In the grim darkness of the far future, the Christmas gifts have come early this year for the fans of Warhammer 40,000 universe. Announced unexpectedly, a decade after the release of the first game during 2021’s Game Awards, Space Marine 2 has launched its assault this September and arguably taken the world by storm. Whereas the first Space Marine was a happy accident of Relic Entertainment attempts at reinventing the gameplay for Dawn of War series, the sequel by Saber Interactive was designed extremely deliberately. Created specifically with the fans of Warhammer 40k in mind, SM2 aims to deliver a fun piece of visceral action handed out via power-armoured gauntlets of returning fan favourite – Demetrian Titus. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the game which brought forth a peculiar time during which netizens could find Warhammer memes posted everywhere, including fanpage of their local bakery group.

Playing to one’s strengths
Creating a game in such a rich, baroque setting as Warhammer 40k can be both blessing and a curse. On one hand, there is a huge world with a massive following at the developers’ fingertips, on the other, a universe over 30 years in the making can get overwhelming for everyone involved if not handled carefully. Staying on the side of caution, Saber Interactive delivered a WH40k story at its most comprehensive – a tale of titanic military struggle against overwhelming odds. Besides, this choice is only natural, given that Space Marine 2 is a continuation of the story from the first game, portraying Titus’ return to the Ultramarines chapter. Admittedly, both games are first and foremost action titles with narrative coming second at best, however there is a key difference elevating the sequel. Whereas the first Space Marine essentially made stuff up as it went, its story became deeply entrenched in the larger lore 10 years later, a boon the developers keenly tapped into. As a result, SM2 is able to appease hardcore fans of the wider universe by being a faithful sequel, while also remaining accessible to those preferring to live out their power-armoured fantasy without getting flooded by finer detail.
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The Emperor provides
Speaking of the finer detail, you will quickly find an opportunity to examine the enemy models as third person combat of SM2 is all about getting up-close and personal. Introducing a simple, yet effective system of fast and heavy attacks coupled with dodge and parry for the defensive, the game provides an ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ set of options with which to cut down the enemy numbers. As a cherry on top, sufficiently punished enemies open up for an execution, rewarding the player with a wide range of satisfyingly visceral animations.

For those more range-inclined, an equally varied array of toys is available. Ranging from the trusty bolter, through sniper weapons, to occasional heavy calibres – able to stem any tide of enemies in the blissful moment before the ammo counter hits zero. While both options are satisfying to use and controls of the Space Marine warrior are tailored for instinctively switching back and forth between the melee and the ranged, emphasis admittedly is put on the former. In no small part due to particular choice of meat for the grinder.
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Suffer not the Xenos to live
I can hardly think of another faction encompassing the notion of ‘one against many’ as well as Tyranids do. Coming from depths of the outer space, the unnumbered bug menace roams the galaxy to devour entire worlds. In the goosebumps-inducing sequence during the intro, the player has the chance to fully appreciate the size of the swarm as a blanket chitinous flesh rushes towards Titus from every direction. Worse yet, no matter how wide, every shot scores a hit mark. Against an enemy horde relying foremost on fanged maws, clawed appendages and tendrils, all the ammo a space marine could possibly carry can at best trim down the numbers before the wave washes over you. It is chainsword time then.

Not to worry, this title offers a more subtle, chaotic foe as well – allowing the story to wander in a direction better tying SM2 as a sequel, but also to meet the enemies inviting more methodical approach. Truth be told, as far as pacing is considered this game’s campaign is stellar. Meaty grind of the struggle against the enemy numbers is regularly broken up by various sections to maintain the player’s interest. Be it, a distinct foe, a new mechanic, a scenery shift or a quiet moment to take in your surroundings and the lore, the game is committed to keeping things diverse. Especially when a big, juicy story moment arrives, riding a distinct brand of pathos Warhammer 40k is best known for, rewarding the player with sensation of being amidst an epic tale in the making.
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Codex Astartes does not approve this action
Whereas I was keenly aware of the full 3-man co-op mode for the campaign, which was one of the selling points of the game for me, I was not prepared for what came after the credits inevitably rolled. Namely, an exclusive PvE mode starring 6 distinct classes, unlockable perks, 5 difficulty levels, upgradable weapons and a nice story tie-in for other squads assisting Titus during crucial operations throughout campaign. Better yet, there is a classic PvP mode on top of all that, starring classics like Deathmatch or Capture the Point. In short, those hungry for more have enough multiplayer content to stick around for dozens of hours after Titus hung up his bolter.

For all the praise (and frankly, the bias) I may have for SM2, it is not without its flaws. First of all, the story may have its glorious moments and juicy lore details, although predominantly they have Titus’ squad fail miserably at basic human communication. In the end, I managed to warm up to the characters, as they did to one another, but distinct passive-aggressive tension hanging in the air for half the game seems awkwardly unbecoming for transhuman warriors. Less obvious, yet equally vexing to me was the quirk of SM2 combat system, prioritizing melee duels with major threats. On one hand fighting the worthy prey is fun, on the other, dodge-rolling through a swarm of bugs like a 1000kg tumbleweed for 30 seconds to get a grip on a Warrior-creature is rather anticlimactic.

On the upside, the optimization of the game and further efforts made in performance direction have been stellar since the release. I am able to comfortably enjoy the game despite my venerable machine missing minimal requirements in some areas. A chef’s kiss in that department.

Spearheading the assault
I find it an ironic twist of fate that a franchise which has begun as a byproduct to then better known Dawn of War series, has ultimately dethroned its point of origin. Perhaps even more so, taking into account that Space Marine 2 achieved the very thing its predecessor tore itself apart in pursuit of – an acclaim of mythical general audiences. It has done so not by submitting to gaming trends, but instead embracing its dedicated target audience, with a game solid enough for the ripples to reach outside the pond.