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It’s easy nowadays to think back on older games and their simplicity. Think back to the days of the Xbox 360, and the way games were just fun for fun’s sake. No huge storefront or extra fluff, just simple, clean design that was fun to play. Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 recaptures that same feeling while simulationly feeling modern and slick.
I can best describe it as the most advanced and polished early 2010s game I’ve ever played, but that doesn’t do it justice. It is an epic, action-packed, violent, and damn right wicked time, and easily one of this generation’s best releases for both the Warhammer hobby, and gaming as a whole.
Key Details
- Developer: Saber Interactive
- Publisher: Focus Entertainment
- Platforms: PC via Steam, Xbox X|S, PlayStation5
- Price: $59.99+
- Review Copy Provided: No
There Is Only War
Before anything else, I first need to say this. Thank you Saber. Thank you for making the most immersive and top-quality representation of the Warhammer 40K universe I have ever seen.
I could leave it there, but I’d rather regal you with all the reasons why this is the case, starting with the characters and story.
Players take on the role of Captain Titus, who following the events of the 2011 original, has returned to his brothers in arms, the Ultramarines, after many years of service elsewhere. Upon his return, he is thrown into a new conflict against the Tyranids, an alien swarm that devours all in their path, and along with his new squad mates Gabriel and Chairon, must do all he can to fight back the Xenos hordes in the name of the god Emperor. And perhaps, maybe, a certain traitor legion will rear their head amidst the chaos.
What follows is a roughly 12-14 hour story filled with equal parts stoic one-liners and epic spectacle, which takes place across six chapters of rather impressive length, each clocking in around two-ish hours to complete. Across those missions, we see these hulking towers of muscle and fury do all the wicked things Space Marines do, shredding aliens, firing massive weapons, generally being walking death machines, and that is, unsurprisingly, wicked.
With that said, they aren’t dull monotone husks despite the gritty setting. Instead, you have three characters with whom you see a natural bond grow as they go through hell together. Titus’ mysterious past, at least mysterious to his comrades, proves to be a vital part of the story.
As they learn those secrets and doubt sets in, it all comes together in a few tense moments and confrontations that all fit the setting while also allowing for some character development that, typically for the setting, may not have much. Those and several other inclusions that are equally well done and fit the tone of 40k make these characters some of the most faithful representations seen in the hobby’s media.
That’s not to say it’s some epic character piece because it isn’t, nor should it be. Warhammer 40k should be about the tone and setting, and everything within that world should serve that setting, and Titus and his brothers do just that. It’s dark, bleak, oppressive, and so f***ing cool, and that’s what the setting should be.
It helps that the aesthetics are top-notch and are, without question, the best-looking and most faithful version of the 40k universe we’ve seen in media. Every single location, whether the swampy jungles or hulking space reaching cities, is awe-inspiring, with detail that is frankly mind-blowing, especially with the intricacies this universe is known for. But Focus captured it perfectly, and it meant I spent way too much time in the photo mode while I played.
Then you have the sound design, which is again stellar, with gunfire loud and meaty, the sounds of alien Tyranids hordes rushing towards you, the revving of your chainsword – yes, I said chainsword – all heighten the experience. It makes each gunfight and melee feel massive, and the great performances of Mark Strong as Titus and the rest of the case just ooze badass.
Every skull, every metal structure, every Tyranid corpse, every Space Marine armor piece, every single aspect of the sound and sights of Space Marine 2 are fantastic, and all that just made seeing the world and experiencing the story all the better.
Of course, those unfamiliar with the setting may be a bit lost. Lore drops, names, people, and concepts will go over your head, but it’s a world worth getting lost in and learning about, trust me. Though I recommend playing the first game, just for clarity in some story moments, and it being pretty wicked.
Saber deserves all the recognition for their attention to detail here, because everything they have created serves the tone and setting of Warhammer 40k, and does so with flying grimdark, muted colors. Just wait for the moment you raise your banner in battle. You’ll see what I mean.
Purge the Xeno; It Is Really Fun
For all its visual splendor, what makes Space Marine 2 such a joy to play is the gameplay, and holy crap is it good. Being the 9-foot tall angel of death that you are, you naturally want to feel powerful, and the game gives you this in quite possibly the most rewarding power fantasy you can hope for.
Combat is separated into two main styles. First, there is ranged, which has you use all manner of bolter weapons, flesh-melting Melta guns, plasma cannons, and heavy weaponry to blast away enemies, all with immense satisfaction. The third-person gunplay feels fluid and responsive despite the hulking marines, but that doesn’t mean the weapons feel weak, oh no. Every bolt shot and plasma blast unleashed is meaty and full of weight, giving everything a sense of power that is intoxicating and is all the better when you blast through hordes with ease.
As for melee combat, that is equally satisfying and also the real star of the show in my opinion. Using a variety of weapons, you cut down Tyranid swarms in their hundreds, as well as several special units that require a bit more tactical thinking to deal with.
In doing so, you get that incredible feeling of power, but it is also the key way to recover your armor in combat, as using executions, similar to the DOOM remakes, have you violently mangle and pulverize your enemy into mulch, recovering your shield to keep you in the fight, and also look spectacularly brutal. Throw in some combo potential and playstyle differences between them, and cutting down the Xenos feels immensely fun. Plus, you have a special ability when you really want to let loose.
Together, these two blend into a dance of death that is pure power fantasy, with equal parts clean and concise control, and weighty mayhem, made all the better by good enemy and level design. Explosive cylinders, high ground, and several secondary weapons and equipment like shock grenades give a little extra spice and tactics in certain situations, and enemies accomplish the one thing they should in a game like this.
They are fun to shoot at and to be shot by.
Beyond the weaker hordes are several special enemies, some that need an up-close approach due to armor, while others, like the Lictor, turn invisible and stalk you, requiring you to dodge and move quickly to avoid its attacks.
All of these and more make up your cannon fodder, and the need to adapt and handle each makes combat dynamic. It is also an added bonus that killing these stronger enemies will see the smaller ones die as you sever their link to the hive mind, making their deaths rewarding for gameplay and just because.
However, I do have to mention two gripes I had, with the first being the lack of customization for your squadmates in the campaign. Whilst they have their own abilities, you cannot change their loadouts, or give them orders to do so in a mission, which was a bit of a bummer, considering certain times it would be helpful if they could grab that plasma gun. It also doesn’t help that they can be, shall I say, absent at times, and their AI wasn’t always so reliable. I can imagine playing the co-op would be a much more rewarding experience.
There were also a couple of performance issues, frame drops, the occasional freeze-up, and the fact I had to reinstall the game to get it to work past the first cutscene on my PC. That said, these did seem to calm down a bit following a patch or two and tweaked settings here and there, but it’s still worth mentioning because it was sometimes quite a frustration. Barring those few issues, they didn’t dampen the expereince too much, and ultimately, I had way too much fun to be bothered by them frequently. I also recommend using a controller since PC controls can be a bit awkward. Plus, PS5 haptic feedback is wicked with this one.
So, all in all, you’ve got an extremely polished and exciting gameplay loop here, some simple enough objectives, plenty to shoot, plenty to kill, and some extra violent set pieces to enjoy. It’s not complicated or shoving too many systems down your throat. It’s just pure controlled fun and carnage, and its that simplicity that makes it easy to enjoy and appreciate.
We Are His Legions
Now, along with the campaign, we have a few multiplayer additions, both of which are equally as fun as the main campaign. These are separated into two distinct modes, PvE Operations and PvP Eternal War.
Both of these modes come with six classes, each that fits different playstyles, such as a tanky Bulwark or the Sniper, and all have their own distinct looks and feelings. What’s more, cosmetic progression is shared, so its easy to earn new looks to make them your own.
Let’s start with the PvP offering, which has teams of 6v6 battle against each other in three modes: Annihilation, Seize Ground, and Capture and Control. Across these modes, players blast, slash, and generally crush their teams for kills and objectives, all in pursuit of victory and progression, which allows new weapons and customization unlocks.
Beyond that, there isn’t too much else to the PvP offering and it is probably the least interesting part of Space Marine 2, but still one that you can enjoy. It’s very old-school multiplayer in that regard; think Halo or Gears of War, and you have the right idea. It’s fun with some simple progression.
Operations, on the other hand, is the real measure of the game’s longevity and multiplayer potential. These PvE missions are tied into the game’s campaign, as you play the supporting squads that aid Titus on his missions, complete other objectives that are mentioned during the campaign. It’s a cool way to tie it all together, and it’s made better but the variety and expanded options this mode offers.
Like PvP, you have the six classes to choose from, but compared to Eternal War, there is a lot more uniqueness and choice in how they play, since this mode offers up a lot more in the way of gameplay customization. Along with multiple weapons, which have much more distinct stat differences and gameplay implications, each class has its own perk tree.
These perks, which are relatively simple, give a bit more player agency in how they want their class to feel. You can have a Bulwark that becomes stronger as they lose shield, or an Assault which focuses on movement to buff their damage.
Along with perks, there is the weapon progression itself, with more varieties to unlock that vary in stats, which is coupled with their own skill tree, which again, is pretty simple, but it adds that little bit more accomplishment and choice. No matter the weapon or class, there is progression to be found, and it’s always fun to feel each class get stronger and expand their capabilities.
Together, these make Operations an incredibly satisfying mode, which also has good replayability across its six missions thanks to the scaling difficulty. The higher you level up, the higher difficulty you take on, which features notable changes to enemies and counters in missions, making them feel different and varied. They also get very tough, so be prepared for the ramp-up.
And maybe some connection issues. For the most, I was able to find games relatively well and have decent connection, but on occasion it would spotty at best, or disconnect me entirely. Trying to play with a friend of mine proved the most tiring, since some bug or server issue is making partying up near impossible at times. Private lobbies and fixes are coming. But as of right now. It worth noting you might have some rougher evenings.
With that said, these two modes offer something for every kind of player, with both having a healthy amount to play and do, with good progression – which is separate between modes, I should add – meaning you will likely have alot to do. What’s more, there are already several major updates planned for the Space Marine 2‘s first year, including a Horde mode and new PvE and PvP offerings, so this already robust package is going to get bigger and better.
Final Score – 9/10
Let’s get to the point: Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is the best game I’ve played this year.
With a great campaign and plentiful multiplayer offerings, coupled with the absolute love and care put into this universe, there is no doubt in my mind that Space Marine 2 is a triumph for gaming.
It’s not trying to be anything other than a raging good time, and the fact it’s feature complete, has no BS battle passes, no microtransactions, and has revealed clear plans for the future, makes this the antiphasis to gaming’s current state. And guess what? It’s a bloody game because of that, and it should be supported just for that. It’s just even better that the game is awesome.
I hope the game’s success means we see more from the series and even more additions in the future, because I know this game deserves the attention and praise.
Praise the Emperor, for we have been blessed with a near masterpiece.
Did some of this review make no sense? Don’t worry; we have a guide that can help you get to grips with the Warhammer 40k universe. You can also check out our Dataslate guide to help you find this elusive collectible.
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