Warhammer 40,000 is a longstanding franchise that has found major success in the tabletop gaming space, and occasionally, has some hits in the world of video games. Looking back a decade, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was a seventh-generation console game that embodied everything that was awesome about the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Now, we’ve received a sequel in the form of Space Marine 2, developed by Saber Interactive, which encourages players to pick up their bolt guns and prepare for another monumental sci-fi battle. Best of all, Space Marine 2 doesn’t drop the ball, but instead, offers a pure, action-packed third-person shooter that rivals the best in the business.
All Out War
The world of Warhammer 40,000 is absolutely massive, spanning thousands of in-universe lore, involving dozens of factions in a tale of interstellar war. However, Space Marine 2 focuses on the eponymous Space Marines, bio-engineered super-soldiers that protect humanity by tearing down any enemy that may oppose it. Set after the events of the original game, Space Marine 2 continues the story of Captain Titus, once seen as a heroic leader, but now performing his duty in the highly dangerous Deathwatch. However, when Titus runs into unexpected chaos, he is brought back into the fold as an Ultramarine soldier in order to protect humanity from an overwhelming horror.
Accompanied by Ultramarines Gadriel and Chairon, Titus sets out on a rescue mission to the lush planet of Kadaku, but things go horribly wrong. Confronted by a destructive, unfeeling alien foe known as the Tyranids, the Ultramarines are able to hold their own, but the future seems bleak as the Tyranids continue their domination, hopping from planet to planet with hopes of conquering them all. As Tidus and the rest of the crew search deeper, they uncover a disturbing truth behind the Tyranid invasion that sends them spiraling into the unknown.
In truth, the story of Space Marine 2 isn’t going to win “narrative of the year”, but that’s because it’s not really trying to. The main campaign offers a straightforward but intriguing tale of humans vs aliens, with a handful of notable sub-plots along the way, but the story never wastes your time with lengthy cutscenes or needless dialogue. It wraps up some plot threads from the first game, offers a thrilling action ride, and that’s all. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is mainly interested in fulfilling your ultimate power fantasy, and the story serves that purpose extremely well.
Lead Me to the Slaughter
Across the six main missions in the campaign, you blaze your way through thousands of Tyranids in beautiful fashion, displayed in evocative visuals and uproarious audio. Reminiscent of the Gears of War series (as was the first Space Marine game), this over-the-shoulder third-person shooter pits you against overwhelming waves of enemies as you progress through its linear levels, complete with incredible boss fights and awesome scripted moments. Six extra side-missions provide additional insight into the story and the entire game is playable either solo or in three player co-op.
The sight, sounds, and spectacle of Space Marine 2 are the big sellers here. Although there’s a decent variety of weapons that can be unlocked and modified on the hub-like ship, most of them are just punchy assault rifles that tear through your enemies with bloody effect. In addition to your guns, you are equipped with powerful melee weapons like the chainsword; a combination of a chainsaw and a sword that rips most enemies to shreds. You’ll need that amount of power too, as Space Marine 2 often throws hundreds of enemies your way, resulting in overwhelming and graphically impressive hordes of baddies to beat.
Complete with a competitive online multiplayer mode that’s fun, but fleetingly so, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 delivers on its promise. It’s an exciting and remarkably fun sequel that avoids the trappings of modern blockbuster games, and instead, offers next-generation, action-packed gameplay that you can enjoy with your friends. There’s no battle pass or needless nickel-and-dime micro-transactions to deal with, a welcome change of pace from the landscape of modern games. Space Marine 2 is just a really, really fun third-person shooter that pays homage to the games of the 2010s. Developer Saber Interactive did the series and source material justice here, and if you’ve got a group of friends looking for some mindless action (or you enjoy that sort of thing solo), Space Marine 2 should be on your short list of games to play.
