The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · May 16, 2023

For this The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth Review, we play a turn-based combat epic set during the origin era of Warhammer 40k. Play on either PC or VR, as the game will detect your platform choice. Take command of Ultramarines as they battle against their traitorous brethren, the Word Bearers.

The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
12.88GB download size.
Optional VR Mode.
Officially licensed.
Launch options – game or VR version.
Graphics settings – resolution, shadows, texture quality, v-sync, anti-aliasing, and anisotropic filtering.
Skulls 2020 content can be turned on and off.
Three game modes – campaign, skirmish, and multiplayer.
Multiplayer options – matchmaking, private lobby, and army builder.
The campaign has four acts after the tutorial act.
Optional tutorial act for movement, combat, assault, and hold.
Strategy gameplay.
You have full camera control and can freely zoom around and zone in.
In-game cutscenes.
Good voicework.
Elemental hazards and advantages with walls providing cover, the ground can make shooting or walk over it harder.
Four maps to choose from in Skirmish.
Skirmish mode lets you choose a side, edit your team and pick a map against the Ai.
Fast loading times.
Icons flash on the screen to show who’s taking action or who is shooting at your team.
Click a unit and a Hex grid comes up showing how far you can move and where.
The simple hot bar for aiming, moving, etc.
You can see the enemy health bars.
Cross-platform playing allows VR players to face off against non-VR players.

The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth Review Cons:

No Steam achievements.
Isn’t actually available for purchase anymore.
Doesn’t offer controller support.
Basic graphics settings.
Cannot rebind controls.
Massive game version text written all over the place.
No difficulty options for skirmish.
Definitely a VR game first and a non-VR game second.
You don’t get any turn order lineup.

The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth:

Official website.

Developer: Steel Wool Studios

Publisher: Steel Wool Studios

Store Links –

Steam

7/10
Graphics - 7/10
7/10
Sound - 7/10
6/10
Accessibility - 6/10
7/10
Length - 7/10
6/10
Fun Factor - 6/10

6.6/10

Summary

This game was developed as a VR game and it will function and play a lot better than non-VR for sure. In non-VR, you feel more like a spectator and occasionally chuck in some basic strategy gameplay. Honestly, I have played a lot of Warhammer games by this point and this is one that is really basic from the commands to the build-up and level design. I would have a better time of it in VR but outside of the headset is not as fun or in no way near as engaging as other titles in the genre. You have very basic settings and no way to rebind or even bring up the controls for the keyboard. In VR it’s all straightforward but outside it honestly feels like they ticked the box “no VR” and just walked away. The game is not available anymore and you are not missing out.