The world of Warhammer 40K is vast. Set in our galaxy during the 41^st millennium, it sees gigantic armies battle it out across the stars in a universe where there is only war. It’s a vast setting full of alien races and nefarious powers. Unfortunately, Rogue Factor’s Necromunda: Underhive Wars, which is set in the 40K universe, ignores all of that vastness to focus on a gang war on some polluted mudball.

Necromunda: Underhive Wars takes place on Necromunda, A “Hive World” in the Imperium of Man. Littering the planet’s surface is a series of massive urban industrial structures known as hive cities. Imagine 20 New Yorks stacked on top of each other and you come close to the depressing hellscape that is an Imperial hive city. On Necromunda, the hives are ruled over by six grand houses, each of whom work hand in hand to ensure the planet’s success. But beneath the surface, the houses use street gangs to wage war with each other in the lower levels.

The major problem with Necromunda: Underhive Wars is that the game feels so empty and barren. Ash greys and dirty browns make up the colour pallete for levels. This colour scheme may work in the tabletop game, where brightly painted plastic gangs and natural lighting provide much needed illumination, but in a video game it all looks so drab. Add in the muted colour schemes for the gangs, and it’s like a mid 2000’s shooter vomited in a wargaming store.

The emptiness extends to the gameplay. While it attempts to mimic the tabletop mechanics, it falls flat. There’s a charm to the physical version that just feels lacking here.  Every match felt drawn out and boring. Attacks ring hollow, and most turns end with nothing happening. Weapons lack a weight to them and even melee attacks feel floaty. Couple this with the glacial pace at which you earn rewards and unlock extras, and progression becomes an unfun chore.

Speaking of bland, the story mode lacks flavour. In fact, it’s the narrative equivalent of cardboard. It’s meant to act as a tutorial for the game, with some content being cut off until after completion. The problem? The story mode is fifteen chapters long. Fifteen chapters of slow, plodding, uninteresting narrative and hand holding on top of an already slow game. It’s at times like watching paint dry.

The characters in the story are also so bland. Nothing memorable about them. From the basic Escher gang you start out as, to the Goliath and Orlock gangs you play as further on. None of them stand out. I played through all fifteen chapters of the story and not a single moment was memorable. I sit here and actively try and recall even a single moment. And I draw blanks on any of their names. And while yes, the game features a very faithful recreation of the Warhammer universe, you would hardly be able to tell if not for the logo in the opening credits. Devoid of any of the more recognisable 40K aspect, Necromunda looks like just another post-apocalyptic game.

It’s so hard to even get invested in Necromunda: Underhive Wars, and not just in the story but in the game overall. Part of what drives the Necromunda table-top game is the creation of your gang. You construct, glue, base, and paint these little plastic dudes, give them custom loadouts, and little flourishes. You embellish them until they eventually they aren’t just any dude, they’re your dudes. And as you play through a campaign with your friends, stories and personalities start to take shape. Suddenly your mechanic isn’t just your mechanic, he’s Dave Olufsen and his deft hands and quick thinking were what helped you snatch victory.

But with the video game, there’s none of that. Maybe it’s the fact online feels so cookie cutter. Maybe it’s because customisation involves clicking some button and choosing from a grid. Maybe it’s because interaction between players is practically non-existent. But the magic is missing. There’s no connection. It’s unfun.