It should be noted that Warhammer 40,000 Dakka Squadron is not the most visually stunning game, even on PC, and the Switch port does not do much to help the game’s look. However, the visuals are not the big draw of the game, no that is the Orks themselves and Dakka Squadron is a game that understands the works very well. There have been other Ork games in recent years, but Dakka Squadron raised the bar for all of the ones to follow.
You will start out the campaign by choosing one of the Ork Klans to be a part of and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. This choice won’t affect the game’s story but will instead act as your class for stats as you play. The overall goal of the game is a simple one, as you will fly through the sky on missions and try and blow things up. It is a bit simple, but when you factor in the Orks, it becomes extremely fun.
As someone with an Ork army on the tabletop ( the only non-Space Marine army I have right now), I really enjoyed the little touches the game had to highlight the Orks. The Ork dialogue is accurate to the lore, and you will take missions from a boss who will deliver hilarious dialogue sure to delight fans as he sends you on your missions. The humour is just right and it shows the game developers understood the assignment well.
As for the gameplay itself, it is a chaotic mess in the best way possible, with your craft controlling well, and the utterly explosive nature of the Orks shining through in the combat. Everything feels and controls just right and there are plenty of lore-accurate features to the craft and the missions that typically get left out for pragmatic reasons in some adaptations but shine well here. There is just something fun about being a war-loving Ork going around in an aircraft and blasting others to pieces and blowing buildings to smithereens.
The game runs extremely well on Switch in terms of gameplay and framerate and it helps that the game is not too demanding while still being bombastic in its own way. Yes, this can be a bit simplistic at times, but this fits the Orks well with their love of destruction and war. Some may feel this is not enough for the game to succeed, but an aerial combat game starring the Orks could not be done in a different way without becoming bogged down in overcomplicated mechanics.
If you love Warhammer 40,000 and especially the Orks, then you will immediately find a lot to love in Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron. It is bombastic and over the top while not overcomplicating things, and knowing how to play to its strengths. There is a lot of fun to be had here, and with a great Switch version, this is a fun way to experience the Orks and get to understand them. This is best played in short bursts, but then again, the Orks were always like that so it fits as well. Just a great game overall for all to enjoy.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
