, decked out with swords and guns. Tactics would call to retreat, find cover, gut 'em with gunfire and turn them into chunks with grenades. But what you really is to get into the face of impossible odds and kick the seven hells out it.

If you're a Warhammer 40K fan, you've dreamed of taking up a chainsword and carving Orks into bloody chunks of flesh and bone. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine plants you in the heavy boots of an Ultramarine and lets you do just that. The viscera fly in this third-person shooter/melee hybrid.

Captures the brutality of the Warhammer 40K universe; Entertaining mix of shooting and melee action; It's fun to don a jump pack and stomp on Orks

The mindless slaughter lacks variety; Dull story; dull characters; Lame final boss

I'd been waiting for this game since I saw the pre alpha video gameplay that came out in like 06 and this game did not disappoint. Gameplay never gets repetitive because it is so fun.

This hack-'n-slash shooter set in the dystopic Warhammer universe is a slick, action-packed blend of genres.

When I first saw Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine at E3 2009 I became a bundle of excitement. I wanted that game in my Xbox right the heck now and the idea of waiting at least a year was sheer blasphemy. Luckily Dawn of War 2 managed to fill in the time, thank you Retribution.

Intensely visceral combat; solid combat mechanics; intriguing story; one of the coolest final boss fights ever

Small iffy design decisions; bleak ending may irk some gamers