Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Review

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, from Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive, is a third-person shooter set in the renowned Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game follows Titus, who, after an ill-fated mission, takes arms as a Primaris Space Marine to defend the planet Kadaku from the Tyranid invasion.

As Titus leads his squad against the relentless onslaught, he uncovers a conspiracy involving the Empire’s archenemies, the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marines. His squad, wary of his past and sudden reassignment, grows increasingly suspicious.

How will it all go down? Gear up for our review of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a PS3/Xbox 360-era title (in all the good ways) draped in current-gen technology, graphics, and action.

Can’t Stop The Swarm

Space Marine 2 is the sequel to the game of the same name and a squad-based shooter where players control a three-person team to combat relentless alien swarms. The game offers a diverse arsenal, including primary and secondary firearms, as well as melee weapons, and while combat is primarily third-person, it allows for seamless transitions to melee combat.

The controls are well-polished, making combat intuitive once players familiarize themselves with the button mapping. Long-range enemies can be engaged with the primary rifle, while close-quarter combat skills are effective against nearby foes. To manage overwhelming situations, players can lock onto enemies, with the UI providing alerts for incoming attacks.

Space Marine 2 evokes the fast-paced and heavy action of the Gears of War series. Initially overwhelming and a tad bit challenging, the combat becomes an enjoyable, frenetic experience as players adapt. The game features a variety of alien forces with both ranged and melee capabilities, keeping players on their toes. The Tyranids are a sight to behold, crawling around in swarms and posing a threat that could outnumber players if left unchecked.

The gunplay is robust, with nearly a dozen gun types, each with unique physics and ranges. Heavier firearms have slower shooting speeds but higher damage, while lighter guns offer more mobility. The DualSense controller enhances the experience with realistic recoil effects, making shooting satisfying and visceral, each firearm feeling different from the other.

Melee combat offers its own depth, including striking, parrying, and executing enemies with gory finishers. Players will often face swarms of Tyranids, with smaller ones being trampled and larger ones posing significant threats. Parrying, indicated by a blue marker, allows defense against surprise attacks, while some attacks require evasive rolling. Successful attacks and parries open enemies to executions, providing a satisfying conclusion.

Health and armor mechanics are straightforward, with healing available through enemy dispatches or stims. Executions restore shield points, and incapacitated players can be resuscitated by teammates. Various grenade types are available to thin enemy ranks. Despite its basic mechanics, the intense battles ensure the gameplay remains engaging without becoming overly complex.

Should players choose to fully engage the melee and weapon systems, they’ll be treated to a more nuanced and satisfying affair. The game also features some areas with jet packs, adding verticality to combat and variety to engagements. Mission parameters may change, offering skills that enhance attack power or squad combat effectiveness.

Story missions in Space Marine 2 are diverse, with environments ranging from claustrophobic bases to open jungle areas. These locations look absolutely stunning, offering fantastic vistas and scenic routes. This variety ensures that engagements remain fresh and exciting, preventing the gameplay from becoming monotonous. It bears saying that this game looks fantastic, and it’s just sad that we can’t enjoy quality mode because of the frame dips, but the game is a definite looker.

So much so, in fact, that what happens in the background is at times equally as entertaining as what happens right in front of you. You’ll see swarms of flying Tyranids blocking the skies, anti-air shells flying across the horizon, and more manner of moving things that make the world feel alive and with activity, placing urgency on the war at hand. There’s always something moving somewhere, and it is such a treat.

Recommended For The Uninitiated

Warhammer 40K enthusiasts will find much to enjoy in Space Marine 2, from lore to characters and everything in between. The game is accessible to newcomers, requiring no prior experience with the first installment because it immediately immerses players in the story, avoiding overwhelming jargon and backstory. The essential premise is straightforward: Titus, who narrowly escaped death, now leads a squad to thwart the Tyranid invasion.

Of course, it has to be said that players familiar with the complex lore of Warhammer 40K will gain a deeper appreciation of the proceedings and the terms being used throughout. Space Marine 2 is flush with personalities, titles, references, and much more, that will cause fans to grin from ear to ear. Newcomers beware because the game will surely lead to the Warhammer 40K rabbit hole that we won’t endorse nor oppose.

The narrative progresses by transporting players from the main planet to various other worlds, offering a diverse experience. Each mission is designed to last between 30-40 minutes, providing a clear understanding of the mission flow. The pacing is well-balanced, ensuring that players are not overwhelmed by constant action. Between missions, there is ample time to review dataslates for lore and adjust loadouts.

Midway through the game, players encounter a new enemy type, adding variety and maintaining the gameplay’s novelty. The main campaign comprises non-stop action missions that offer 10-12 hours of solid gameplay, with additional content available through side stories and lore collection. Your AI companions, Gadriel and Chairon, are competent soldiers who can hold their own throughout the game, which only gets better when played with a friend for some co-op goodness.

Space Marine 2 features a compelling plot that maintains a steady pace and includes enough surprises to keep players engaged. However, while the plot may entice players into the broader Warhammer universe, further engagement with the franchise is optional. Be warned, though, that diving deeper into Warhammer may lead to significant investments in its collectible figurines!

Of course, Space Marine 2 is better with a friend, and that rings true in both its story campaign and multiplayer modes. Because of how the campaign is structured with enemy waves, things get more interesting and exciting with a fellow Ultramarine who has their own abilities.

Online, however, is where the good stuff is, and Space Marine offers fun and engaging modes that will last for quite a bit. Competitive soldiers will want to jump into Eternal War, which is basically the PVP mode where players can choose from six playable classes like Assault, Bulwark, Heavy, Sniper, Tactical, and Vanguard. Each class has distinct abilities, and a personal favorite, the Vanguard, can close the gap easily with the use of a grappling hook.

Should you choose to take the fight to the Tyranids, then the PVE Mode, Operations, will suffice. Six operations missions are available at launch, all of which are repeatable as players fight through and survive threats to upgrade and customize their characters with class perks, weapon perks, and cosmetics that can make your character look like a walking crayon. It’s a ton of fun, and arguably where most players might spend their time in Space Marine 2.

Overall, Space Marine 2 delivers a polished experience, though it may encounter occasional performance issues such as glitches and framerate drops, especially on the PS5 version, whether in quality or performance mode. These are generally minor, and server disconnections are infrequent, ensuring a mostly smooth time.

Verdict: Buy It!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a delightful surprise this year, offering a concise yet engaging and explosive shooter experience. The game features an immersive plot that respects your time, providing 10-12 hours of captivating dark sci-fi fantasy, perfect for a weekend binge.

The game excels with its frenetic gunplay, intense action, and mysterious world, reminiscent of classic corridor shooters like Gears of War. It introduces enough variety and novelty, such as verticality and base defense objectives, to keep players constantly engaged. While the interface may initially seem basic, the relentless action ensures an appreciation for its straightforward gameplay.

I highly recommend Space Marine 2 for its compelling story and enjoyable gameplay, whether playing solo or with friends. However, be warned: this game might lead you deeper into the Warhammer universe, potentially turning into an expensive hobby. Proceed with caution!

*Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.