Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat Download PC

Developer: Mindscape

Release date: 1995

Platform: Windows (PC)

Genre: Real-time strategy

Version: 1.2

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Download Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat Free for PC Torrent

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat is a single-player fantasy real-time tactics computer game based upon the Warhammer Fantasy Battle table-top game and figurines. It was developed and published by Mindscape, and released in November 1995 for Microsoft Windows, and on PlayStation in November 1996. The game's story takes place within the Warhammer Fantasy world setting, and focuses on players managing a group of mercenaries, who take on work for various clients but become involved in stopping a plot by the Skaven. The game's main focus is on battles that feature a mixture of medieval warfare and fantasy elements, using a variety of units based upon those from within the Warhammer setting.

Following its release, the game received mixed feedback with some criticism made over elements of its gameplay. A sequel to the game was later released in 1998, entitled Warhammer: Dark Omen, with the game being later made available at GOG.com in 2015.

Gameplay

All of the game focuses on a single-player campaign, in which the players takes control of a mercenary force within Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy world setting, managing their army, deciding on what units to take on a mission, how many reinforcements a unit is given, and what missions are undertaken. While the campaign focuses upon a linear path, the player has the freedom to determine what path the story takes, as well as undertaking optional missions for extra gold crowns – the choices made also impacts what units a player receives, and what battles they face. Each mission features a briefing that outlines the goals the player will be given, and provide a fee for the mercenary's services – an advance fee if the mission is taken (and if provided), and a competition fee once the mission is over, minus any penalties occurred by the player per any special arrangements that must be adhered to (i.e. not allowing any innocents to be killed), and including bonuses the player receives (i.e. number of kills made). Once a mission is chosen, the player then selects the units they will use for it, with each unit that is chosen deducting a fee from the player's coffers – by default, the player must always use the unit commanded by the mercenary leader, while some units the player can use do not charge a fee if selected.

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Units in the game are based upon those from the Warhammer setting, ranging from cavalry, infantry, ranged, artillery, magic users, and specialised troops. What units a player can use depends on the player's overall progress in the campaign – more units become available later on in the game to hire, though some depend on the path the player is taking, while at times the player gains access to certain units that remain with temporarily until after a certain milestone (i.e. completing a chain of missions). Once the player has chosen their units, they then proceed with the mission, with most often consisting of at least one battle to take on. Conflict takes place on a battlefield, which differs between battles, often with various forms of obstacles and terrain, with enemy units varying in type and when they appear – some are already in the battle, while others arrive after some time. Before battle, players can deploy their units where they wish within a designated deployment area, during a "Deployment Phase", though this is not possible when the player's army is ambushed during a march; instead, they must begin a fight with their units arranged in the manner chosen when setting out the marching formation. Once battle begins, the objective mainly is to rout the enemy units that appear on the battlefield, while failure occurs mainly when the player loses all units who either are killed or routed.

Like other battlefield based RTS games like Total War, players can change the formation of their units, charge them into enemies, and allow the game's AI to control their behaviour with enemy units. The game also features a special "boost" system, in that the player can give a temporary boost to a unit's strength when engaged with an enemy, though this must be used sparingly, in order to not ignoring other units in the battle. Shadow of the Horned Rat incorporates the use of magic in battles, in a more primitive manner to that of later titles such as King Arthur: The Role-Playing Wargame. Magic units a player can control can use magic spells in battle, with more spells made available as the unit improves from further usage – each spell has a cost, and consumes power, which is displayed on a special meter in the player's HUD interface; if the player has no power available, no spells can be used. In addition, units can make use of magic items to help them out – some can be used for temporary amount of time, others for the duration of a battle, while some require the player to choose a target. More magic items can be found during the course of the campaign, with some hidden within a select number of battlefields.

Once a battle is over, the player is given a debriefing, which provides a rundown on how many enemies were killed, what losses were made in a unit, and how much experience a unit receives. Losses are divided into two types – injured soldiers of a unit are unable to return until after the next battle, while those killed must be replaced between battles and missions, often when the army is in a town, with the number available to reinforce the unit varying at times. Units which receive experience, often from killing enemies, will eventually get stronger and more skillful in battle, though the cost of replacing lost soldiers increases as a result – a unit's level of experience is represented by skulls, with one skull indicating an inexperienced unit, and four skulls representing an elite unit.

Plot

Following a raid on the tower of a sorcerer, a skaven grey seer named Thanquol discovers that a crystal in their possession is actually a piece of a runic crystal that can power an ancient elven artifact known as the Menhir, allowing it to channel magic wherever one directs it. Seeking to use it conquer the Old World, Thanquol launches a search for the other pieces, while creating a specially enchanted axe that allows him to manipulate an orc warboss named Urgat Rip-Eye into launching raids against the humans and dwarves in order to weaken them and divert their attention. At the same time, Thanquol orders a hunt for an elf named Ceridan, who could impede Thanquol's plans by warning others of the encroaching danger.

Whilst working within the Border Princes, Morgan Bernhardt, commander of the "Grudgebringer" mercenaries, is approached by Sven Carlsson, one of the aforementioned princes, who contracts him into capturing a rogue border prince working with the skaven. However, the skaven kill the prince, and then attack Carlsson's hometown while the mercenaries conduct a patrol for him, capturing his adviser Ilmarin. Bernhardt manages to rescue him along with a dwarven regiment seeking to warn their king of increased skaven activity, only to learn that Ilmarin is in reality Ceridan, a ranger from the Black Mountains, who has become increasingly concerned with the Skaven activity and requests the need to go to Loren Forest. Upon learning that Carlsson was captured by orcs, Ceridan requests Bernhardt's aid to rescue him.