Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 Review - Glory to the Emperor (PS5)

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 was a highly anticipated title for a large portion of the Warhammer fanbase. I’m not one of the hardcore initiates, but I wanted to jump in with unfamiliar eyes to see how I would react to this sci-fi world that’s been around since ‘87. The result was that I found myself digging into all the lore bits I could find in this detailed dark universe from the moment the credits rolled, as Space Marine 2 features a fantastic campaign crafted with so much care that I couldn’t help my curiosity at all the small details that gave the game so much personality and a rich history. Top this off with a satisfying co-op system and a serviceable PvP game mode, and what we have here is a perfect package not only for fans of the tabletop hobby, but also for those in search of a good entryway to this beloved world.

It was intimidating to consider reviewing this one, as all I knew about Space Marine was that they looked badass, and that players built and painted their armies in preparation to face off against others with their own customized army size. I knew the lore was deep, and the games spanned various genres, from a Left 4 Dead-style game like Warhammer 40K Darktide to the more strategic turn-based RPG Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader. Darktide was the only game I really enjoyed, as the co-op did most of the heavy lifting to keep me interested. But Space Marine 2 was different, as the gun combat had this satisfying feel that reminded me of Gears of War, coupled with an inviting world that left me hitting lore videos hours after finishing the campaign.

Courage and Honor

The campaign, which took me roughly 8 hours to complete, revolved around Ultramarine Lieutenant Titus, who is currently assisting in slowing down the invading Tyranid army attacking multiple planets. The campaign was straightforward as they put the action front and center, but details injected in the conversations of each key character, plus the various character designs, got me hooked. The attention to detail was so clear that it was hard to miss these elements, as I was left constantly curious.

Why in God's name do they need to pray on a terminal to access it? Why are normal humans bending the knee whenever I walk around? What’s the significance of a red helmet on one Space Marine, and why does Titus have chains in his arms? There are so many that I didn’t feel intimidated, but curious, and after asking friends familiar with the world, everything that piqued my interest had significance, as they showed their excitement that I was picking up these details and appreciating Saber Interactive’s efforts in respecting the lore of this universe.

This was the beauty of Space Marine 2, as someone like me didn’t feel discouraged from enjoying this game despite my lack of understanding. Beyond this, it was clear that I’m thrown into a war bigger than a single planet can contain, and against an enemy capable of overwhelming you with sheer numbers. Despite this, it’s clear that the modified humans on the front lines are not affected by the grim reality. In fact, they embrace the challenge, and this is seen in every character that shows up on your screen. But they are not simply warmongers, as the characters that compose Titus’ squad show growth despite the campaign being more focused on the action rather than the characters. At the start, Titus is paired with Gadriel and Charion - committed to the cause, but showing hesitation to their new brothers in arms. There’s a bit of conflict within the newly-formed squad of three, which was great to see them butt heads in a respectable but unique manner as Space Marine converse uniquely, adding more quality and enjoyment to the cutscenes that break up the action and making the last few hours of the campaign worthwhile as you see satisfying growth from these characters. 

War Eternal

The brutality of the ongoing war is a sight to behold in Space Marine 2. You’re not another Space Marine on the front lines, as your missions are more contained and focused on the bigger picture, but certain sections of the campaign still give you a glimpse of the scale of the war. You see swarms of Tyranids running across the forest in droves, a clash between two armies from the horizon, and the destruction of battles that felt like they concluded just hours ago. Every location you visit shows the effects of the war as you traverse through ruined structures and bodies scattered all around your path. It’s grim. A clear example of how dark and demented the world of Warhammer 40k can be. But this doesn’t mean Titus and his squad are saved from swarms of Tyranids as you face hundreds of them as they try to swarm you at every corner. 

Every weapon available to you, and the abilities you can trigger in each Space Marine, feels satisfying and effective against waves of Tyranid enemies, but it’s never enough. It’s a constant struggle of switching between primary and secondary, using your melee attacks to keep your shields stocked up, and rifling through crates for any ammo or supplies you can find. No matter what difficulty, it feels like you’re always using all you have in your arsenal to stay afloat, and most often, coordination is the key ingredient to having a smooth mission. 

From the sounds of the gun firing, the gruesome executions done by the Space Marine, down to the reloading and shooting of every gun, each element looks and feels snappy and satisfying. You then combine it with the amazing soundtrack that matches all the chaos and what you have is a satisfying third-person shooter campaign that has a good mix of level design and objectives that aren’t unique, but satisfying to engage in with friends.

Best Played with Friends

The campaign can be played solo, but each of the levels is specifically designed with co-op play in mind. The AI of the two remaining Space Marine are basic as they don’t do enough damage to incoming forces to make it feel like you’re going through a mission with an actual squad. At best, they will randomly use their abilities and will come to revive you when you are down, but don’t expect them to get out of the way in obvious danger or focus fire on key targets. You can’t command them at all, so it feels like it’s you against the world at times.

This is why I strongly suggest playing with a friend or two to fully appreciate the campaign. The campaign doesn’t feature public matchmaking, which is an odd choice for a game solely designed for co-op play, but players can still invite players into their game via a simple code system. Simply share your game code with those you want to play with, and you’re in their game in no time. It’s a quick and easy way to get things going, as I did a few missions with some friends (even with crossplay between PC and console) and found the campaign co-op experience to be mostly smooth. We did encounter a laggy section in a mission, but that was about it during our session that was roughly two hours long.

Connectivity was barely an issue; even when you got around to public matchmaking for Operations, the game’s co-op game mode (completely separate from the campaign), and the versus PvP mode. I didn’t find much issue even after the game officially launched, as any game mode delivered a smooth experience the majority of the time. 

Fleshed out co-op Offering, Basic PvP

Thankfully, the online portions of the game work like a charm as Operations is a completely different beast that is waiting for you once you’ve completed the campaign. This game mode felt fleshed out and meant to be replayed with other players for hours as it features six classes with their perk tree and unique weapon loadouts that also come with progression as you can level up weapons to unlock stronger versions of the weapon and have access to perks to improve them based on your preferences. 

It’s a satisfying game loop as each class slowly opens up to its potential which eventually encourages players to tackle missions on a higher difficulty. For example, the heavy class is equipped with the ability to shield themselves against ranged projectiles for a limited time, while the Assault is equipped with the jetpack to get in from the air and clear waves of enemies with melee. Classes also have team perks that give benefits to the whole squad, encouraging different class combinations that can synergize with other classes. There’s a lot to think about as the co-op is fantastic to engage with and progress through higher difficulties. But it sadly has little runway to maintain player interest, as the six missions available at launch will eventually succumb to repetition for some players. There’s no variety to be found in each of them, as they will all play out exactly the same.

As for PvP, this is the least appealing mode out of the three, but I had a lot of fun with it, as it’s simply a functional competitive mode. No gimmick or anything, just a simple 6v6 competitive game mode that also features the same six classes in Operations with the typical PvP game modes like capturing the point objectives while laying waste to fellow brothers. The time to take out players is reasonable as it doesn’t feel like it takes everything to kill one player, and progression is more simplified, as leveling up unlocks skins and more weapons to choose from. You don’t get stronger here. You just get more options for your preferred class.

This is a complete package, but don’t expect it to be in the same vein as other live service games meant to deliver new content on a quarterly basis. This is no carrot-on-a-stick philosophy to keep players playing every day. You will eventually hit a wall where you’ve done all you can or want in this game, and that’s okay, as what we have here at launch can make you dish out 60+ hours if you enjoy the co-op and PvP offerings. That wall is inevitable for modes like Operations or PvP, but nevertheless, it’s good to see Saber Interactive give this much meat for players to chew on straight out of the gate.

The Perfect Introduction to 40K

Six missions may seem a bit small, but don’t underestimate the length of each mission available as you’re there for close to 30 minutes at a time in the campaign. It’s a series of multiple sections and this is true with the missions found in Operations. Campaign hits the right spot for me in terms of length, while Operations can feel a bit too long, enough so that the progress you get for doing one mission doesn’t fit at times. Many might find it difficult to max out certain classes in order to challenge themselves with higher difficulties. 

In the end, Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 is a fantastic third-person shooter that I highly recommend not only for fans of the franchise, but anyone who’s curious about it. It’s one of the more solid shooter campaigns released in recent years, with co-op features that make it a real treat with friends. This is the perfect title to represent the whole Warhammer franchise, as it’s hard to not come out at least curious about what else is out there on offer, as you are left wanting more.

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Verdict: 4 / 5 (Fantastic)

PROS

• An amazing representation of the Warhammer 40K universe

• Satisfying third-person combat that keeps you on your toes at all times

• A fun co-op and PvP game mode offering to stretch your time with the game

• A perfect game to experience with friends

CONS

• Terrible companion AI for solo players going through the campaign

• Not enough mission variety to support the co-op game mode

What I’ve Played 

• Finished the campaign solo and again with a full group of friends

• Did all missions in the Operations co-op mode and experienced each class with one over level 10

• Completed multiple rounds of the game’s PvP game mode

*This review is based on a PS5 review copy provided to the reviewer

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