The game is simple to pick up and play, the controls are easy to master and there is a definite challenge in the tactics since using your squads to their best advantage is the key to victory.

Multiplayer Gameplay

You have a single HQ and that's protected by at least a turret. That is it however, there's no base-building per-se in Dawn of War II. It's all down to getting out there and smashing the enemy, the meat and bones of the game boils down to this.

You have Strategic Resource (Requisition) points.

You have Power Points/nodes.

You can have Victory Points depending on the game type you're playing. Victory Point Capture or Annihilate.

You have 3 resources in the game. Requisition, Power and the resource that's appropriate to your chosen faction. There are 4 factions in the game, the Space Marines, the Eldar, the Orks and the Tyranids.

Space Marines use Zeal, Eldar use Psychic Might, Orks use WAAAGH and the Tyranids use Biomass. These special resources power your extra abilities, which come with your chosen Hero.

Space Marines can choose the Force Commander, the Apothecary and the Techmarine. Each one of these has a vastly different play style and can boil down to: Brute Force, Stealth/Healing, Support. The Eldar have the Warlock, Warp Spider Exarch and Farseer. The Orks have the Warboss, the Kommando Nob and the Mekboy. Finally, the Tyranids have the Hive Tyrant, Ravener Alpha, and the Lictor Alpha.

Every Hero in Dawn of War II has been given something unique that sets them apart from the others, there are numerous levels that they can gain from combat and as you continue to play (advancing tech level) you can equip them with a variety of Wargear, changing it out on the fly for maximum effectiveness in their chosen role.

You have a limited Squad choice as well as a population cap that makes sure the game scales/balances fairly well and doesn't put off new players to the experience. It's possible to play 1v1 matches, but the 3v3 is where it's really fun as new players will discover they can rely on their team mates to offer support and hopefully give them help playing the game.

When it's down to Annihilation, that's the only objective, destroy the enemy HQ(s) and win the game. When you're capturing Victory Points, the game becomes a tug of war where you have a victory ticker on either team. If that hits zero, then you win or lose the match depending.

Thanks to the smooth GUI you don’t have to even bother clicking on your base, a quick press of F1 and you're able to call in units to any desired location. Keeping your focus where it needs to be, the field of battle. You have 3 tech levels and the top tier calls in powerful units depending on your faction. As you tech up you unlock the various abilities and squad abilities, Wargear, Hero Wargear and so on.

Heroes/Squads have their own abilities and Wargear will unlock a few more.