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- Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is the latest hit in the gaming industry.
- The gratifying combat, stellar visuals, and brutal melee finishers make for an enjoyable back-to-basics experience.
- The game is not without its faults, but the good heavily outweighs the little bad there is.
Warhammer’s latest spin-off is all the rage at the moment. Following big releases like Black Myth: Wukong and Palworld earlier this year, nobody expected another surprise hit of this magnitude, yet here we are.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is said to be Europe’s second-biggest launch this year, and this is no small feat. As a newcomer to the franchise who got caught up in all the buzz and decided to give the game a go, it’s easy to see why everyone is so enamoured with this heart-pumping experience.
In many ways, Space Marine 2 is the antithesis of the modern AAA title. It takes me back to a more nostalgic era of gaming, one that I often look back upon with very fond memories.
Why it matters: This Warhammer spin-off may not have been on everybody’s radar, but it certainly deserves your attention.
The Gameplay Is Pure Fun
Space Marine 2 is all about the combat. This approach means that the game isn’t for everyone, and you’ll either love it or hate it. Fortunately for me, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the experience.
The core gameplay loop is built around switching between third-person shooting and melee combat, with the weapon variety on offer creating the opportunity to mix things up further. Each ranged weapon packs a punch, and I quickly grew to like the Las Fusil sniper for its utility in long-ranged combat.
Whether you choose to rain hell upon enemy hordes with the Multi-Melta or burn Xenos swarms to a crip using the Pyreblaster, there’s always fun to be had in the third-person shooting segments of combat. However, melee combat is where Space Marine 2 truly shines.
There’s nothing quite like crushing your foes with a fully charged swing of the Thunder Hammer and ending them with an immensely satisfying execution. The executions are also incredibly gory and downright brutal, and they’re short enough to where they never interrupt the flow of gameplay.
All these mechanics come together to present exhilarating combat and epic battles that will leave you wanting more once you wrap up the single-player campaign.
Back To The Basics
The game does not rely on skill trees, overly serious storytelling, open-world elements, or checklist-style objectives to artificially inflate playtime. These tropes, while practically staples of modern AAA titles, are entirely absent from the Space Marine 2 experience.
Instead, developer Saber Interactive nails the core combat and presents an abundance of shooting galleries for players to enjoy. Some may call this loop shallow, but I liked the more focused approach here.
It also helps that the gameplay itself is so satisfying. Moreover, I appreciate that Space Marine 2 isn’t as long as your average AAA offering today. While most games aim for as much playtime as possible, this Warhammer spin-off respects your time.
One might argue that the nearly seven-hour single-player mode is a bit too short, but that’s where the multiplayer component comes in. This multiplayer mode is yet another callback to a bygone era of gaming.
Space Marine 2 does not try to keep you engaged in PvP at all times with a Battle Pass or a never-ending grind. Instead, it uses the existing solid fundamental gameplay to offer an experience that you can quickly jump in and out of.
It’s the perfect substitute for those craving more Ultramarine action after completing the campaign.
Final Thoughts
While Space Marine 2 is far from perfect, it shows the importance of focused gameplay and well-crafted games. Saber Interactive never intended to create a jack-of-all-trades AAA experience, and this approach paid off.
Sure, the game isn’t perfect and could have used a few improvements. A cover system, for one, was sorely needed here, in my opinion. The gameplay, while enjoyable from start to finish, could have used just a tad more variety as well.
However, these are small problems in the grand scheme of things. What the game does well is nailed to perfection, making it easy to ignore the few faults that show up here and there. As a newcomer to the franchise, I’m already invested, and I look forward to diving further into the Warhammer universe.
I suspect the same holds true for many others, making this spin-off more than just another release in an existing franchise. Saber Interactive’s latest release is a huge triumph, and everyone at the studio should be proud of what the team has achieved here.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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