Based in the world of the fantasy tabletop game “Warhammer Fantasy,” “Warhammer: End Times- Vermintide” is the newest survival first-person-shooter from FatShark games.  Banking off of the success of games like “Left 4 Dead,” “Warhammer: Vermintide” uses the simple “survive waves of enemies” approach with a few different spins.

First off, the graphics are amazing on higher settings. The “Warhammer Fantasy” world was perfectly recreated in game, capturing the medieval world and bringing it to life on screen. The character models actually have a decent amount variety, which is rare in these types of games. There are five characters to play as: the Witch Hunter, Empire Soldier, Dwarf Ranger, Waywatcher, and Bright Wizard. Players must work through different types of levels to try and  rid the fictional town of Ubersreik from a rat-like race called Skaven. Players will encounter a handful of different types of Skaven, and beyond the hoards they must fight, will find an interesting story.  

Unlike the “Left 4 Dead” games, “Vermintide” has a loot and level system. Players earn loot, based on a random dice spin, and experience points when successfully completing a mission. Players can also use the forge in the main base to melt down lower level loot and make better weapons. Beware though, as not all the loot you get or make will be for the character you are playing.  

Occasionally the game will glitch, and there are a few bugs that mess up gameplay. Nothing game-breaking, but still mildly annoying. The AI is sometimes unreliable, spawning right in front of the player or even just ignoring them outright.

Although plagued by a few technical difficulties, “Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide” is a good buy at $25. Any fan of the “Left 4 Dead” series will love this game, as will others who just like the “Warhammer Fantasy” setting mixed with a challenging cooperative game.  

Platforms: PC