| Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 | |||
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| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
It’s time to bring the big guns in the name of the Emperor in the long-awaited sequel: Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Review Overview
What is Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2?
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is a third-person shooter and a long-awaited sequel, which is a direct continuation of the events of the first game that was released back in 2011. It follows none other than Demetrius Titus, a seasoned veteran of the Ultramarine chapter of the Space Marines. Set in the vast Warhammer 40K universe, the game features more of the universe's different races, forces, and equipment. The gameplay is more of the same from its previous iteration but features more improvements to its already brutal and intense combat.
It features a lengthy story campaign focused on Titus’ exploits as well as a separate game mode (Operations) that focuses on another squadron that serves as support to Titus’ missions and even has their own tales to tell. In the latter game mode, it also features different classes for you to choose from, each with their own specialties and strengths to bolster a squad’s chances of success. Lastly, the game will also have a PvP game mode (Eternal War) where it features 6v6 head-to-head shootouts with varying game modes.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 features:
⚫︎ Set in the Warhammer 40K Universe
⚫︎ Lengthy Story Campaign
⚫︎ Additional PvE Missions That Feature Their Own Story
⚫︎ Brutal and Intense Third-Person Shooter Action
⚫︎ Multiple Classes and Customization Options
⚫︎ PvP Game Mode With New Game Modes
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2’s gameplay and story.
 Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 |
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 Steam |
 Epic |
 Playstation |
 Xbox |
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Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Brutal, Visceral, and Intense Combat Class Variety and Customization Captures the Space Marine Feeling |
Performance is Quite Demanding Intended Difficulty May Not Be For You Story and Themes May Be Confusing |
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Overall - 92/100
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 easily captures what it feels like to be a Space Marine in the Warhammer 40k universe. The brutality and intensity of the combat are unmatched and are supplemented by the game’s audiovisual experience. To top it off, the game has an amazing multiplayer experience that can function both in the campaign and in its other PvE mode.
While the gameplay is the game’s biggest draw, it also has a few flaws. Some of which are its demanding performance and its intended difficulty. Nevertheless, the game is a near-perfect representation of what it means to be a zealous Space Marine under the Empire of Man and is an amazing sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Story - 7/10
Following the story of the first game, Demetrius Titus is back in action as an Ultramarine and against a new threat: the Tyranids. Without spoiling too much of the story, the whole thing isn’t as clear cut as it seems, similar to the first game. If you’re new to the Warhammer 40k universe, you may get lost in the game’s terminologies and references.
They slightly ease you into how the hierarchy works for the Imperium of Man but then throw you right into the fire after the tutorial. Ignoring these flaws, the game’s story is actually quite well-paced. It also helps that they make the distinction between the cast often, since even someone who isn’t all that familiar with the lore like myself was able to tell what each character was responsible for.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Gameplay - 10/10
The gore and brutality of the game could be compared to the older titles of the God of War series and even the Doom series when it comes to the carnage you’ll be causing. The combat is actually quite simple to learn, and if you’ve played other third-person shooters and action RPGs, you’ll feel right at home with its systems. The biggest difference, however, is how you tackle certain types of enemies, as you don’t necessarily go gungho all the time.
The game also has a variety of different weapons for you to use that can answer different types of situations, as some weapons are better at crowd control while some are better for dueling. Aside from the game’s campaign, the Operations mode also offers great variety with its different classes and playstyles for you to choose from, which further enhances the game’s combat specialties. While the game’s core design may be repetitive due to its mission-based nature and deceivingly simple combat, the differing mission objectives and engaging mechanics keep things interesting.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Visuals - 10/10
Visually speaking, the game’s aesthetic and setting were done justice. Never has the Warhammer 40k universe been portrayed as well as it has been in this game, and Focus Entertainment outdid themselves this time around. The designs of the different characters, environments, and monsters are all amazing to look at and in motion. Especially when you see the swarms in action, as they are a treat to look at in motion.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Audio - 10/10
There is one thing that stands tall in the game’s audio design: the SFX. This aspect of the game encapsulates the game’s overall feel and atmosphere. To add to this, it adds so much to the game’s overall weighty feeling in gameplay. This may have you thinking that the other aspects aren’t all that great, and this is where you’re wrong. The music and voice acting in the game aren’t the stars of the audio design yet hold their own in their responsibility in adding to the game’s atmosphere.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Value for Money - 9/10
For $59.99, the game offers a lot on release. If anything, it’s quite surprising that it’s not on the AAA price point. Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 offers pretty much what they’ve announced to be offering on release: a lengthy story campaign, a PvE mission mode that doubles down on its variety, and a PvP game mode to take heads. All of these, with the addition of having engaging combat, striking visuals, and amazing audio design. This may very well be the Space Marine simulator that we all wanted for all this time.
If there’s one flaw that its value may have, it is definitely how taxing it is to run. You cannot run this game with an HDD, and yet even with the game’s recommended specifications, the game still has frame drops in certain situations that you’ll encounter quite a bit.
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Review: The Space Cavalry Has Arrived
The long-awaited sequel to Space Marine is finally here, and boy does it deliver.
I was initially excited for the game, especially since it’s been a while since I’ve played something close to what Space Marine is offering. While Helldivers 2 offers the "man-versus-horde" experience, it’s not the same as being as badass as a Space Marine. I’m not the biggest fan of Warhammer 40k; if anything, I’m actually pretty new to the universe. I’ve heard about how strong the Space Marines are, and I was looking forward to a modern depiction as the first game was released back in 2011.
After a few delays, Space Marine 2 has finally landed, and the game has everything that I looked for in a game of that same genre while depicting the Warhammer 40k universe perfectly. Top-notch audiovisual presentation and amazing gameplay are the aspects that capture the feeling of being a Space Marine.
In terms of visuals, the game’s designs are already pretty good, and while this may be pretty easy to spot with all the promotional material that they’ve been putting out for the past few weeks, it’s the swarms of Tyranids that take the graphics to a whole new level. Seeing the mobs in motion is something to behold. Focus Entertainment brought the same energy that they used for A Plague Tale with how the enemies moved as a ball, especially the Rippers.
Going back to the character designs, the details in the different Space Marine armors are also a work of art. While they’re all mostly of the same color scheme, you can actually tell the differences and personal touches that each character has in their gear. This is more apparent in Operations, especially when you see the cosmetics available in the game.
For audio design, it’s the same story as the graphics. There’s a standout element in it, which is the sound effects, and the rest are all great on their own. I used to not pay attention to much to the SFX, as they’re normally just there to add a little flair to the game.
Space Marine 2 made me look deeper into it, as the way the bulky armor moves, the shots from the Boltguns, the swings from the Power Hammer, and other things made me reconsider how important this element was to the audio design. It adds so much weight to the game’s already intense gameplay and visual experience, and it rounds it off perfectly.
Narratively speaking, the game is pretty predictable and mostly just follows the formula of the first game. Without spoiling too much of the game, Titus is back for more, and this time it’s not against the Orks. You work to put the Tyranid threat at bay, all the while a darker force in the background is making their move.
It’s a predictable angle to take narratively, especially since it’s the same one that they use in the first game. However, the way the game depicts the different factions is definitely picture perfect, especially since they delve a little deeper into how they work and how other factions perceive them.
Last but not least, the gameplay. When they say, "the cavalry has arrived" it normally pertains to an elite force coming to save the day. In this case, YOU are that cavalry, and the Space Marines are the ones that mankind calls when they need to get the job done. The whole design of the game of a squad against the overwhelming forces is pulled off and presented perfectly. The combat is not complicated at all, yet how every element of the gameplay works makes it a perfect experience for those wanting that horde shooter gameplay.
More on the game’s combat, the Operations mode is how it makes the combat special. Every class has a role to play; some are responsible for crowd control, some for eliminating specific targets, and more. The different classes and variety of play styles offered by the game are honestly a big game changer with the mission-based design that the game has. It’s able to avoid the common pitfall of repetitive mission-based gameplay by offering a perfect audiovisual and gameplay experience.
All in all, Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 is an amazing game. It’s worth the high price to pay to be able to serve the Emperor of Man as part of the Ultramarines. The whole experience is pretty much a simulator of what it’s like to be a Space Marine, and to be honest, this might be the perfect way to put it.
Pros of Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2
| Things Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Got Right |
|---|
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Brutal, Visceral, and Intense Combat Class Variety and Customization Captures the Space Marine Feeling |
Brutal, Visceral, and Intense Combat
The combat of the game is simply something to behold. The brutality and intensity of the combat are the result of committing to the Warhammer 40k atmosphere. There’s nothing quite like having everything feel right when it comes to a game’s combat or gameplay in general. The animations, feeling, and even simplicity make everything better. The best part of the game’s combat is definitely the intensity of each and every encounter, especially when you see that things start to mesh together perfectly.
Class Variety and Customization
In the game’s Operations mode, you have the ability to customize your own Space Marine. There’s a total of 6 different classes to choose from, and each of them has their own specific specialization when it comes to dealing with the opposition. This ties into the game’s many enemy types and how players should home in on the enemies that they’re geared to eliminate first. An example of this is how Snipers are the best at picking off the ranged enemies while keeping a good distance from the enemy hordes.
Captures the Space Marine Feeling
The best part about the game is how it makes you feel like a Space Marine. For context, Space Marines are genetically modified superhumans. As seen when interacting with other races and factions, the difference is apparent. In turn, the game has to make you feel like you’re part of a force that is called when they want to get the job done or when they need to turn the tide.
Aside from the plot and implications, the combat itself is the biggest factor in showing that you’re not just a normal soldier. When doing parries on smaller enemies and executing stronger enemies, you can actually tell that the small fry are afraid of trying to mess with you. Without going too deep into it, Space Marine 2 captures the feeling of being a superhuman going against the overwhelming opposition.
Cons of Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2
| Things That Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Can Improve |
|---|
|
Performance is Quite Demanding Intended Difficulty May Not Be For You Story and Themes May Be Confusing |
Performance is Quite Demanding
The game is pretty demanding on your specs, even with the upscaling enabled. Running the game with a 2060 on low settings still had several frame drops when it comes to situations when there are a lot of enemies on-screen. It may be good for you to experiment with the settings first before you start playing the game, as the experience of slowdowns and lag spikes might ruin the experience.
Intended Difficulty May Not Be For You
The intended difficulty stated in the game is on "Veteran," which is equivalent to Hard mode for other games. In my experience of playing this difficulty, it required me to use my resources often and efficiently. I would say that it isn’t too hard nor too easy, just perfect. However, this may be different for everybody else, especially when they’re not used to games like these. There’s nothing wrong with playing the game on an easier difficulty level, as what matters is if you’re having fun with your experience.
Story and Themes May Be Confusing
For those walking into it without prior knowledge of the Warhammer 40k universe, some terms and concepts may be confusing. As a casual fan myself, I had to rely on context clues to understand most of the terms that were used in the story. It does become easier as you go on, but don’t be surprised if you’re wondering about what they’re talking about for a few hours, as it touches on concepts from other factions that aren’t exactly out there.
Is Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Worth It?
Absolutely. For the Glory of Mankind!
For the price of $59.99, the game is well worth the price since it offers a lot of content and replayability as well. The game is able to offer itself to both the offline and online audiences. It has a pretty substantial single-player experience with its story campaign and an online live service model when it comes to the multiplayer. Not only are you getting tons of content, you’re also getting a really good quality gaming experience alongside it.
All of its aspects are amazing, and it’s definitely worth your time and money to play the game. Even to those who aren’t well-versed in the lore of Warhammer 40k, I recommend playing the game regardless. Who knows? You might find yourself being a fan of the universe afterwards as well.
| Digital Storefronts | |||
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| Steam |
Epic |
Playstation |
Xbox |
| $59.99 | $69.99 | ||
Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 FAQ
When Can I Play Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2?
The Standard edition of the game is set to be released on September 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12 nn ET.
For those who pre-ordered the Gold and Ultra edition of the game, they will be able to play the game 4 days earlier. Consoles will have the game available on September 5, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET. While PC will have the game available on **September 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12 nn ET.
For the exact conversion of timezones, please visit our release date and time page.
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Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 Product Information
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| Title | WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 9, 2024 |
| Developer | Saber Interactive |
| Publisher | Focus Entertainment |
| Supported Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, PC (Steam, Epic Games) |
| Genre | Action RPG |
| Number of Players | Single, Online Co-op (number of party not determined yet) |
| ESRB Rating | M |
| Official Website | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Website |
