Developer: Ripcord
Publisher: Ripcord

A few years ago, SSI published a series of games based on Games Workshop's acclaimed Warhammer universe to some success. This time, Games Workshop has teamed up with Ripcord Games to bring the popular Gorkamorka tabletop racing action game the PC.

Ripcord Games has worked to flesh out the story rich world of Gorkamorka, which is not the typical RPG or strategy title that Games Workshop computer games are traditionally known for but is rather a racing simulation with some hardcore vehicular combat. The almost surreal back-story is that space faring Orks have been marooned on a planet with limited resources. These hardy survivors form small clans and begin to compete in races in massive armed cars with the ultimate prize being the privilege to leave this hellish planet!

The plot is actually not as important to the game as the action is; each car comes with two Orks, one to drive and the other to fire the gun. Though one person can play against the computer, or against other players and toggle between driving and firing, the game really becomes fun when multiple players form two man teams, putting one player behind the wheel and the other in control of the firepower. Playing Gorkamorka on your own simply will not do this game justice.

The action is swift, neither the driving nor the shooting is precise and the vehicles take on real damage with no power-ups available to repair this damage. Though there did not seem to be any special weapons other than the mounted machine gun, I was told that the crowds take part in the action, which might replace the need for special weapon power-ups. The Orks in the stands are quickly won over by one or two of the teams, and create their own diversions for the other players. However, the walls of the stadium are so high and the race so fast that it was difficult to see much of the crowds in the stands.