There are few terms that relate more to Warhammer than the Space Marine. For decades, the Space Marine has been science fiction’s most famous super-soldier. Standing six feet tall and wielding weapons that would burst a normal human like a bubble, they appear indestructible at first glance. And yet, due to the vastness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the stories told within it, Space Marines must be equal parts demigods, immune to all blows and cannon fodder, and ready to take part in a galaxy-ending conflict.
As such, it’s difficult to become well-versed in the Space Marine. And yet Saber Interactive has managed to make this challenge seem completely arbitrary. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is the ultimate Space Marine experience. From the weight of your armour, to the metallic thud of each step of your boot on the ground, to the reactions of the Cadians (normal human soldiers) as they see you walk past, little moments, like the sight of a soldier kneeling in front of us as we advance to the next battlefield, show just how much attention to detail Saber has put into this game. From the distant 41st millennium, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II makes an 8-foot-tall superhuman appear. The armour he wears and the weapons he uses look real and down to earth, without ever subtracting an iota of fantasy from the overall experience of playing a Space Marine.
Seeing Titus dressed in blue again is a sight to behold, as is the rest of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II. The game is great, and while it may test your system on PC, it’s worth it to see the universe come to life in a way never seen before. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is so vast in its scope and scale that it almost feels like a Lovecraftian horror. We shouldn’t try to understand its size, or we’ll go mad thinking of places that can accommodate tens of millions of people, and buildings so large that we can only assume the architects of the 41st millennium have access to creative mode. That scale, however, has been brought to life in Space Marine II. Plus, the diversity of the universe was shown off in great fashion, from the jungles of Kadaku to the sprawling cityscapes of Avarax to the twisted and apocalyptic world of Demerium, you’re constantly presented with environments that feel unique without the levels causing you to get lost in the scale of your surroundings.
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The views of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II only get better with the enemies swarming around them. Presenting an improved version of the same technology used in WWII, Sabre brings the infinite number of Tyranids to the forefront. You’ll see thousands of them in the air and just as many will face you on the ground. You can easily pick apart the smaller members of the hive mind with your rocket rifle or pistol, but the weight of their numbers will soon catch up to you and force you into close combat. When you’re surrounded by swarms of smaller Tyranids, combined with a few warriors who can match your own strength, things can quickly get difficult, especially on the harder difficulties. You can’t just charge in and will need to get used to the pace of killing in Space Marines II. While the combat feels similar to the first game, with parrying, perfect dodging, and overall improved variety, you’ll find that difficult encounters require fewer button mashing and more solid strategy. The grand, bloody executions are, of course, one of the highlights of the combat, giving each encounter a more cinematic feel and ensuring that you walk over a mountain of enemy skulls at the end of each mission.
The missions in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II are long, both in PvE Operations and the main story campaign. It helps that there aren’t too many of them, as this makes each mission feel unique and replayable, especially in the case of Operations. It takes around 15 hours to beat both campaigns, and then of course there’s the Eternal War PvP mode to dive into. All of this adds up to a very dense game, reminiscent of an old Halo title. However, there will be players who are just here for the return of Titus, and it’s worth noting that they won’t be disappointed. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II tackles its story boldly, even with the baggage left by the first game’s cliffhanger. After nearly a century of absence, Titus has changed. He’s tougher, less confident, and while these elements are harder to convey considering Space Marines often have the emotional depth of a watermelon on steroids, Clive Standen does a great job of presenting this version of Titus. The story’s plot doesn’t leave much time for introspection, but overall it serves as a solid narrative and a brilliant excuse for some of the most memorable gaming moments of the year. By the time the story reached its climax, I had a permanent, unwavering smile on my face, amazed at what I was seeing and how perfectly the spirit of Warhammer 40,000 was captured.
Would it have been nice to see a story that focused more on character than plot? Of course, but Space Marines II once again hits the nail on the head with its portrayal of Warhammer, where there are often very few moments for quiet reflection while another apocalyptic event is moments away. The game’s main villain is just as memorable as the first game – that is, not very memorable – but it has an incredible boss fight, which is not uncommon in Space Marines II. The bosses test your combat skills, and yet it’s always incredibly satisfying to take on a Carnifex or sword-fight with a Chaos Wizard. As swords clash and your rocket rifle thunders round after round against the boss and the minions he’s brought with him to make the encounter even more deadly, it’s once again hard to resist the urge to don some power armour, grab some chain and fight in the name of the Emperor. Somehow this game makes the 41st millennium seem like a place you’d like to visit because it makes you feel so evil.
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Something that shouldn’t go unnoticed is the role that sound plays in creating that feeling. The sound of the music as you and your fellow Ultramarines charge into the daemonic line, the crunch as you drive a Tyranid’s bone sword into its own ribcage. Even the sounds your armour makes as you move help to make the combat even more impactful. Again, it’s hard not to admire the time invested in making everything feel authentic and the respect Sabre and Focus have for the IP. This is especially true given the breadth of the game. I haven’t really touched the Eternal War PvP mode yet, and that’s mainly because I’ve only been able to play a couple of fights, but the experience seems just as solid as the other two facets of Space Marines II.
A story campaign, a parallel PvE campaign, a 6v6 PvE mode, two different enemy factions, co-op, single player, different Space Marine classes, more weapon loadouts, thousands of enemies on screen. When you list it all off, it might seem like Saber Interactive was destined to fail in at least some aspects of this game. However, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and the way it pulled it all off never ceases to amaze me. It’s a bombastic action-fest that recalls the best games of yesteryear. A triumphant success not only as a Warhammer 40,000 game, but as an action game for the ages.
