"Do not fear the ratmen, fear me instead"
Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide developed by Fatshark is a first person shooter/action game with a creepy as shit subtitle. The easiest comparison to make is its Left 4 Dead with potions, magic and sorcery. An online multiplayer slaughter house of ferocious vermin which must be dispatched by any means at your disposal. But can the been there and done that gameplay do enough to stand out from the crowd.
Vermintide takes place in the Warhammer universe. A universe well versed in the PC world but not as much on consoles. Think Lord of the Rings and World of Warcraft and you'll get the picture. The Skaven, a mutant rat infestation must be stopped in their quest to conquer the world. There's not an awful lot else to the story. Vermintide is more interested in getting you stuck into the game. So if you're looking for a deep narrative you aren't going to find it here. Sometimes all you need is a fun game and Vermintide fits the bill.
Some games are inspired by other games and some games have subtle little nods to other games hidden around the areas you play in. Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to your nether regions. Vermintide isn't just inspired by Left 4 Dead for all intensive purposes it is Left 4 Dead but with a different skin. You begin each level by selecting one character out of a possible five who are all tied to a different class, the Witch Hunter, Empire Soldier, Dwarf Ranger, Waywatcher and Bright Wizard. Each of these characters have different skill sets. Some characters are better suited to long range attacks guns, magic or a bow and arrow while others are better at close quarters combat with swords or an axe. There is very little difference between characters in my experience. When you have decided which character you want to play as the game transports you to an Inn. This is the games HUB where you will manage your inventory, forge new weapons and select your missions.
There are thirteen missions in total and each one is split into three acts. You need to complete each of the available levels to progress further. Each new mission starts in a new location but you'll be presented with similar tasks to complete which quickly becomes repetitive. Vermintide tries to trick you into thinking it's a lot more open than it actually is in later missions by placing you in a large forest or even a town's docks but they are still very linear and require little more that fighting your way from point A to point B. As you make your way through the various acts hordes of rats continually attack/harass you and your party.
Your enemies are reminiscent of Left 4 Dead’s zombie incarnations. Clanrats make up the bulk of the Skaven army and try to overwhelm you with their sheer numbers. Gutter Runners use stealth to surprise their enemies by leaping on their preys backs and clawing away at their body. Packmasters are are equipped with things-catchers. After throwing a lasso around their victims meal they drag them away from the group and proceed to impale then on a long spike topped pole. Poison Wind Globadiers lob deadly green gas at their enemy. Upon impact, the globe shatters and spreads the toxic fumes, dazing and damaging any who might be caught in the resulting cloud. If you damage it enough it will turn and charge you in a last ditch suicide run. If you don't take it out in time it will explode when it reaches you causing massive damage. The Rat Ogre is a hulking beast with tremendous strength and agility and should never be tackled alone for fear of certain death so hope and pray that you don't get cornered. The Ratling Gun is a six-barreled, bullet spitting machine and like The Rat Ogre it targets one single hero and unleashes a bullet storm which if you're quick enough can be used to mow down the Skaven scum. The Pack Rats carry large sacks laden with valuables. They are very uncommon and soak up a lot of damage but the loot they drop makes it worth the hassle of taking them down. The Skavenslaves attack in massive groups and are very coordinates and if they manage to surround you, you'd better hope your teammates are close by. Stormvermin are the elite troops of The Skaven. Dressed in heavy armour and trained in the use of halberds Stormvermin offer up stiff challenge and are best taken out as quickly as possible. 
The enemies as expected are cannon fodder on the easiest setting but ramp it up any higher and you're going to find yourself in a world of pain/rats. This is when Vermintide truly comes into its own as an online multiplayer co-op experience. The enemies are easily handled when they swarm together down corridors, narrow paths or doorways but as soon as an area opens up a little bit and you can't funnel the enemy in one direction you need to bring your A game. Communication between teammates quickly becomes a matter of life or death as Assassins and Pack Rats continue to swarm at you. It's these moments where Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide really makes you sit up and take notice. Teamwork is king here and without it you're going nowhere especially on the harder difficulty settings. You can play the game with AI but as usual it's no match for a team of human controlled players. I was constantly ignored by my AI teammates when pinned to the ground or on a spike and they would even walk straight past me and leave me to die. I quickly learnt to never rely on the AI.
The atmosphere and look of the game is spot on and looks breathtaking in certain places. The character models are beautifully detailed with each character popping off the screen. The tone is dark and foreboding and it's just the right side of horror/fantasy. You're not going to see great big swathes of bright colours here but the look of the game is perfect. The only criticism I can level at the game and it's a biggie is the lack of available games to join. I've pat waiting for anything between ten and twenty minutes while the game searches for a match to place me in. I hope that there is a community out there because Vermintide definitely deserves better.
Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide is a great game that not only plays the part but also looks the part. If you're hankering for Left 4 Dead part three Vermintide scratches that itch very nicely. It looks the part but more importantly it plays the part.
Developer: Fatshark AB
Publisher: Fatshark AB
Website: Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide
Twitter: @fatsharkgames / @VermintideGame
Warhammer: End Times is available now for £31.99
Review code supplied by XCN.