Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review - a thunderous triple-A spectacle that's truly electric in co-op
The campaign in Space Marine 2 is an impressive and exciting continuation of the first game, but the most impressive aspect of the game's intense combat can be found in its cooperative Operations mode.
I have always been cautious of people who claim that a game is more enjoyable when played in cooperation, as nearly every task is enhanced by the company of friends. Even cleaning the sink becomes more enjoyable when you have a few buddies goofing around in the kitchen with you, passing you extra scrubbers and helping you out when you feel overwhelmed by what you find in the drain.
Space Marine 2 really shines when playing together with friends, and not just because your friend Dan keeps making jokes about 'Krak grenades' being the result of eating too many beans. The campaign is improved with the addition of other players, but the true essence of Space Marine 2 lies in its post-story chaos: the class-based Operations that resemble Left 4 Dead.
It's important to note that Space Marine 2 is not boring when playing alone. Saber Interactive's campaign does an amazingly ridiculous job in continuing Relic's essential 7/10. The plot focuses on the Ultramarine Titus, who has been demoted to a Lieutenant in the major blue brotherhood after being accused of heresy in the first game. The first mission sets the stage for all of this in an enjoyable manner that I won't spoil, but ultimately Titus ends up leading a new team of marines in a large-scale mission to free three Imperial planets from a Tyranid invasion.
When I talk about how big Space Marine 2 is, I mean it is huge! The game's main story takes you through enormous gothic Hive Cities under attack by Tyranid spores, massive battlefields filled with lasgun fire, and huge Imperial fortresses with cathedral-sized artillery guns. It's a stunning portrayal of the 40k universe, and feels like a truly cutting-edge game.
The main difference that stands out here is the busyness of the screen; the skies are always crowded with swirling flocks of bird-like Tyranids, and encounters with more powerful enemies in the later stages of the game feature some of the most impressive special effects you'll find anywhere outside of CERN. However, the standout feature in Space Marine 2 is the huge, churning Tyranids swarms. The game really impresses with the way it shows these swarms advancing towards you from the background, or pouring out from a spore-missile that hits right in the middle of the battlefield.
In Space Marine 2, the Tyranids play a crucial role as the main enemy you will face throughout the game. You will need to become skilled in battling their ever-growing numbers as you progress through the campaign. Just like in the first game, combat in Space Marine 2 involves a mix of close-quarters and ranged fighting. You will wield chainswords and Thunder Hammers to take out groups of enemies up close, while using boltguns and plasma incinerators to weaken tougher foes or eliminate targets from a distance. The brutal executions from the first game also make a return, with gruesome actions like impaling Tyranids on their own claws, crushing their heads with armored hands, or tearing off faces of floating Zoanthrope enemies.
However, despite sharing similar elements, there are additional details that make the system more complex this time. Saber has added a touch of FromSoft influence to the dodge and parry system in the game. Executing enemies will replenish your armor, allowing you to stay in battles longer similar to Doom Eternal. The most intriguing feature is the gun strike. A well-timed dodge or parry will mark your opponent, giving you the chance to pull out your sidearm and take a shot at them, knocking them back and possibly setting them up for an execution. This new mechanic is a fantastic innovation, reminiscent of Gears of War's active reload in how much it adds to the gameplay experience.
In my opinion, the combat in Space Marine 2 is generally fantastic. However, at times it can feel like trying to navigate a chaotic crowd while playing a difficult game like Bloodborne. Although Space Marine 2 is not as challenging as games by the developer Fromsoft, it does require you to remember a lot of information. There are moments when your attempt to execute a stylish move, such as grabbing a leaping enemy or using a gun attack, gets disrupted by the chaotic environment. Additionally, some of the weapon impacts could be more impactful and distinct, as they tend to get lost in the background noise of the intense music and the sounds of the enemy creatures.
There are a few more things to explore in the campaign of Space Marine 2. The storyline seems to promise something interesting, delving into the emotional struggles hidden beneath the tough exterior of the Ultramarines. Titus, the main character, has been through a lot since the last game, and his past experiences and the doubts surrounding him clearly affect him, despite his attempts to brush them off. His new squadmates, Gadriel and Chairon, are not happy about being assigned to work under Titus, and their skepticism grows as Titus starts to act more unpredictably. You can sense their reluctance to speak up as they follow Titus around, indirectly questioning and even criticizing him through the elaborate language of the Ultramarines.
Saber really wants you to see its characters as more than just tough fighters, and I appreciated how the story subtly reveals their feelings by how they try to hide them. However, the campaign doesn't explore this aspect much further and instead relies more on cliches and pleasing the fans as it goes on. While still enjoyable, it doesn't reach the level of depth it initially hints at in the first half.
Another important point to note is that the campaign is not as strong when played alone. Many parts are clearly meant for cooperative play, and combat is less reliable in single-player mode. The Tyranid swarms are not as intense as they should be, with some battles ending abruptly and leaving you to finish off enemies your AI teammates didn't handle. However, when a Zoanthrope shows up, the game becomes extremely difficult. The AI companions struggle to handle the increased enemy presence, forcing you to dodge frantically while attempting to defeat the powerful foe.
When playing together as a team, the gameplay in the campaign feels smoother. The Tyranids move more fluidly, battles become more intense, and the challenges are less extreme. Gadriel and Chairon also come with their own unique abilities, which adds a new aspect to replaying the campaign.
In my opinion, Space Marine 2 shines the most in its Operations mode rather than the campaign. This mode includes six unique missions that feel like mini-campaigns, each with its own twists. Players get to control a specific class of Space Marine with special abilities. For example, Assault Marines have jetpacks and Thunder Hammers for maximum impact, while Bulwark Marines carry shields and can deploy a standard that creates an armor-regenerating field. Personally, I really enjoy playing as the Vanguard Marine, who uses a combat knife and a grappling hook to take down enemies from a distance, which is exhilarating. Another unique feature is the dynamic Tyranid swarms, controlled by an AI director similar to Left 4 Dead, which adjusts the frequency and intensity of attacks and allows larger enemies to call for reinforcements. All of these elements require players to work together as a team and lead to intense battles.
The campaign section of Space Marine 2 offers amazing spectacles, while Operations allows the game's mechanics to shine. The Operations missions are comparable in size to those in the campaign. The first mission, Inferno, is connected to an early campaign mission where you control a secondary marine team trying to stop Tyranids from attacking a Mechanicus facility by detonating a massive Prometheum bomb. There is a intense central moment where you must protect the bomb while it primes, and the final battle against the Tyranid swarm is just as impressive as anything found in the campaign.
Each mission in Space Marine 2 takes around one hour to finish, and more will be added after the game is released. The PvP multiplayer mode is also quite good, although it doesn't feel as natural to the game's overall systems. There is potential for Space Marine 2 to have a lasting appeal even after its launch. Some people may view this as a negative reflection of the current state of AAA gaming, where linear, single-player action games are expected to include live-service elements. However, this has been the norm for over a decade now. The original Space Marine game already had a multiplayer mode when it was released, following the trend set by games like Call of Duty. In Space Marine 2, the multiplayer aspect doesn't feel forced or added as an afterthought. As I mentioned earlier, playing the campaign in cooperative mode enhances the experience, while the Operations missions are particularly well-done. Regardless of what the game developers have planned for future updates, I am eager to replay some of these missions now.
I have a problem with Space Marine 2's multiplayer features. There is no separate menu for these modes. You have to enter your campaign first, switch to the mode you want, invite your friends, adjust your abilities and equipment if needed. It is a slow and tedious process, and I wish there was a menu that could do all this on one screen.
However, in a field that is currently unstable and unpredictable, Space Marine 2 stands out as a strategic and successful move. It brings back nostalgic feelings of older third-person action games while also being updated for today's gaming world. The game has a great appearance and allows players to battle aliens with a powerful hammer, making it hard not to enjoy. It's like the video game version of a big bucket of KFC, satisfyingly chaotic, probably not the healthiest choice, and best enjoyed with others.
We received a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 copy for review from Focus Interactive.
