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Forming preconceived notions without verifying the facts is simply immature. I can confirm this statement firsthand. Because when it comes to any Warhammer 40,000 game, my preconceived notions have always been spot on—I must be honest, I never liked those games even though I never played a single one of them.
Whenever I had the opportunity to play one of these games myself, I always felt a strong aversion and thought, "These are cringe-worthy games full of unnecessary heroism." To make it worse, I never even bothered to check, assuming they were just point-and-click strategy games. I have no idea why I thought that.
When I first got the chance to play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 for this review, I approached it with the same prejudices. However, I must now publicly admit that I was completely wrong. My experience with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was unforgettable, taking me back to a time when games were simply about having tonnes of fun.
Campaign (Story Mode)
The story in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 isn't something that will be a decisive factor in the game and isn't something that will hold your attention for too long, and to be honest, it's not particularly sophisticated either. While there is a narrative that you'll follow throughout the campaign—one of the three game modes—the game would still be just as enjoyable even without it.
In the campaign, you play as Demetrian Titus, a member of the Ultramarines Chapter of the Space Marines, genetically enhanced super-soldiers. Wrongly accused of corruption, Titus ends up on a mission where all his comrades are killed, and he barely survives. After recovering, he gets stripped of his previous ranks and becomes a lieutenant, then assigned two new comrades: Chairon and Gadriel.
With a troubled past, he keeps hidden from his new comrades, Titus struggles to maintain his authority while facing the daunting mission ahead: saving all of humanity from the Tyranid infestation. Naturally, things don't go as planned, leading our three heroes on an unforgettable space adventure filled with action, adrenaline, and many emotional moments.
Speaking of emotions, I would say that this aspect holds the most quality in this story. Let me be straight. The story is extremely predictable, without the usual narrative twists. At times, some characters will appear and it will look like Titus is surprised by their presence, but I must say it wasn't particularly shocking to me due to the lack of any Warhammer lore knowledge. Perhaps those moments will mean something to the die-hard fans. I just say that they didn't have any effect on me, that's all.
Yet, the story undeniably carries an emotional weight, particularly in moments that highlight the honour of soldiers who serve, risking their lives to protect humanity from destruction. This patriotic undertone is reminiscent of the high-quality war films that Hollywood excels at producing. These powerful moments are something you will definitely experience in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.
Another aspect of the story that deeply impressed me is the relationship between Titus and his comrades. Throughout much of the campaign, his fellow soldiers question his motives and even refuse to follow orders at times, but the way Titus manages these challenges is remarkable. The character development in this game is exceptionally well done, with both the main trio and the supporting characters having strong personalities that evolve as the game progresses.
Also, there's something I must mention, and it is related directly to the story, even though it isn't within the campaign mode. During some missions, you'll be tasked with more than two soldiers to fight by your side, and at the beginning of each such mission, you'll get separated from them. Well, the game lets you explore their story later if you want, inside the other mode called Operations. In this way, the story can be deepened further, so keep this in mind if you plan to play this game.
Gameplay
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a game in the truest sense, with every element created to serve quality gameplay. While I’m not deeply familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 franchise (I've mentioned it earlier already), I didn’t go into this game completely blind. I did thorough research beforehand, and what I actually found out is that the games with Warhammer 40,000 insignia emphasise good gameplay above all else.
The easiest way to explain the gameplay of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 would be to say that this game is like a well-greased machine made by veterans who knew exactly what they were doing. It can be told from the first in-game encounter with the enemy that the fighting mechanics, traversal, enemy behaviour, and everything else just perfectly fit in.
Given that the Warhammer 40,000 franchise has given us quite a number of games, it's clear that they’ve honed their craft over time. Each new instalment brings something fresh to the table, with previous gameplay errors being gradually ironed out along the way, and it seems that Space Marine 2 is a product that, at least gameplay-wise, reached that almost-perfect state.
In a nutshell, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person shooter, but not the conventional one, to say the least. It uses all the mechanics you can find in such games, but with the exception of one, seemingly very important, cover system. Yes, you won't be able to take cover and use that famous cover camera and blind fire.
Even though it might look like some kind of flaw, it actually isn't because this system is perfect the way it is. The game feels more challenging this way, and throughout the gameplay it will keep you on the move and on your toes all the time, so strategising during fight sequences will become crucial.
Apart from the lack of cover mechanics, what sets this game apart are chaotic battles where you must fight hordes of enemies all the time. Once you clear one encounter, the other one follows, and that's how you're going to play to the very end of the campaign. In this regard, Space Marine 2 reminded me of the first Uncharted game, where the encounters were too frequent and too long.
Of course, Space Marine is nothing like Uncharted; those two games are miles apart, but I simply remember the exact same sentiment while I played this game a while ago, thinking to myself that those encounters shouldn't be so frequent because the game doesn't allow you any breathing room.
Since Space Marine 2 has several collectables to be found here and there, the exploration element is present, yes, but of course, it isn't emphasised like in some other games of the same genre like Uncharted, Tomb Raider, or any other similar game. Here, the quality shootout takes the wheel; everything else is just there to fill up the empty space.
It’s important to point out that the gameplay balance in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 can feel a bit off. In a game as demanding and fast-paced as this, where constant shooting is the focus and you’re fighting hordes of enemies, the action can quickly become chaotic. The balance is disrupted by the lack of moments to catch your breath after intense encounters; the game relentlessly pushes you from one action sequence to the next, right up until the end. Over the fifteen-hour campaign, you’ll be in a constant state of tension. This is something I would've changed, but it is what it is.
However, I must mention that if you play the game in co-op mode, you probably won't have such a feeling because playing together is all about fun, so those frequent encounters are the most welcomed feature. It is more than obvious that the game is designed to be played in co-op, so if you get the chance, play it with your friends; the feeling is unbelievably satisfying.
After mentioning all that action and shooting, you might have drawn the conclusion that Space Marine 2 is the shooter only, without any sort of advanced fighting mechanics, and again, you would be wrong. I already mentioned several times that Space Marine 2 is my first Warhammer 40,000 experience, and from the moment I started playing it, I thought it was some sort of melee combat game, not the shooter, due to the tutorial that taught me how to play at the beginning.
Regarding weapons and fighting mechanics in general, combat can be divided into two categories: melee and shooting combat, and both are designed just perfectly. Melee weapons are not there just for the occasional melee attacks like in other shooters. You'll be able to perform lots of different moves seen in the likes of true melee action RPGs like parry, dodge, roll, and lots of different finishers.
Apart from that, you'll have a list of different combos you'll be able to perform, and I dare to say that the melee mechanics in Space Marine 2 are more sophisticated than in some games with melee combat as their main focus. Unfortunately, there isn’t much variety in the weapons. Throughout the game, you’ll have access to only two or three types: sidearms, which come in just a few variations and are mostly similar; main weapons, like rifles, which also feel quite alike, differing mainly in attachments; and a minigun that you can occasionally find and use until it runs out of ammo or you choose to discard it, as it doesn’t fit in your inventory.
Given the heavy focus on shooting in this game, the amount of ammunition is fairly limited. However, you can find ammo to restock your inventory at almost every step. In my opinion, it might have been better to allow players to carry more ammunition and restock less frequently, but both approaches are functional.
The healing and armour system is also well-designed. You have a health bar and three armour plates. When your armour depletes, any further damage affects your health, which cannot be regenerated, while armour can be restored. You can regenerate armour by killing enemies with finishers or after each encounter, and you can heal your health with stems found in the world, with a maximum of two in your inventory. Additionally, you can find an item that grants one free respawn if you die, and your comrades can revive you once during an encounter. The entire system is complex yet highly functional, and I’d say it's nearly flawless.
To avoid spoilers, I won't talk about enemy types; only that you'll encounter many regular enemies and bosses as well. Many different enemies will require different approaches when beating them, so during encounters, you'll have to strategise a lot. Boss fights are very challenging and very well-designed, regardless of the difficulty level you play on. For the record, there are four difficulty levels, so in this regard, you'll have plenty of options on how to play the game.
Campaign mode has six stages set in three different locations, or different planets to be exact. Although you might believe that the campaign is too short, it actually isn't. Apart from the campaign mode, you'll be able to play the Eternal War mode, which is Space Marine 2's multiplayer mode where you can compete against other players in PvP encounters, and the Operations mode, where you can replay all missions from the campaign with slightly different objectives.
Unfortunately, the Eternal War mode was unplayable for me because each time I tried, there was no one to play with, probably due to the lack of players in this pre-release period. Oddly enough, within the Operations mode, I was always able to connect with other people, so it might be the problem with the Eternal War mode. In any case, once the game is out, those issues should be fixed, and you'll be able to fully enjoy all the fun that the 6v6 multiplayer mode can offer.
The Campaign and Operations modes can be played in up to three-player co-op, either with your friends or random online players, but if you don't want to play with real people, the game will assign bots to play by your side. The co-op experience is interesting and has some benefits of its own.
For example, the weapons and armour cannot be altered, not even cosmetically, in the campaign or while playing with bots, but in the Operations mode and Eternal War, this is the feature. It's still not as sophisticated as in some other games of this genre, but at least you can change the looks of your player and choose different classes.
Speaking of classes, you can choose between six of them: tactical, assault, vanguard, bulwark, sniper, and heavy. Each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you'll have to choose carefully. During the missions you do in the Operations and Eternal War modes, you can even find the collectables you missed during the campaign, and they will still count.
All in all, when it comes to gameplay, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an excellent game that never gets boring. I must emphasise again that you can truly feel the years of refinement and the developers' extensive experience, as everything runs smoothly and like a well-oiled machine.
Graphics, sounds and performance
Just as the gameplay of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 impressed me, the graphics had the same impact. Space Marine 2 is a visually stunning game with graphics that will leave you in constant awe. Whenever I entered a new location, I would pause, take a deep breath, and marvel at the stunning landscapes, the intensity of space battles, and the events unfolding on the screen. Probably the best testament to the beauty of the graphics is my screenshots folder, which holds over a thousand snapshots I took while playing Space Marine 2.
All three planets you visit throughout the game—Avarax, Kadaku, and Demerium—are equally impressive, with gorgeous vistas and breathtaking environments. Whether you're exploring inside structures or venturing into open spaces, the level of detail in the world is truly remarkable. For example, when I arrived at an abandoned refinery on the first planet, the intricate network of pipes on one level left me speechless. The designers didn't need to include so many details—no one would have blamed them if they hadn't—but the fact that they did deserves high praise.
You'll encounter scenes like this throughout the entire game, with an incredible level of detail that's almost unbelievable. The character designs are equally impressive, from the details on their armour that set them apart to the expressive features on the main characters' faces. It’s clear that a lot of care went into this, as the designers wanted every small detail to stand out and make a difference.
Of course, all this detail comes at a cost. The game, at least on the PC version I played, is quite demanding if you want to enjoy all the benefits of modern graphics settings. The graphics settings offer plenty of options, allowing you to customise the game to your preferences. On my slightly weaker mid-range PC with a GTX 3060Ti, I could run everything on high settings at around 60 FPS—until the combat began, when the FPS would drop significantly, sometimes even below 30.
I'm not sure if the FPS drops are due to my PC not being powerful enough to handle all the on-screen action or if it's a technical issue that might be fixed in an upcoming patch. Either way, combat encounters do have a noticeable impact on FPS, even when the graphics are set to much lower settings. So consider this a heads-up.
The sound presentation in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is just as impressive as the graphics, particularly the soundtrack, which is both memorable and perfectly aligned with the game's patriotic theme. You’ll understand what I mean when you hear the opening track—it captures that military atmosphere perfectly. The last time an opening track left such a strong impression on me was years ago when I first played Crysis, whose opening song I still remember.
The other sounds are well done too, though I have a slight gripe with the weapon sounds—the shooting doesn’t sound as powerful as it should. However, the sounds of the heavy armour worn by Titus and the other Space Marines are so impactful that they overshadow everything else. These powerful armour sounds really make you feel strong, thanks to the high-quality sound design.
Conclusion
At the end of this review, I can say that Space Marine 2 has opened the door to new possibilities for me, and I’m now eager to explore more Warhammer 40,000 titles in the future—time permitting, of course—because this game left a strong impression on me.
While it may not have the most impressive story, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is still an emotional and engaging experience, featuring enjoyable gameplay, fantastic graphics, and great sound. I would say it's one of the better games released this year.
And in the end, if the online third-person shooters can pass your selection as the games you like, then, by all means, try Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. It is a very good game that will provide lots of fun whether you prefer to play it alone or with your friends.
The Good
Engaging and memorable gameplay- Fantastic graphics with impressive detail
- Strong sound design and memorable soundtrack
- Well-developed character relationships and dynamics
- Various gameplay modes including co-op and multiplayer
The Bad
Predictable and not a particularly sophisticated story- Limited variety of weapons
- FPS drops during combat
