Knowing history is very important. Not only to avoid making the same mistakes as in the past, but also to understand why things are the way they are in the present. This applies to everything in life and video games are no exception. You have to explore the prequels to understand the sequels both in terms of story and gameplay, especially when you are a neophyte.
This isn’t my first trip back in time to 2024. My love affair with Helldivers 2 led me to question its origins. I left my post to travel to Helldivers in 2015, which was at a critical point: SuperEarth was under siege and was destroyed by the Automata after several days of defense formed by literally a few hundred players.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has completely captured my heart, just like the Arrowhead Game Studios game did. This has caused me to spend several hours reading on the Wikihammer…and I still have a lot left to go. That’s over 30 years of accumulated lore. No small feat. And as you’re probably thinking, my curious spirit has led me to the prequel, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine from 2011.
Weekend full of blood, explosions and the stench of heresy
I had been having for years Warhammer 40.000: Space Marine from 2011 in my Steam library. I have no idea how or when, but it was there waiting for this moment. Call it fate, chance or causality, but I believe that in the end life takes you where you are meant to go. In this case, to the work of Relic Entertainment.
I’ve been playing video games for enough years to have learned to manage my expectations before starting a new adventure, whether it’s old or new. In fact, I like to aim low (not in a negative sense) because I prefer surprises to disappointments. And I’m almost always right.
I want to make it clear that this is not a retro analysis of Warhammer 40.000: Space MarineMy goal is to give you some thoughts and anecdotes after completing it in a single six- or seven-hour sitting last Saturday. Most importantly, I came away with a smile on my face and fully understanding why its sequel is so absurdly good.
The controls are a bit stiff and I admit that there are a few stage designs that really got on my nerves, to the point where I let out a couple of curses in a louder tone of voice than usual. Or to put it another way, there was a bit of rage. Beyond that, it was an exciting experience, packed to the rafters with recurrent expressions like: “Now I understand this Space Marine 2 thing” or “If this is in Space Marine 2!”
In this war adventure everything takes place on one planet. You face Chaos, as in Space Marine 2but swap out the Tyranids for Orcs. I admit I didn’t really like the latter until I’d completed the game. I was expecting a serious, dark, beastly race, but instead I found a gang of retards led by the least dimwitted individual. Don’t worry. Don’t denounce me as a heretic just yet.
I have spoken with several experts in Warhammer 40k and I’ve been told that the race is like that in the original lore. That’s when I saw the value of it and that it’s certainly funny to hear all the stupid things that the little ones shout while you’re putting the bigger ones through the chainsword. In fact, I’ve been told that they paint things red because they think they’re faster that way. As I said, they’re really stupid… And that’s really cool!
I’m completely smitten with the architecture and setting of Space Marine 2, so I was very interested in Space Marine. While it’s not the most insane experience, especially since much of the experience takes place indoors, there are several outdoor sections that left me jaw-dropped.
We forget very quickly that the epicness and beauty of the settings is based more on the artistic work than on the obsessive graphics. The buildings and constructions in Space Marine are amazing and fighting among the ruins is still a spectacle out of a movie. And if you don’t believe me, all the screenshots in this article are from my game.
I thought Space Marine 2 executions were Saber Interactive’s thing, so imagine my absolutely stupid face as I chained together my first ones in Space Marine with all manner of melee weapons: knives, chainswords, hammers and axes. Plus, the execution system is different: you have a button to stun enemies, execute them and regain health.
If I had to choose, I’d go with Space Marine 2’s parry. Landing the critical shot and/or performing an execution feels a lot more satisfying when it’s rewarded for doing a good block. Still, having more control over when to do it has been great, too. In fact, the prequel features a mechanic that the sequel doesn’t: when executing certain enemies with certain weapons, you have to perform a grappling maneuver similar to Gears of War’s saws.
I could go on about points for hours, but it would be a very long post. The point of the matter is that I now understand the reason why Warhammer 40.000: Space Marine 2 is an undisputed gem (and a candidate for Best Action Game of 2024, if you’ll allow me the boldness) is that Saber Interactive had a very good base to support development.
If you haven’t played 2011’s Space Marine, are having a blast playing Space Marine 2, and have no qualms about playing older games, I highly recommend giving it a chance. It’s showing its age, especially after playing the sequel, but I can assure you that you’ll finish it with a smile on your face and understanding a lot about both Titus’ story and the general context of the universe.
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