NACON and Eko Software released Warhammer: Chaosbane back in 2019 and it is the first-ever hack and slash title set in the world of Warhammer. Initially, it was released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC and with the release of new-gen consoles, the developer has managed to dish out an enhanced edition of the game called Slayer Edition which is now available on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. This is our next-gen review of Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition in which we go in-depth on how the next-gen version excels over the original release.
For this review, we played Warhammer: Chaosbane on a PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Warhammer Chaosbane is the very first hack n slash to arrive on the next-gen consoles so it has big shoes to fill. The genre is littered with excellent titles like Diablo, Path of Exile, Bayonetta, and Genji however Warhammer: Chaosbane is a great title and I think that it is seriously underrated even when it was released on last-gen consoles and PC last year. It offers a great perspective on the world of Warhammer and offers a whole new way to experience this brilliant world. Despite the game coming out more than a year ago on consoles and PC, NACON and Eko Software have gone ahead and released a next-gen version of the game as the Slayer Edition.
The Slayer Edition for Warhammer: Chaosbane comes with all content of the base game as well as all of the DLC content released since its release. This includes 2 bonus characters, the Tower of Chaos and the Tomb Kings campaign arc. The two bonus characters include the dwarven engineer Keela which was already available on the previous-gen consoles but Witch Hunter is a brand-new character added to the next-gen release right at launch that comes with its own unique lore and playstyle. It comes with dual weapons and is also one of the most unique of the classes since it can switch to ranged combat and melee combat with a single press of the button.
For ranged attacks, Witch Hunter uses his trusty pistols however for melee combat, you will be cutting down enemies with the rapier. Witch Hunter’s unique archetype allows him to switch between the two weapons and as you switch between the two attack forms, all of the abilities and skills are adjusted as well. For the ranged combat, the moves and attacks somewhat reminded me of Bayonetta as Witch Hunter revolves around shooting enemies and then cuts them down with his rapier if they manage to get close to him. The seamless switch of the weapons and the skills adjusting to the new attack form is extremely satisfying and you can easily change between the two at any time.
Since the most talked feature when it comes to next-gen releases is visual fidelity, we will be focusing on this game’s visual goodness as well. Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition comes with 4K visuals with flat 60 FPS gameplay and it really sticks to these frames as well. There are no dips or hiccups while playing the game no matter how much activity was there in the game. The game visuals look really good and well-detailed while playing on larger screens in 4K. Even with the top-down view, the game really shines as you now get to see everything in a much higher resolution thus making things exceptionally good looking on the consoles. Apart from higher details, the colors really come out in 4K as well and everything looks so much better overall while playing the game.
Apart from the added visual fidelity, the game fully utilizes other features of the next-gen consoles as well such as the super-SSDs to nearly eliminate loading times. The game also supports Quick Resume on Xbox Series X which allows you to switch to another game without actually quitting Warhammer: Chaosbane running in the background. However, if you are looking for additional features on the PS5 consoles such as additional feedback on the new DualSense controller, you will be disappointed because the game does not provide any additional feedback or uses the new features of DualSense in any unique way. However, the loading times are exceptionally low on the PS5 console as well and you can use the UI’s other unique features with the game just fine and without any hiccups.
The visual detail is pretty consistent across every next-gen console that we tried the game on. To our surprise, even the Series S held up pretty well even during times when the screen was full of enemies and we were chopping through a large number of enemies. The game’s visuals look great and the details are a major improvement when compared with the last gen’s release. True that the game is not really that demanding when it comes to visuals, still it plays great. Couple that with the addition of all DLC released for the game and you get a hack n slash title that can keep you busy for hours. The new class Witch Hunter gives you a brand-new way of experiencing the tried-and-trusted genre which is also a pleasant addition to the game with the next-gen release.
Final Verdict:
With Diablo 4 still in development and a lack of hack n slash titles on the next-gen consoles, Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition is here to satisfy your hunger. With its decent campaign and bonus DLC campaigns added to the mix and six unique classes to explore, you are looking at hours and hours of hacking and slashing content ahead of you. Offering crisp 4K visuals and smooth 60 FPS gameplay even on the tiny Series S, this is one title that should be on your playing list if you love action games, or are waiting for Diablo 4 and just love good old hack n slash titles with plenty of enemies to chew through. If you love the Warhammer franchise, hack and slash titles or just prefer slaughtering tons of enemies in general, Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition is highly recommended for you.
Final Score: 8.5/10
