Review of Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2

Initial release date: 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Saber Interactive

Engine: Swarm Engine, Proprietary Engine

Mode: Multiplayer video game

License: proprietary license

Genres: Third-person shooter, Adventure game, Hack and slash, Adventure

There are numerous games released under the Warhammer 40K brand these days, ranging from CRPGs like Rogue Trader to first-person shooters like Necromunda and Boltgun, as well as a plethora of turn-based tactical games. There aren’t many that fall short in terms of tone or concept. The universe is notorious for its representations of a grimdark future with only war, and I can’t think of many titles – if any – that have misinterpreted the assignment. However, Saber Interactive’s Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 may hit the nail a little more squarely on the head than others.

The original title, launched in 2011 and starring the now-famous Mark Strong in the lead role of Captain Titus, sparked interest among fans of the franchise or explosive action games, amassed a cult following, and then went largely unnoticed for 13 years. However, with the license’s seemingly inevitable rise (it will be 37 years old this year), it appears that the moment has come to give it another shot. What better studio to do it than Saber Interactive?

Saber has previously proven their mettle in terms of gunplay and suspense with the highly successful Left 4 Dead-alike World War Z, but they also have their patented Swarm technology, which is the ideal medium for thoroughly exploring one of W40K’s most fearsome enemies: the Tyranid Hive. The Tyranids, a living war machine made up of billions of unstoppable killing machines all commanded by a single hive-mind, are among W40K’s most intriguing and enduring enemy types, and the ideal nemesis for a balls-out third-person shooter like Space Marine 2.

It takes place about 200 years after the events of the original game, which may seem like a long period, yet Titus appears to be in good form. After two centuries of service with the Death Watch, he is reinstated as a Lieutenant and assigned to command a Primaris unit under Captain Acheran. The aim is to stop a Tyranid invasion fleet from spreading throughout the Emperor’s realms at all costs. Titus must deal with the reality that his past makes him a pariah, and his ruthlessly pragmatic approach causes friction among his subordinates.

The campaign loses no time in throwing you into the fray and then delights in keeping you there, always massively outnumbered and waging what appears to be a lost battle. There isn’t much to disclose, so I’ll be vague with details, but the campaign is one of the most atmospheric and accurate renderings of the cosmos in recent years. Titus, aided by two other marines, Chairon and Gadriel, battles numerous hordes of opponents over a multitude of creative locations meticulously created to evoke the distinctive 40K sense of bleak attrition.

But it isn’t the locales or the atmosphere that distinguish Space Marine 2. As stunning as this game can make a blood-soaked combat appear, the Tyranid Hive is the true star of the show. Saber’s Swarm technology, which first seen in World War Z, is quite amazing. It displays hundreds of lethal Tyranid Termagants on-screen at any given time, sweeping towards you like a tidal wave of teeth and bone until the AI splinters into individual units that act independently of one another.

They rush at you, avoid your assaults, and flank you; becoming cornered by too many is an easy way to have your limbs severed. There are also larger antagonists, as well as a few elite-type monsters with distinct attack patterns and powers, such Tyrants and Raveners. The foes are numerous and varied, and even on basic difficulties, it can be quite hairy. But, of course, you’re not a bunch of terrified cats huddled in the corner.

Primaris Space Marines are the God-Emperor’s forces and the de facto good guys of the Warhammer 40K universe (well, sort of – it’s complicated), and each one is a bio-engineered walking battle tank in half-ton armour, armed with some of the most devastating weaponry you can carry with two hands. Saber Interactive has gone all out with this, to the extent where traveling around the globe feels like you’re playing a mech shooter.

Titus is, for lack of a better word, enormous. As attackers assault, you will see blue or red signs to warn you of what is coming. Blue can be parried, often resulting in a violent counter, whereas red must be evaded – though perfect dodges can frequently result in a death shot, which kills smaller foes or severely hurts bigger ones. Space Marine 2 boasts an impressive selection of weapons, including two-handed weapons like the Bolter or Melta, as well as a pistol and melee combo. There are lots of ways to deal death on the battlefield, including powerfists and chainswords, heavy bolters, and plasma pistols, as well as a variety of grenades. Get an enemy on the ropes, and with a click of the right stick, you can take them apart in a number of nasty finishes.

Unfortunately, this variation does not extend to other aspects of the campaign. While new adversaries appear on a regular basis, and new weapons and loadouts are gradually introduced, the campaign itself is rather straight, with few divergent paths to explore and no collectibles to speak of. Pick-ups are limited to ammo, stim packs, and grenades, with a few Data-Slates providing aural background information. As much cruel fun as it is, it appears that the campaign is mostly designed for the online contingent: Operations Mode and the Eternal War PvP mode.

With no cash-shop or in-game purchases at launch, the Season Pass and additional DLC in the form of cosmetics and new Chapters will keep Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 profitable, and a lot of effort has been put into making the online component, particularly Operations Mode, feel appealing.

It’s here that you can earn a special money to unlock a plethora of cosmetic options for customizing your online characters to match your favorite Chapter of Space or Chaos Marines. There are numerous colors (all coded for Games Workshop’s Citadel Paints, of course), decals, armor flourishes, and symbols. A number of armor sets can be unlocked as individual parts by completing Operations missions and meeting certain milestones, and all can be transferred to the Eternal War 6v6 PvP mode.

Operations missions are multi-objective challenges in which you and two other players (or bots) execute a series of objectives like as defending vantage locations, igniting explosives, or simply holding out until evac arrives. A dedicated horde mode is coming in 2025, which seems like a no-brainer. As it stands, Operations is effectively World War Z but in 40K: you have limited heals and buffs, special skills on cooldowns, and the AI Director scatters pick-ups randomly, frequently based on how you’re doing. The elite foes are treated similarly to the Special Infected, appearing nearly randomly to split your team and penalize speedrunners.

Playing with other people (which I was fortunate to do several times during review) is a lot of fun, however the bot AI is a little questionable. They fail to prioritise specific targets and have a penchant of launching explosives while riding lifts for no apparent reason, yet it is possible to grind EXP and cash on the lesser difficulty setting. This mode features six classes: Assault, Tactical, Vanguard, Sniper, Bulwark, and Heavy, each with 25 talents to acquire with their own loadouts and special powers. For example, the Bulwark can place a banner that increases health and armor, and the Vanguard has a grappling hook for reaching distant adversaries and dropping their Xenos asses into oblivion.

If anything, Saber has been a little too stingy with the unlocks. Not only do you need to gain enough EXP to unlock the skills, but you also have to pay currency to equip them. This wouldn’t be too bad, but each costs 10 or more credits, and cosmetics can cost up to 30 – and most missions only award you with 25. That’s a lot of grinding, especially because EXP isn’t shared between classes. Weapons, too, can be upgraded and customized using the same principles. I can see this being adjusted post-launch to make earning rewards a little more tempting – especially given how long an Operations operation is, easily lasting up to 20 minutes at a time until you have a strong grasp of what’s expected.

However, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 seems like a whole package. The campaign may be a touch “no-frills” and straightforward, but it establishes the Operations Mode (each mission is set during the campaign’s events) and provides some of the most violent and cathartic third-person action since Gears 5. Space Marine 2 also does an excellent job of switching up goals, giving you a Pyroblaster (flamethrower) to clean up vermin in one mission while another is multi-level and requires the use of jump-packs to get about.

Perhaps most importantly, Saber Interactive clearly understood their task. They’ve developed a universe-worthy arena of conflict that aficionados will adore and beginners will appreciate for its robust mechanics and responsive, exhilarating carnage. When played on PS5, the controller haptics make every thundering footfall and screaming rev of the chainsword feel real, while the magnificent visuals depict a gorgeously dirty world of strange marshes and battle-blasted fortifications. With the Season Pass and roadmap in place, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is an excellent entry into the universe and a suitable sequel to the 2011 original.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 88%

Controls – 85%

Aesthetics – 90%

Content – 87%

Accessibility – 82%

Value – 89%

Overall Rating – 87%

EXCELLENT!

Summary: “Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2” delivers an exhilarating, action-packed experience that stays true to the chaotic and gritty nature of the Warhammer universe. The gameplay is fluid, with satisfying combat mechanics that make every encounter feel impactful and intense. While the controls are responsive, there’s a bit of a learning curve with more complex maneuvers. Visually, the game impresses with rich, detailed environments and brutal battle sequences. The content is extensive, featuring a solid variety of missions, though some might find it a bit repetitive over time. Its accessibility is decent, but the game may be more enjoyable for those already familiar with the Warhammer lore. For fans and newcomers alike, “Space Marine 2” is a stellar entry in the Warhammer franchise that delivers both value and thrill.