As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of battlefield experience under my belt, let me tell you that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has truly captured the essence of this grim dark universe. Having played through countless games set in various sci-fi and fantasy worlds, I can confidently say that Saber Interactive has created an arena of war that is second to none.
Currently, there’s an abundance of games falling under the Warhammer 40K brand, ranging from role-playing games like Rogue Trader to first-person shooters such as Necromunda and Boltgun, along with numerous tactical turn-based titles. Generally, not many fail to capture the essence and ambiance of the universe, which is renowned for portraying a grimdark future characterized by unending war. It’s challenging to name many titles that have misinterpreted their task. However, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, developed by Saber Interactive, could possibly nail the theme even more accurately than most
Originally released in 2011, featuring Mark Strong as Captain Titus in a title that gained cult status among action game enthusiasts and franchise fans, lay dormant for thirteen years. However, with the growing popularity of its license (now thirty-seven years old), there seems to be no better time than now for a comeback. And who could be more fitting to bring it back than Saber Interactive?
After achieving great success with their Left 4 Dead-like game, World War Z, Saber Interactive had demonstrated their expertise in action and suspense. What sets them apart is their unique Swarm technology, which offers an excellent platform to delve into one of Warhammer 40,000’s most notorious adversaries – the Tyranid Hive. Comprised of billions of relentless combatants controlled by a singular hive-mind, the Tyranids are among the most intriguing and lasting enemy types in Warhammer 40,000 – making them an ideal antagonist for the high-octane third-person shooter game, Space Marine 2
Approximately 200 years have passed since the events of the initial game, a significant stretch of time for us and you, but Titus remains quite vigorous. Having spent two centuries in the Death Watch, he is reappointed as a Lieutenant and assigned to lead a Primaris squad under Captain Acheran. Their mission is crucial: halt a Tyranid invasion fleet from infiltrating the Emperor’s realms at any cost. Throughout this endeavor, Titus must grapple with his past, which has left him an outcast among others, and his unyielding pragmatism creates discord within his team
The campaign plunges you immediately into intense action, keeping you engaged with relentless encounters, often outnumbered and seemingly battling against insurmountable odds. While I’ll try to avoid specifics to preserve the surprise, let me say that this campaign stands out as one of the most authentic portrayals of its universe in recent memory. Accompanied by two other marines named Chairon and Gadriel, Titus confronts endless waves of adversaries across a variety of meticulously crafted locations embodying the signature 40K feel of grim endurance
However, it’s not just the settings or ambiance that make Space Marine 2 stand out; despite its ability to make a brutally violent battlefield aesthetically pleasing, the true spectacle lies within the Tyranid Hive itself. The Swarm technology, first introduced in World War Z by Saber, is truly a sight to behold. It can display hundreds of lethal Tyranid Termagants simultaneously on the screen, charging towards you like a crashing wave of teeth and bone. Once they’re close, the AI intelligently divides them into individual units that operate independently
Enemies swiftly attack, evade your strikes, and surround you from different angles, making it simple for them to chop off your limbs if there are too many. There are also larger adversaries, along with several high-tier enemies with unique attack methods and powers, like Tyrants and Raveners. The opponents come in various forms, and even on the standard setting, they can get quite intense. However, you’re not a bunch of timid creatures cowering in the corner
In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Primaris Space Marines serve as the mainstay of the God-Emperor’s forces, acting as the de facto heroes (though they have their complexities). Each one is essentially a bio-engineered warrior in heavy armor, wielding some of the most destructive weaponry a person can handle with two hands. Saber Interactive has really pushed the boundaries here, creating an experience that makes exploring this world feel like playing a mech combat game
Titus, in simpler terms, is extraordinarily large, especially when it comes to physical stature. When facing threats, you’ll receive alerts signaled by either blue or red indicators. A blue alert can be parried, which usually leads to a powerful counterattack, whereas red alerts require quick dodging. However, masterful dodges can sometimes result in a ‘kill shot’, eliminating smaller enemies or severely damaging larger ones. Space Marine 2 offers an extensive selection of weapons, including two-handed options such as the Bolter or Melta, and handgun and melee combinations. The arsenal includes Powerfists, chainswords, heavy bolters, plasma pistols, and a range of grenades for strategic battlefield manipulation. In critical situations, a click of the right stick initiates various gory finishing moves to eliminate enemies
Regrettably, the gameplay elements introduced here don’t seem to carry over to other aspects of the game’s storyline. Although it introduces new adversaries frequently and gradually provides you with fresh weapons and loadout options, the narrative itself is quite straightforward, offering little room for exploration or deviation from the main path. There are no hidden items or collectibles to discover. The only pick-ups available are ammunition, stim-packs, and grenades, with a few Data-Slates providing additional lore in an audio format. Despite the intense enjoyment it provides, it seems that the campaign serves primarily as a prelude to the online features: Operations Mode and the Eternal War Player vs Player mode
At its launch, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 won’t have a cash-shop or in-game purchases. Instead, its profitability will rely on the Season Pass and additional Downloadable Content (DLC) featuring cosmetics and new Chapters. A great deal of work has been invested to make the online aspect, particularly Operations Mode, appealing
In this location, you have the chance to acquire a unique currency that lets you access an enormous selection of cosmetic items to personalize your online characters, aligning with either Space or Chaos Marines chapters. There’s a vast array of color schemes (each using Games Workshop’s Citadel Paints), decals, armor accents, and emblems available. You can unlock various armor sets by completing Operations missions and achieving specific milestones as individual pieces, and these customizations are compatible with the Eternal War 6v6 PvP mode
In simpler terms, Operations missions present a multi-faceted challenge for you and two other players (or bots), where you work together to accomplish various tasks such as securing positions, setting off explosives, or surviving until rescue arrives. Starting in 2025, there will also be a dedicated horde mode available. Essentially, Operations resembles World War Z set in the Warhammer 40K universe. You have limited healing options and special abilities that require cooldown periods. Additionally, the AI Director places power-ups at random locations, sometimes influenced by your performance. Elite enemies behave similarly to Special Infected, appearing unpredictably to disrupt your team and penalize speedrunners
Engaging in multiplayer sessions (which I fortunately managed a few times during my evaluation) is an enjoyable experience, yet the bot AI could use some refinement. They tend to overlook important targets and have a peculiar habit of tossing grenades while riding elevators without any discernible purpose, but it’s manageable on lower difficulty settings if your primary goal is to accumulate EXP and currency. This mode offers six distinct classes: Assault, Tactical, Vanguard, Sniper, Bulwark, and Heavy, each with 25 skills to unlock and their unique loadouts and special abilities. For instance, the Bulwark can set up a banner that increases health and armor, while the Vanguard can use a grappling hook to reach distant enemies and deliver devastating dropkicks to their alien foes, sending them hurtling into nothingness
If anything, though, Saber have gone a little too stingy on the unlocks. Not only do you need to earn enough EXP to make the skills available, you also have to pay currency to equip them. This wouldn’t be so bad, but each costs 10 or more credits, and the cosmetics cost upwards of 30 each – and most missions reward you with just 25. That’s a lot of grind, especially as EXP isn’t shared across classes. Weapons, too, can be up-levelled and customised with the same systems. I can see this being tweaked post-launch to make earning rewards a little more enticing – especially given how long an Operations mission is, easily running upwards of 20 minutes a time until you have a solid grasp of what’s expected.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 seems to offer a well-rounded gaming experience. Although the campaign might appear straightforward and sequential, it establishes the Operations Mode (where each mission takes place during the campaign events) and provides intense, satisfying third-person action similar to Gears 5. The game introduces a new enemy around halfway through, and it effectively varies objectives, providing you with a flamethrower (Pyroblaster) to clear out pests in one level, while another level requires using jump-packs for navigation
It’s clear that Saber Interactive grasped their task exceptionally well. They’ve constructed a battlefield fit for the cosmos, which longtime fans will undoubtedly adore, while novices will appreciate it for its reliable mechanics and exhilarating, responsive combat. Playing on PS5, you can truly feel every powerful stride and each chainsword roar through the controller vibrations, all while being visually immersed in a gritty, stunningly detailed world of alien wetlands and battered fortresses. With a Season Pass and roadmap already planned, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is an impressive entry into the universe and a worthy sequel to the 2011 game
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2024-09-04 19:18