Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2: Captain Titus is Back – The Review

The Glorious Return of Space Marine. A great title just a step away from a masterpiece.

Warhammer 40000 Space Marine 2

After 13 years of waiting, Saber brings to current next-gen platforms the best experience dedicated to the Warhammer 40k universe. Discover the great strengths and weaknesses of this remarkable title.

A Level of Detail Worthy of the Imperium

The game exhibits an exceptional level of attention to every detail, from the outstanding writing of each character, both minor and major. The dialogues among background characters hide very interesting references for the most attentive Warhammer fans. Each character has its own unique development, and even the relationships between supporting characters play a significant role. The dynamic between Titus, Chairon, and Gadriel is reminiscent of the relationships in Gears Of War, leading to unexpected twists and surprises. Special attention is given to the most mysterious character of the entire game, the Chaplain.

The most intriguing details are tied to the environments; every planet, structure, or place you visit faithfully respects the classic architectures of the Warhammer 40k universe. The vehicles used by the Cadians or other factions in the game are extremely detailed. The weapons are masterpieces, with exquisite attention to both aesthetics and functionality. The armor of the different factions is meticulously crafted, filled with small details that long-time fans will easily recognize. In particular, the armor of the Space Marines and that of Titus have been carefully designed, layer by layer, with individual pieces moving naturally.

The Gameplay of Space Marine 2

COMBAT: the fundamental component of Space Marine 2.

From the introduction to the final thrilling hours of gameplay, the game offers increasingly epic and diverse battles. The combat system is based on five fundamental components that you must master perfectly.

1. Melee Weapon: Choosing the right melee weapon is crucial. Understanding its potential and drawbacks is essential to handle each situation effectively. The game features four types of melee weapons:

• Combat Knife: a very fast weapon but not very effective for parrying or fighting tougher enemies.

• Chainsword: the best and most balanced melee weapon in the game. It’s perfect for dealing with hordes and performs excellent parries. It offers a significant amount of combos and is readily available in most missions.

• Power Sword: found in some advanced sections, it’s a great weapon but requires extreme skill to master. Not recommended for dealing with hordes or Tyranids.

• Thunder Hammer: the most devastating and heavy melee weapon, ideal for handling large groups of enemies with its combos. It balances its lethality with the slowness of its moveset, making mastery essential for the later stages of the campaign.

2. Primary Ranged Weapon: Space Marine 2 offers a wide variety of guns and plasma weapons. Mastering each weapon and choosing the right one can entirely change the course of any encounter, given the uniqueness of each Bolter. The shooting mechanics are excellent, with a palpable sense of weight and damage dealt. This category is vital for managing hordes, and having the right amount of ammo or a specific type can turn the tide of battle.

3. Secondary Ranged Weapon: The most important equipment, especially in tight spaces and close combat. All three versions of the Bolter or plasma pistols work perfectly in any situation if handled correctly, particularly the heavy Bolter.

4. Heavy Weapons: In dangerous sections and during hordes, heavy weapons come into play. The flamethrower, an incinerator, and a heavy gatling gun are the main heavy weapons. This category can make the difference between defeat or victory against a horde: managing ammo and avoiding possible overheating is crucial. These weapons are rare and should be used at the right moment.

5. Fury Mode: A game-changing mode that boosts your power and regenerates health. Its utility becomes especially noticeable after the midway point of the campaign.

HORDE MANAGEMENT: The best moments of Space Marine 2 are the colossal battles against Xeno hordes. Enemies attack en masse, their overwhelming numbers creating intense tension. Each horde is unique and adapts to the environment, making arena management essential, as being surrounded is a common occurrence. The team has done an extraordinary job of displaying a massive number of enemies on screen while maintaining balanced combat to give players a continuous feeling of power and tension; by perfectly balancing the different phases of these fights, they’ve entirely eliminated the risk of frustration.

THE UNYIELDING VESSEL HUB: An important part of Space Marine 2’s gameplay is the exploration of the battle cruiser between missions, which serves as the main hub where you receive briefings from the command room before each mission.
Exploring and listening to the dialogues between the Space Marines is important, as they discuss missions or events tied to the lore of Warhammer 40k, such as conversations about the Tau or other elements of the campaign. The ship offers panoramic points where you can spot iconic vehicles and nearby the arsenal, several Dreadnoughts. Observing through the grand window of the command room, you’ll notice the unique architecture of the Imperium ships, immense battle vessels resembling Gothic cathedrals that convey a sense of power and grandeur.

The Campaign of Space Marine 2

The most important and powerful component of Space Marine 2 is its main campaign, which is divided into several missions set across three different planets. Each planet is incredibly detailed and visually stunning; you could easily lose hours taking screenshots, with a level of artistry comparable to major titles like Xbox’s Hellblade 2 and Plague Tale Requiem.

The writing is exceptional, reaching high and truly emotional moments that will resonate with Warhammer 40k fans and those who completed the first game. The direction and cinematography are admirable, delivering moments akin to moving paintings, peaking with the stunning opening cutscene and the banner sequence.

The spectacular cameo of a highly significant character from the Warhammer 40k universe makes the final section even more indescribable and thrilling. Character development, especially for Titus, is remarkable, yet always smooth and naturally handled, reminiscent of Kratos’s journey of redemption in the Norse saga. The two supporting characters are also well-written and perfectly fleshed out, making their development a delight to observe. A small mention to the mysterious yet extremely important figure of the Chaplain: pay attention to who hides behind him… you might be surprised.

Technical Aspects

Space Marine 2 showcases a significant level of detail and model density, both on consoles and PC, thanks to the powerful Swarm Engine. The entire game, despite its demanding nature, is impressively stable, with the Xbox Series S version being perfectly optimized despite hardware limitations. This version consistently maintains 30 fps, even in the most complex scenarios.

There are a few minor frame drops, almost imperceptible, that only occur in the most intense sections with many particle effects on screen. Currently, the most stable versions are on Xbox and PC, while the PS5 version still has noticeable frame rate drops. The Series S version has not experienced any crashes or significant issues. Space Marine 2 stands out as a well-optimized title, even in its 1.0 version, a rarity in this generation.

The Other Side of the Coin

Despite being a great title, Space Marine 2 has some significant drawbacks: multiplayer modes, operations, and customization.

• Operations: This feature had an interesting concept of offering side missions with another team of Ultramarines alongside the main campaign. Despite the occasional encounters with this team in the main storyline, they have well-defined personalities and interesting designs with different armor classes. Unfortunately, these missions are poorly written, unbalanced, and do not add anything new. The imbalance is evident in the enemies’ increased damage and the AI bots’ lower efficiency compared to the main campaign. Choosing a class doesn’t provide a significant advantage, as focusing on a specific type of equipment doesn’t always lead to the best combat outcomes. An interesting idea, but not well-executed.

• PvP Multiplayer: A problematic mode due to the limited options available. It might be fun for a few friendly matches but quickly becomes repetitive. As in the first game, the slower pace of combat creates a thoughtful, tension-filled experience during matches. It serves as a classic but not necessarily essential addition.

• Customization: The weakest aspect of the entire game. Space Marine 2 offers several customization options for operations and multiplayer, but unlocking them requires excessive XP grinding. These modifications are purely cosmetic and do not affect the gameplay in any way. Given the license, the potential for more diverse customization was almost limitless.

How the Post-Campaign Could Have Been Enhanced

During the campaign, you encounter three significant characters: Calgar the Primarch, the Chaplain, and Brother Dreadnought. These figures could have been used to create short stories unlockable after the campaign, offering entirely new and classic Warhammer 40k tales.

Important Update

Given the game’s great success, the game director is considering developing an expansion focused on the main storyline or even a possible sequel. Meanwhile, negotiations continue between Amazon and Games Workshop to bring the Warhammer universe to the screen, with movies and TV series in development, with Henry Cavill as a producer.

Final Rating

Space Marine 2 proves to be an excellent sequel, meeting the highest expectations. Despite some significant flaws in the extra modes’ balance, it remains a great title that comes close to masterpiece status.