It took thirteen years for the story to continue. But Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is finally here. And, yep, it’s worthy of your attention.
The story of Demetrian Martin and his ironclad brethren return, in the name of the Emperor. Their job? Unite the galaxy by wiping out a dangerous scourge of aliens. But not everything is as it seems. And as the story goes on, Titus grows more into his role of Lieutenant, dedicated to his job.
It serves as a backplate for some of the meatiest action we’ve seen this generation. We’re serious. There are times you’ll face hundreds of aliens, using your melee weapons and heavy guns to wipe them out. But it all executes with an astonishing gameplay system that doesn’t let up.
And along with a single player campaign, there are co-op and multiplayer elements as well. That way, your buddies can enjoy the party. It all combines into a package that serves as a hearty meal for action gamers. It has its blemishes, but they’re minor chips in the shining Ultra armor of a Space Marine.
Space Marine 2 Brings Tight (or Is It Titus?) Gameplay
The developers at Saber Entertainment take over for the prior ones at Relic Entertainment without missing a beat. That’s because they understand what makes an action game work so well. Just look at their repertoire.
Space Marine 2’s gameplay evolves in just the right ways. The run-and-gun feels absolutely tight, with excellent reloading and near-perfect precision. But it’s with the melee combat that the game finds its footing. Not only can you deliver devastating strikes, but the parry and dodge system is just about perfect. You see indicators that let you know what to avoid – even though sometimes you’re still incredibly overwhelmed. That’s okay, the system still rewards you with health and armor by timing precision strikes.
The game does get tough in the second half, so you’ll need to stay on your toes. Fortunately, the balancing handles very well. And by that point, you can pick up even more gear (the Thunder Hammer!) to allow you to keep up with adversaries. And that makes the co-op section of the game spectacular. With two other friends, you can truly clean house while picking up some ideal gear. I wish that particular campaign was longer, but there are more coming via free DLC. Good on you, Saber.
Finally, Operations features a fireteam based challenge with online multiplayer. It’s great, with different classes available. However, some characters are better than others, which may leave some players feeling a little sore. But, like co-op, we’re guessing more balancing will come with updates down the line. Still worth trying.
Overall, Space Marine 2 offers something of value in each category. If you’re playing on your own, the campaign is an absolute banger. Not to mention incredibly satisfying when crushing Tyranid heads. (Though I do miss the Orcs from the first game a little.) The co-op is excellent and works with technical efficiency; and multiplayer is growing on me. It has something for everyone, wrapped around a sensational action package.
These days, we could certainly use that. The Emperor has truly blessed us.
Going For the Gusto With Presentation
Had Saber Interactive just stuck with a brutal gameplay system with Space Marine 2, we would’ve been happy. But they went and turned the sequel into a brilliant looking showcase as well.
The visuals are nothing short of marvelous. The worlds you travel through are amongst the best we’ve seen in the Warhammer universe. Each location, though decimated in war, is thrillingly brought to life. What’s more, the Tyranids put on a show, with thousands swarming the screen with very little slowdown. It’s wild.
Next up, the animations are very well done, particularly on the Space Marines and their devastating techniques. Of course, the carnage is satisfying too, as you deliver a thunderous blow to a waiting Tyranid. The only negative is some lacking facial animations. But we’ll forgive it, mainly because we’re too busy smashing others anyhow.
Audio is top-notch too. Along with a swelling cinematic score that never lets up, the sound effects are wild. Listening to Tyranids bite the dust collectively reminded me so much of the joy of Starship Troopers. (Maybe I just like squashing bugs, I dunno.) The voicework does go a little cornball at times, but it’s delivered with the right amount of zeal. While I’m bummed that Mark Strong didn’t return as Titus, Clive Standen takes over without missing a beat.
It’s a real showcase overall, especially if you like seeing bad guys skooshed. Like the first game, Space Marine 2 handles this with utmost valor.
That said, a remake of the first game down the road wouldn’t be the worst thing. Very few console owners can experience it nowadays since it’s not backward compatible. And I know it would be an ideal fit for the Switch. I’m sure the Emperor would agree.
Praise You, Space Marines
Ever since its announcement back two years ago, we’ve waited for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 with great anticipation. And with its arrival, it’s easy to see why. It lives up to everything that made the first game so great, but then exceeds it in every category.
The presentation is unbelievable, especially with the degree of enemies included. The gameplay holds up to every degree and makes skooshing Tyranids a real pleasure. And the aspect of modes available – single player, co-op and multiplayer – is staggering. There’s something here for everyone, provided you’re ready to fight.
This is how you make a long-anticipated sequel. And, honestly, we’d be sooooo down for a third chapter. The Space Marine legacy can live forever, as far as we’re concerned. Ultra concerned, for that matter.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Focus Entertainment and Indigo Pearl for the review codes. The game is available on September 9th for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5 and PC/Steam! (You can purchase the Gold Edition or Ultra Edition to play it now, however.)
