As the Ultramarines fight across the galaxy with courage and honor, players are invited back into their Chapter to follow the story of Titus and his brothers inWarhammer 40,000:Space Marine 2. It’s been a long time since fans have seen Titus in action, and developers Saber Interactive revel in the opportunity to bring back familiarity to an ever-lasting war against the horrors of the galaxy.
Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine 2is a long-awaited sequel that’s well worth the wait. There is a piece of the pie for everyone, no matter the veteran or fresh status of each player. As a third-person action game that blends elements of hack-and-slash,Space Marine 2strives to be a fun experience that makes players feel like unstoppable weapons of war while being something both new, refreshing, and rewarding to those familiar with the first game from over 13 years ago.
An Exciting Story That Delves into Brotherhood, Suspicion, and War
Nearly two hundred years after the events ofWarhammer 40,000:Space Marine, protagonist Titus has been reinstated into the Ultramarines, but demoted. Now as a Lieutenant, Titus must contend with his past and continue his unwavering mission of loyalty to the Emperor with new brothers at his side: Gadriel and Charion.
Contention and drama arise within the story to highlight the flaws and motivations of the men behind the armor. Titus has a checkered service record, and through shame, his secrecy surrounding it sprouts seeds of doubt among Gadriel and Charion. As for Gadriel, he’s someone whocraves leadershipthrough a near-blind following of the codex, questioning Titus out of envy and mistrust to stew in suspicion and intrigue. Then there’s Charion, a loyal and respectable brother of the Ultramarines who can be blinded by rage that reveals old wounds. Clear traits and arcs allow players to care more for these characters rather than rely on a wow factor for how good they are at killing Tyranids.
Learning to fight together and trust one another throughout the campaign highlights the burden shared by these brothers, as they cannot pick and choose their loyalties and squad mates, which leads to some tense moments waiting to erupt. It’s always interesting to hear them converse on a mission and see how they deal withthreats, expected and unexpected. The nearly 12-hour campaign is a lot of fun, but the final act arises rather abruptly when it feels like there is further room for more mystery as the chemistry between the squad grows.
The Swarm Engine Evolves the Potential of Third-Person Shooters
Saber Interactive continues to impress with itsevolving tech for the modern console era. The Swarm Engine adds a level of detail to the screen that is unseen in other games; it makes the Tyranid hordes feel endless and overwhelming but not unstoppable. The never-ending galactic war has never felt so real, with hundreds of enemies piling on top of each other. This provides gamers with plenty of cannon fodder for their eternal Emperor without impacting the performance of the game’s fidelity and frame rate.
This impressive engine in action also complements the mission variety, as there are a few set pieces involved that help to break up repetition. Some situations, like battling Tyranids in pitch black with nothing but the muzzle flash of a Bolter for light, make for some memorable additions to the level design, which are further complimented by the hordes on screen.
Within boththe Tyranid swarmand Chaos Chapter, varied enemy types challenge Ultramarines through different methods of attack and strategy that lead to complexity and further mastery of how to deal with each unit. Some of the larger and more imposing enemies have smarter AI that requires a more skilled hand behind the Chainsword or Bolter. These battles boil with intensity during boss fights, which may be sparse, but they are extremely thrilling in scale and threat.
Exhilarating Combat That Is Beautifully Gruesome
Ultramarines feel unstoppable and undeterred within the ultimate power fantasy. The armor feels hulking yet maneuverable, and as players continue through a battle, that gleaming detail on their armor is set to finish with a bloody sheen that marks a veteran status of war. It’s easy to immerse in each heavy step and crushing charge of theSpace Marine armor, while never feeling tank-like to control. An assortment of quick movements like dodges, rolls, and parries keeps combat flowing, fast, and attentive. These defensive movements are crucial, as some enemies have more telegraphed and carefully precise attacks; missing these can be punishing but rewarding when countered, much like the mechanics expected from a Soulslike title.
Space Marine 2competes with the best third-person action games of the current era thanks to a diverse arsenal of weapons that vary in look, sound, and feel. Fast-firing, far-reaching, or hard-hitting,each weapon offers varied playstyles, and the kick from each gun is compensated by the bulky armor that makes shooting feel so fun and powerful. Laying waste to enemy hordes with a speedy Bolt Rifle and then switching to a penetrating Plasma Pistol allows for a marriage between weapon types that gives the ultimate feel of cool that aids in the flow of combat to avoid stiff moments that leave players vulnerable.
For the most part, melee combat was a preferred strategy simply because it felt great to hack-and-slash through enemy hordes and engage in a one-on-one fight. A decent selection of melee weapons allows for extremely satisfying combos at varying attack speeds that provide entertaining and brutal animations and power. With melee combat, there’s a certain risk of play considering the up-close-and-personal nature of the attack, butSpace Marine 2features a health-steal mechanicto siphon lost health based on damage output to compensate for aggressive playstyles.
There’s further aggression that grants brief moments of respite thanks to the use of finishers, which engages an entertaining savagery that also grants temporary invulnerability and returning armor durability. A versatile assortment of finisher animations depending on the enemy type and melee weapon equipped indulges in a creative influx of gore as Ultramarines rip enemies apart with robust violence.
The Epic Fight Continues Through Operations and Eternal War
Bound by brotherhood and the mutual interest of eradicating heretics and Tyranids,Space Marine 2provides endless fun for solo players but an even more entertaining spectacle with friends and strangers.Co-op is easily accessiblethrough the main campaign, Operations, and Eternal War, providing fresh experiences with unique squads in terms of abilities, classes, and customization for those seeking repeated fun in PvE and PvP.
There is a ton of replayability in Operations, which act as three-player PvE missions imperative to Titus’ success. In Operations, players can choose between six classes, each with their own unique draws. Classes offer different playstyles thanks to versatile weaponry, perk trees, and special abilities. This allows each player in the unit to have an essential loadout that will further strengthen the brotherhood of their team. With a role for everyone, players can fight through Operations of varying difficulty forXP and Armory Datato build-craft the best Ultramarine for each mission, but the limited amount of Operations leaves some desire awaiting in thepost-launch roadmap.
Operations certainly feel like the most attention-driven aspect ofSpace Marine 2thanks to the rewards, upgrades, and experimenting playstyles. Part of these rewards are the customization options for each class, all of which are unlocked through in-game activity. For those well-versed inWarhammer 40,000, it’s nice to see representation from Chapters both popular and obscure, and it shows layers of importance to ensure fans are treated to one of the bestWarhammer 40Kgames of all time.
A Rewarding Warhammer 40,000 Experience for Die-Hard Fans and Newcomers
The level of detail and the world-building forSpace Marine 2is immense and respectable. Walking around the Battle Barge and hearing the conversations among Ultramarines and Adeptus Mechanicus before missions provides a lived-in feeling to the ship. On the battlefield, players will find human soldiers who will stop to kneel in respect and whisper among each other their fears and awe, which all aid inenriching the world further in satisfying ways.
There were many moments where a battle had been won, and instead of pressing onward, it was nice to admire the gorgeous gothic architecture of Avarax. The only real issue with these worlds is that outside of their visual beauty, exploring them doesn’t offer much other than a few data slates and a few scraps of equipment like health stims and ammunition.
Even without knowing the lore aroundWarhammer 40,000,Space Marine 2does a great job of inviting new fans into the franchise by showing the unwavering courage, sacrifice, and devotion of these super soldiers, but that doesn’t mean things are dumbed-down to disrespect die-hard fans. Being a veteran of the franchise isn’t essential to the enjoyment ofSpace Marine 2; while it might further satisfy the experience, the universe is brought to life with such detail that it makes for the perfect gateway for newcomers.
Reviewed on PC
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2launches September 9 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Game Rant was provided with a PC code for this review.
