Ive played a lot of RTS games in my time, this is one of the best!
The graphics are similar to Warcraft III, along with similar mouse controls.
The learning curve for Dawn of War is very short, you just need the first 60 seconds of the tutorial and then your good.
The campaign is VERY good with top notch cut scenes.
My only regret is not buying this game sooner, this is up there with the Starcraft and Warcraft series by blizzard along with AOE,
This game is definitely worth playing

THE GAME ARRIVED SOONER THAN I HAD EXPECTED. I APPRECIATED THAT. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WAS IT DID NOT CONTAIN ALL THE KEY CODES TO INSTALL IT. I E-MAILED THQ AND WITHIN 24 HRS HAD THE INFORMATION I NEEDED. I RECOMMEND THIS GAME AND AM IMPRESSED WITH THE PROMPTNESS OF DELIVERY AND THEIR CUSTOM SERVICE.

I was looking for a new game to waste time with when I came across this one on this site. Due to the rating most here give it, I thought it was a good bet I'd enjoy it. This was partially true but...

Pros:
* It's a good deal for a main game with one expansion pack included.
* The game's interface and clean coding make it a good game when it comes to being bug-free and easy to install.
* In the most basic of senses...blowing crap up, shooting things, etc...it succeeds.
* It can and does occupy your time.
* The Imperial Guard, while by no means the strongest, were often the most entertaining in my opinion.

Cons:
* A lack of originality. Ok, there hasn't really been an original take on an RTS (real time stategy) game since Starcraft. There are many fun games of this sort out there but the overall game mechanics and point really haven't changed. The only thing you can hope for in such current games is a unique take on the usual that makes it entertaining despite it's lack of game unoriginality. Some have succeeded admirably in this. This game has not. The campaigns are boring at best, pathetic at most. There is zero new content beyond pretty skins and different names for the same stuff. They really didn't strain themselves at all, which is highly disappointing, especially in the Warhammer series which is usually fun and irreverent. Their writers apparently took a vacation while the company was working on this product.
* A major lack of campaigns. The main game only gives you the one. The Winter Assault expansion gives you two...sort of. Two in the sense that you can play the same campaign from the "good" guys standpoint or the "bad guys" view. So other than the skirmish option, you only get two campaigns from a big titled game and one expansion. Again, they didn't bother to flex their creative muscles much.
* Graphics are a mixed bag. While you don't really expect too much eye candy from a RTS, I've seen and played other Warhammer games and the overall attempt here is a bit luke warm. Perhaps this was my vid card though.
* Many of what is taken for granted these days when it comes to RTS functions...patrol functions for your troops and many other typical things are simply missing from this game.

So overall...this game is luke warm. It provides and I gave it three stars because it IS enjoyable in parts, but for those looking for something of this type of game that really gets their blood flowing, I'd seek elsewhere. Still, the price is currently right. For those who bought these full priced when they just came out, my condolences.

It contains the original (hard to find) Warhammer 40K, and winter assault. It does not get much better RTS-wise with the execption of Total Annihilation.

This game has so much promise, it could be the ultimate RTS title but it misses the mark. Basically you gather resources from strategic points in order to build a base that builds your Army. Then you take your Army into combat in order to destroy the other guy's base. Straight forward, "gather and gun" trigger map RTS gameplay with really nice animation.

The single player campaign isn't bad but the switch from Space Marines to Eldar forces is a little jarring. I'd prefer playing one race of my own choosing straight through the campaign.

There are three major problems with this title:

1. Skirmish play balance is waaaaaaay off. It's either ridiculously easy to win or ridiculously difficult depending on your settings. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground where you can enjoy a protracted battle, one way or the other it's over in 20 minutes.

2. Voice acting is repetitive and annoying. Somewhere around the fifth time you hear a Psyker cackle or a "Chaos, chaos is good" announcement you're going to turn off the sound.......if you haven't clawed your ears off already...........

3. There aren't enough single player maps. The few supplied with the game are good, the downloadable community map packs are better but there are only three map packs that work. Many of the download packs don't install or there's some trick to it I'm not getting.

Starcraft is much better.