By: Lonex Louisdor
Developed by Saber Interactive, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 plunges players into a relentless battle against the Tyranid hordes and heretical foes. As an Ultra Marine, you and your brethren stand as the galaxy’s last defense against the dark secrets that threaten to kill or enslave every free mind in the cosmos.
Expect to engage in intense, large-scale combat, featuring stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and brutal gameplay mechanics. Rip and tear everything into pieces as you mow your way through so many enemies, you think you’re going to drown.
Graphics and Visuals
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 showcases the technical prowess of the team at Saber Interactive. The cutscenes are visually stunning, with masterful use of colors and lighting that could easily be mistaken for ray tracing. The scale of the battlefield is truly impressive, allowing players to engage with nearly everything they see.
In-game visuals look incredible, balancing intricate details with clear visual cues that help you time your actions amidst overwhelming enemy waves and a tremendous amount of blood and guts flying into the air. The ethos of “is it cool, then do it” seems to be the core of their design.
Gameplay and Combat Mechanics
The gameplay in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is defined by brutal combat that challenges players to master melee, ranged weaponry, and area awareness. Understanding the balance between these mechanics is pivotal to success, and not mastering all of these will make every single battle significantly harder. While it may draw comparisons to Gears of War, the game’s focus on melee combat sets it apart.
Executing finishing moves not only dispatches foes but also regenerates your shields, adding a strategic layer to combat encounters. The game offers a variety of combat styles, including melee, primary and secondary firearms, and heavy weapons that provide crowd control power.
The parry system, generous on Normal difficulty, rewards well-timed counters with powerful non-ammo special moves. Identifying parryable attacks amidst the chaos can be challenging. Moves that can be parried are indicated by a large blue circle around the tip of the enemy’s weapon. While moves that can’t be parried are indicated by a large red circle.
Boss fights introduce additional mechanics that build on skills developed during smaller encounters, making each battle a test of your mastery over the game’s systems and understanding when to use each mechanic.
Music and Audio Design
The sound design in Space Marine 2 amplifies the intense action. While the game’s music often fades into the background during heated battles, the grunts of your Space Marine and the screams of dying foes are ever-present. Audio quality occasionally falters, particularly in crowded corridors where overlapping NPC dialogues can become jumbled.
Story and Setting
Players step into the boots of Demetrian Titus, an Ultramarine wrongfully accused of corruption and heresy. After years of penance fighting in the Death Watch, Titus is reinstated as a Lieutenant, seeking salvation and honor.
The narrative unfolds across various biomes within linear missions, offering glimpses into the grimdark, oppressive universe of Warhammer 40,000. The storyline is straightforward, serving as a backdrop to the relentless action, with the expansive Warhammer lore providing depth for those eager to explore it further.
Performance
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 performs admirably on the Xbox Series X in Performance Mode. The game runs at 1080p with a generally solid 60fps, though frame rates can drop during the most chaotic battles. Despite these occasional dips, the game maintains smooth performance for the majority of the campaign.
Final Thoughts
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 delivers a thrilling single-player and co-op experience that excels in visuals, combat, and large-scale battles. While the campaign is relatively short, clocking in around 10 hours, the engaging gameplay and impressive scope make it a worthy addition for fans of the series. The additional Operations (PvE) and Endless War (PvP) modes extend the hours of play, and I estimate it would take over 100 hours to fully complete all modes and max out every class. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran of the Warhammer universe, this game is a must-try, especially at launch.
I give Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 – 84 out of 100 on the Longhouse gaming scale. (Please click here for detailed review metrics)
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is now available for Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, and PC (Via Steam and Epic Games Store).
Thanks to Focus Entertainment and Sandbox Strategies for the early access code, allowing us to bring you this review.
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