Necron botch: warhammer 40,000 trailer undermines entire faction
The latest CGI trailer for Dawn of War 4 has detonated a furious debate within the Warhammer 40,000 community, and for good reason: the depiction of the Necrons is spectacularly, almost offensively, bad.
A messy introduction to the silent warriors
Deep Silver and KING Art Games initially promised a glimpse into the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperium's cybernetically-enhanced warrior priests, during a tech-focused reveal. However, the trailer quickly shifted focus to a disastrous encounter with the Necrons – a faction traditionally presented as cold, calculating, and terrifyingly efficient. Instead, we got a series of hilariously inept shots of these ancient warriors firing wildly, stumbling over ruins, and generally failing to pose a credible threat.
Plastic toys vs. millennia of warfare
The reality, as countless online commentators have pointed out, is that the Necrons in this trailer resemble a collection of poorly rendered plastic toys. One fan succinctly summarized the issue: ‘Dude, did these Necrons roll all 1’s with 20 dice?’ The visuals betray a fundamental misunderstanding of the Necron combat doctrine. They move with glacial slowness, their weapon systems exhibit a baffling lack of accuracy, and their supposed overwhelming force is repeatedly undermined by embarrassingly narrow victories against significantly inferior Adeptus Mechanicus units. It's a baffling strategic misstep.
Plot armor overload
The reaction has been predictably vocal. Reddit threads are ablaze with criticism, with users questioning the very existence of these digitally-challenged Necrons. “Those necrons got teleported from the Star Wars universe,” one user quipped. The sheer volume of commentary – including pointed remarks about the faction’s reliance on ‘plot armor’ – speaks volumes. It’s a damning indictment of the trailer’s execution, and a worrying sign for the game’s overall presentation.
More cgi, less substance
Let’s be clear: this trailer is a CGI showcase, not a gameplay demonstration. Previous reveals focusing on the Space Marines offered a far more compelling glimpse of the game’s potential. The promise of robust tactical options and varied unit types was palpable. This feels…incomplete. A disappointing distraction from what could have been a truly engaging introduction to one of Warhammer 40,000’s most iconic factions. The fact that the Adeptus Mechanicus, armed with basic weaponry, consistently trounce the Necrons suggests a fundamental design flaw.
A missed opportunity
Dawn of War 4 remains shrouded in a release date uncertainty, but the latest trailer underscores a critical concern: the game needs to deliver on its promises. Right now, it’s serving up a digital embarrassment. The developers need to rapidly address these concerns – and fast – before the entire Warhammer 40,000 community loses all faith in this ambitious project. The stakes, quite literally, are galactic.