When I was younger, I frequently engrossed myself in the bloody universe of “Warhammer 40K”. The holders of the “Warhammer” video game torch, Relic, have successfully portrayed the “Warhammer” franchise in PC games. However, the same success has not been realized using console-based games. Naturally, I became excited when presented with the chance to kick some Orc ass on my TV. Enter “Space Marine”.
Published by THQ, “Space Marine” is the latest attempt to bring the “Warhammer 40K” universe to console gaming. It is a third person action shooter developed by Relic, the same guys behind the amazing “Dawn of War” games. You would think, as I did, that the game would be memorable. Sadly, we would be wrong.
Functionality
As far as gameplay goes, think “God of War” rather than “Gears of War” – from the get-go, the game boldly states “real men don’t use cover”, and fearlessly tosses you into the intense and visceral fray.
Controls are fairly intuitive. A is jump, X is your melee, Y is stun and B is your finisher for stunned enemies. Clicking left thumstick makes you sprint and the left bumper throws grenades. Left trigger aims and Right trigger shoots, while the D pad functions as your quick swap between guns that you pick and choose from boxes you find throughout the game.
The game is structured as a very linear (mostly in-corridor) shooter/hack and slash. With few exceptions, the pace never lets up, as one room filled with enemies simply leads to another, both ripe for slaughter. This tends to get a bit monotonous. Aside from a few weapon changes, a couple boss fights, and new foes entering the fray, there really aren’t any moments that stand out (or, more importantly, break up the pace). The game begins to drag on by hour three; sadly, this is the halfway point. What you end up with is a game that feels like it was designed for Xbox Arcade.
The game itself suffers from a severe identity crisis. You are always pushed straight into close quarters combat, with no cover system and waves of enemies that have no problem charging straight forward to tear you apart. The problem arises when certain enemies try to shoot at you from a distance. With waves of enemies sprinting headlong to engage you, there will be no time to step back and pick off ranged combatants. This problem is magnified by the fact that, even with full health and upgraded armor, these attacks kill you in a few hits. I often found myself wasting a precious Fury Mode charge to finish off long ranged combatants. Effectively, the designers have created a game where you really do need cover, but do not have it.
Sadly, the multiplayer modes are even less impressive. There are two multiplayer match types: “cooperative” and “team deathmatch”, both of which are lackluster. Both modes feature the style of play from the campaign – either A.I. (cooperative) or an enemy team (team deathmatch) charge and fight until one side is destroyed, then try again. I would complain about how the level design is straightforward and unimaginative, but my main concern was that I could rarely get into a game. Most of my multiplayer time was spent starting at the TV while searching for a possible match. Overall, I would say multiplayer is generic at best, and before long I found myself switching over to “Gears of War 3”.
First of all I could almost never get into a game. I would mostly be left sitting there on the screen while it searches for matches. And no its not my internet. This aint the only online game I play, and I don’t have these problems normally. Once I finally got into a game I was met with one of the most generic online experiences I have ever had. The level design is unimaginative, and all that there is to the gameplay is one group charging at the other, dying and try again. With other online experiences sitting on my shelf Id had enough before too long and switched back to “Gears 3″.
Presentation
“Space Marines” uses Relic’s own PhoenixEngine to bring the Forge world to life. It is a modified version of the engine used in the hit “Darksiders”, also published by THQ.
As far as graphics are concerned: textures are solid, lighting is used adequately, and the world is large and reasonably detailed. The character models show significant detail as well, allowing players to pick up of the workings of armor and weapons, as well as see the battle scars of their fellow marines.
The game also runs smoothly, with little frame lag and very few gameplay glitches. The persistent problem, however, is clipping. In nearly every part of the game, I witnessed enemies popping through the ground, walls, and crates. This became really frustrating when trying to finish off an enemy who is permanently stuck in said wall/ground/crate, while still being attacked by everything else swarming around me. Needless to say, this led to some controller-crushing moments.
Atmosphere
This is one of the few areas where the game really shines. The soundtrack is incredible. With the right notes striking at the right time, it succeeds in sweeping you along and entering you into this epic world of tragedy and war. The landscaping continues this feeling by presenting the player with rare glimpses of the outside (non-corridor) world, where you realize that there is more going on than your desperate room-to-room struggle. There was more than one moment where I found myself ignoring the endless pursuit of raw carnage, choosing instead to watch the background. At those moments, you really feel like you are in the “Warhammer” universe.
Plot
“Space Marine” follows Captain Titus of the Ultra Marines. For those unaware, Ultra Marines are one of the most highly regarded and powerful of the Space Marine chapters, and among the most loyal to the Emperor.
When Orcs invade the Forge world of Graia (where the Imperium makes massive Titan War Machines), Titus and his men are sent to help hold the defenses. As the story progresses, you discover that the Orcs are actually a diversion – Chaos lies in wait, and gains entry to the planet as the marines are distracted. Titus is then forced to fight a battle on two fronts to save the planet and prevent the powerful Titan technology from falling into enemy hands.
The plot itself is executed reasonably well through cut scenes and in-game dialogue, and has many nods to the larger Warhammer universe that fans will find nostalgic and engrossing. Though a bit predictable and lacking in emotion, the story helps legitimize the situation. The characters do nothing to help this feeling, as there is almost no emotion or inflection to faces or voices during the game. This helps to portray the characters as unflinching badasses, but does nothing to make you care about them one way or another. Thus, they do not hold up compared to heroes in other games.
Legacy Rating
Will this game last through time? With the Warhammer brand behind it, there are undoubtedly many who will find this game entertaining. But with unmemorable characters and story, plus poorly executed gameplay, I find it hard to view this as the start of a great new franchise. The open-ended plot hints at future adventures for Captain Titus, though I imagine this will be decided by how well the game sells. Unfortunately, this is not the game that will popularize the Warhammer universe for console gamers.
How does it compare with other games? Though “Space Marine” is similar to many games, it fails to capture the quality of the ones it pulls from most. It is violent and intense, to be sure, but lacks the punch, awe, and polish of games like “God of War” and “Gears of War”. The entire experience is best described as average.
Buy or Rent? With a short, lackluster campaign, tacked-on multiplayer mode, and no co-op or replay value, this game is a definite rent. If you have a Gamefly account and a few hours to kill, it may be worth checking out. Chances are, with the games coming out this upcoming holiday season, there will be something better you can spend your time on.
