2011 saw the release of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, a bloody campaign pitting Ultramarines against the Orks brought to us by the now-defunct THQ—the original publisher is different than the current-day spiritual resurrection THQ Nordic. More than a decade later and Saber Interactive has picked up the reigns to continue the epic tale of Captain Demetrian Titus as he charges into battle for the Emperor once more. Although we have waited thirteen years for this continuation, much more time has passed for Titus as we can discern from the two added Service Studs affixed to his skull. The 200 added years of service will certainly prove useful as our stoic hero prepares to face off against a different Xeno threat: the Tyranids.
Story time. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 picks up two centuries after the conclusion of the original game, with Captain Titus shedding the blue-tinted armor of the Ultramarines and donning the colorless power armor of the Black Shield following his extended imprisonment under suspicion of heresy. It is within the ranks of the Deathwatch that we find our exiled protagonist attempting to thwart a Tyranid invasion on the lush planet of Kadaku in response to an Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus in need of immediate help. The pursuit of this mission brings the hulking Titus to his knees under the relentless flood of Tyranids and right up to the death’s door. Fortunately, it’s a threshold he doesn’t pass due to the intervention of his former Chapter and the usage of the Primaris Rubicon under the order of Chapter Master Marneus Calgar. Now enhanced across the board, Titus rejoins the Ultramarines 2nd Company as a Primaris Lieutenant to continue the war effort against the insurmountable Tyranid threat.
The 7-8 hour campaign that extends the Fourth Tyrannic War is brimming with blood, bolters and breathtaking spectacle. Titus is joined by the formidable figures Gadriel and Chairon, both of whom can be controlled by friends thanks to 3-player co-op. The tale enveloping these three isn’t anything mind-blowing on paper, but it is elevated by just how incredible the set pieces are and the scale of the battles won on the way to its finale. The scale of Tyranids constantly pouring in shows how Saber Interactive has evolved their popular horde tech seen in 2019’s World War Z. And it couldn’t have found a better fit than filing the screen with squishy, blood-filled aliens begging to be cut down by a chainsword (or flash fried by a Melta Rifle). It’s truly a sight to behold as all manner of Tyranids, ranging from Warriors to Lictors, and more chaotic abominations swarm the trio of Ultramarines.
I Fear No Man, No Beast or Evil, Battle-Brother
Despite the terrifying nature of these gun-wielding blue juggernauts, our Space Marines aren’t invincible. In fact, you might be surprised by how quickly the Tyranid swarms can shred away those armor tiers, leaving that vulnerable red health bar exposed. It’s the only area of the game when the power fantasy of being an enormous Space Marine falters a bit. This callout is mostly felt when playing solo, as the AI can be a mixed bag. But when rushing the masses alongside two other players, it’s easier to plow through the opposition with greater ease by coordinating assaults and utilizing each character’s special abilities. Space Marine 2 is a purely offensive game; a cover shooter, this is not. Armor tiers are replenished by initiating executions on red-flashing foes, reminiscent of the gameplay flow of the 2016 Doom reboot. That’s why having more real-life players on the field is beneficial, as you can make those advancements to snag an execution while under the cover fire of a more helpful ally.
Throughout the main campaign, Titus interacts with another squad carrying out different, supplementary objectives. These objectives, which play out in the background of the main missions and are regularly heard over comms, are experienced first-hand in the game’s Operations PvE mode. In Operations, three players step outside of the boots of Titus, Gadriel and Chairon, and instead take on fully customizable Space Marines (despite technically being another Ultramarine squad). It’s an engaging way to expand on the core narrative and reinforce the feeling of the joint effort of the entire Chapter. Often I would hear Titus issue an order to this secondary squad and would be immediately excited to find out how a different side of the battle was playing out offscreen during the campaign. Those solid-length missions did not disappoint, and followed the same gripping structure as the campaign by packing in as much environmental eye candy as possible.
Like I said, you can fully customize these three characters, from their sported Chapter armor to their class. If you have been dying to don the armor of the Salamanders, Blood Angels, Omega Marines and so SO many more, Space Marine 2 was lovingly crafted to cater to your desires. The six classes—Tactical, Assault, Vanguard, Bulwark, Sniper and Heavy—all have a specific role to play in the team with certain weapon restrictions, special abilities and unique skill trees. If you want to launch into the sky and bring down the explosive force of a Thunder Hammer, the Assault class is the way to go. If you would rather forgo melee prowess in favor of unrelenting firepower, the Heavy class wields the punchiest of firearms. There’s virtually no wrong call, although it does seem there is a current bug(?) that is preventing Assault’s jetpack from achieving the same boost height in Operations as it does in the other modes.
We’re Here to Kill Chaos
The last component of Space Marine 2 is the Eternal War PvP mode. Here, six Space Marines square off against six Chaos Marines, with the same classes and customizations seen in Operations available. Unlike Operations, two of each class is allowed on the same team, whereas the co-op mode does not allow duplicate classes. Perhaps two Bulwarks are desired to split the team into two groups of three while maintaining shield-restoring support coverage. Or maybe two Heavys want to wreak havoc on the opposition before they are able to close the gap into melee range. Teams will coordinate their team synergy strategies by experimenting with class combinations as they partake in team deathmatch, King of the Hill and zone control match types. It may not be anything revolutionary, but Eternal War provides a solid competitive landscape for those uniquely customized Space Marines to shine against one another. Whether playing Operations or Eternal War, the weapon masteries and earned currencies are shared between the two.
All in all, there weren’t many downsides to be found within Space Marine 2. Early access woes amounted to a couple “Joining Server” issues, resulting in one disconnected crossplay session and one system lockup across 10+ hours of playtime. Elsewhere, some may find the use of the same currency for cosmetics and weapon upgrades problematic. Choosing fashion and functionality isn’t always easy, but at least the single player Trials offer a way to make a quick stack for spending. I’d really be digging if I tried to identify any other notable faults.
Space Marine 2 Review Verdict
Space Marine 2: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is arguably the definitive Warhammer gaming adaptation experience. Saber Interactive elevates virtually everything from the 2011 original and incorporates what they learned from World War Z into an action-packed war campaigned overflowing with extraordinary scenes and jaw-dropping set pieces. In short, it's a Warhammer 40,000 fan's dream come true. – Joshua
Editor’s Note: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was reviewed on PlayStation 5/PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.
