Space Marine 2 takes Doom, Helldivers, and BG3 and makes it Warhammer

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is a welcome addition to the Warhammer franchise, bringing the tabletop adventure back to screens after the success of the first game.

When the first Space Marine game was released, it was a cult hit among both Warhammer fans and hack-and-slash gamers. Now, after a 13-year absence, it’s clear Saber Interactive has a lot to prove to live up to the lengthy wait.

During those 13 years, the landscape of gaming has altered dramatically. Many similar styles of game, through recent Dooms or Helldivers have slotted themselves into the adventure Space Marine 2 is trying to provide — leading me to worry whether this well-regarded franchise will find relevance in 2024.

Baldur’s Gate 3 proved D&D and Warhammer can be key players in the video game industry. Space Marine 2, at least in the early stages, proves that it could also be a hit amongst fans.

That said, where Baldur’s Gate 3 introduced new players to Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer is a little more complicated, with tricky lore, multiple armies, enemies, and enough technical jargon to need a dictionary. 

It’s the latter that had me questioning if Space Marine 2 would be purely for the fans, or if it would be accessible enough for a new wave of players, and whether it has a place in the current market.

Brutal bloody chaos

Warhammer is a universe full of bloody, gratuitous battles. So a brutal, bloody hack-and-slash fits the bill perfectly. Saber Interactive delivers excellently on those fronts here.

While it’s a throwback to that genre at its core, there’s still an element of technique in combat. Whether you parry an enemy’s blow, dodge a sniper, or perform a brutal, yet satisfying combo during a horde fight, you’re always able to tackle a fight in your preferred way.

Then there’s the bosses. These guys hit harder than you might expect. Being a badass Ultra Marine in the distinct blue armor lulled me into a false sense of security. It was only after being dragged around by a Tyranid’s claws and slammed into the ground that I realized tactics are pivotal.

While the techniques and dodging added a surprising amount of depth, by the end of the mission, I wanted to retry it to show the boss what a Space Marine can really do. The fight was intoxicating, brutal, bloody, and chaotic.

Combine those battles with the stellar Tyranid design, different armor styles (yes you can change your armor), and even the landscape, and you’ll get lost in the adventure from the moment you start – even if you have no idea about the integrated lore.

A tactical backdrop

Space Marine 2 is more than simply hitting Tyranids with your weapon or chainsword. It’s a tactical experience at its core, requiring players to experiment with the different classes in the game.

Each class comes with a unique style and its own ability, whether that’s healing your friends’ shields, pinging enemies, or various other helpful and devastating effects. As such, Saber Interactive has created a synergistic system, allowing players to take on the roles of tank, DPS, healer, and sniper.

The added abilities give each class a distinct feel, making it particularly co-op-friendly, as you and your squad make a delicious cocktail of destruction and retribution.

Whether you want to enhance your movement through the Assault’s Jump Pack, scan for enemies through the Tactical class’ Auspex Scan, use a grappling hook to descend on Tyranids with the Vanguard or protect yourself and your allies with different shields, every playstyle is perfectly catered for.

As such, each class feels extremely versatile and allows you to adventure as you see fit. It also inspires plenty of teamwork, where the Tactical Space Marine jumps in first, scanning the enemies for visualization and extra damage. This then lets the Vanguard effortlessly dive in and cut up the rest of the unsuspecting hordes of aliens.

Potentially unsatisfying to the uninitiated eye

While the hordes, faithful storyline, and class system are vital for a game like Space Marine, the missions did make me worry about its longevity.

Sure, Saber Interactive has stocked up on game modes with multiplayer, co-op, and PvP, but as I looked at the mission list and played through some of the campaign, I couldn’t help but feel concerned for its replayability.

It’s easy to see the endless yet similar enemies becoming tiresome, and once the campaign has ended and missions have been tried once or twice, right now it’s hard to say if there will be an incentive to replay them.

That said, the likes of Helldivers have certainly mastered the execution of repetitive content, and Space Marine 2 could follow in its footsteps, especially considering the weapons, classes, and characters all level up which allows you to add perks, attachments, and so much more.

A trusty homage to the tabletop wargame

Despite only experiencing a few missions and a bit of the campaign, there’s a lot to be hopeful for in Space Marine 2. Will it be as big as D&D’s Baldur’s Gate 3? Likely not. But it has a real shot at making a name for itself, even during a busy release schedule. 

From what I’ve played, Space Marine 2 is one of the best ways Saber Interactive could have brought Warhammer onto our screens in the current market.

While faced with the successes of horde battles from Helldivers, D&D’s Baldur’s Gate 3, the rip-and-tear nature of Doom, and the variety of game modes of CoD — Space Marine 2 still feels like it’s able to define itself.

Will Space Marine 2 do more than just appease the current Warhammer fans? Well, from the four hours I played, I can comfortably say yes. Regardless of whether you’ve played Warhammer for years, or have no idea what a Black Templar or Space Marine even is, it will be hard to deny the fun that comes from laying waste to hundreds of enemies and becoming the ultimate Space Marine.