Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 - here’s what you need to know
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is out now
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Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2promises the ultimate sci-fi power fantasy. In this third-person shooter, you play Lieutenant Titus, a hulking Space Marine supersoldier who fights on behalf of the dystopian Imperium of Man - the human faction in Games Workshop’sWarhammer 40,000universe.
However, what makesSpace Marine 2so exciting is its mechanics. Rather than have you cower behind cover in traditional third-person shooter fashion, Saber Interactive’supcoming gameembraces the power and brutality at the heart of the Space Marine fantasy. Rather than recovering by hunkering down in cover, you get your health back by executing enemy combatants in gory displays that would look right at home inDoom Eternal.The shooter adds a co-op mode this time, too, meaning that it could be in the running to join ourbest co-op gameslist.
In ourSpace Marine 2 review, we found that the game does a great job of capturing theWarhammer 40,000setting. Everything looks and sounds over the top. The alien hordes that Titus and his squad face feel overwhelming, while the iconic chainswords (that’s a sword with chainsaw blades) and bolt guns (rifles that fire self-propelling rockets) that he uses to dispatch his enemies are as loud and brutal as you’d hope. Read on to find out more.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: cut to the chase
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 release date and platforms
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2launched on September 9, 2024. The third-person shooter came out onPS5,Xbox SeriesX|S, and PC.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 trailers
The latest trailer we’ve received forSpace Marine 2arrived as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It’s a slow-motion cinematic trailer with some quotes from the press praising the game’s preview showings so far.
Another trailer we’ve received forSpace Marine 2comes from Focus Entertainment. It’s an extended trailer showcasing some of the multiplayer modes that’ll be available at launch.
Cinematic trailers are a lot of fun, but if you’re looking for a more substantial trailer, publisher Focus Entertainment has also revealed an eight-minute trailer that follows Titus through one of the game’s missions. Here, we see some of the meaty combat firsthand, as well as an exciting teaser at the end which shows off the forces of Chaos - a group of eldritch antagonists hell-bent on destroying the Imperium.
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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2has enjoyed a selection of engaging trailers over the past few years, starting with areveal trailerback in 2021. To keep up to date on all the latest previews, we advise keeping an eye on publisher Focus Entertainment’sofficial YouTube channel.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 gameplay
Much like its predecessor,Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2is a third-person shooter that trades chest-high walls and cover mechanics for gory melee executions and over-the-top futuristic weaponry.
In our hands-on with an early build of the game, we got to experience an early mission for ourselves. Not only doesWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2preserve the weighty and satisfying feel of the original, but it also improves on the formula, adding a parrying system that rewards well-timed blocks with meaty executions and staggering attacks.
What’s most impressive about the title, however, is how it leans into the size and scope of Space Marines. In theWarhammer 40,000setting, Space Marines are 10-foot-tall supersoldiers who tower above mortal humans. Every step Titus takes carries the weight of his heavy-duty armor and equipment. Fighting alongside ordinary humans, the enormity and scale of the Space Marines are brought into focus, making the player feel extremely powerful.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2also introduces squad mechanics. Your squad, either played by other humans in co-op or controlled by AI, will support you in battle by laying down covering fire, helping you charge enemies and even reviving you should you fall.
The game also boasts a range of weapons. In the hands-on, we tried a variety of Bolters - signature Space Marine weapons that fire rocket-propelled explosives. The automatic variant was a particular pleasure and allowed you to unload scores of explosives into alien hordes at a satisfying speed. We also got our hands on a Meltagun - an anti-tank weapon that fires blasts of super-heated energy. If you want to get up close and personal, of course, you can always switch to Titus' chainsword and tear enemies apart in melee.
Altogether, these facets make fighting through alien hordes extremely satisfying. Whether you’re in close quarters or picking off enemies at a distance, the combat feels responsive and substantial. We can’t wait to see the finished version.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 story and setting
Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine 2picks up after its predecessor. Having foiled an uprising of Chaos worshippers, Captain Titus of the Space Marines was taken into custody by the Imperium’s secret police on the grounds that he might have used “unholy assistance” to overcome these occult foes.
Since then, Titus has returned to active service, but it looks as though he’s received something of a demotion. Now a Lieutenant, he’s been sent to help the Imperium fight off an alien invasion on one of its planets. Working with the non-augmented humans of the Imperial Guard, Titus and his squad will need to brave hostile jungles teaming with alien Tyranids.
The Tyranids - heavily inspired byH.R. Giger’s xenomorph- are a race of ravenous aliens bent on consuming as much biomass as possible. One of the scariest foes inWarhammer 40,000, these creatures are controlled by a hive mind, making them a serious threat.
The reappearance of the forces of Chaos has also been teased. These sinister servants of four dark gods vie for control of human souls and serve as the main antagonists in theWarhammer 40,000universe. These renegades and traitors turned their back on the despotic Imperium of Man in favor of new masters.
Between the Tyranids and the followers of Chaos, Titus and his squad have their work cut out for them.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Collector’s Edition
Available from September 9, 2024, theWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Collector’s Edition comes with a host of extra goodies. Front and center is a hand-painted statue of Lieutenant Titus dispatching a Tyranid Gaunt with a chainsword. The statue depicts the Space Marine waist-deep in a pool of gore, meaning that it’s more of a bust than a full figure. Still, it’s certainly a striking sight.
The Collector’s Edition also comes with a 172-page book detailing the making of the game, an official Steelbook for the game, a copy ofWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2itself, and a snazzy collector’s box to put it all in.
You can pick up the Collector’s Edition on theFocus Entertainment websitewhere the full product comes to $249.99 / £229.99. It’s a significant investment, but, on the other hand, that statue does look profoundly metal.
Space Marine 2 FAQ
Is Space Marine 2 crossplay?
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2features full crossplay at launch. PC players and console players can squad up, regardless of where they’re playing. You may need an online service subscription depending on your platform.
Is Space Marine 2 Game Pass?
Space Marine 2is currently not onXbox Game Pass. While the game didn’t launch on the service, it’s possible that it’ll arrive there in the future. Stay tuned for updates.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 news
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2gets a release dateDespite the game being pushed back, we now also havea release datefor the anticipated third-person shooter. Focus Entertainment announced that the title will be released on September 9, 2024. It’s a while to wait, but, with this extra time, Saber Interactive will likely be able to put together a more polished and enjoyable experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2delayed until “the second half of 2024"Focus Entertainment has revealed thatSpace Marine 2’srelease date has been pushed back from late 2023to “the second half of 2024”. This is to provide time to “properly polish the game.” The shooter will still be arriving on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, however, so no changes there.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2gets new co-op trailerAs part ofE3 2023,Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2received a brand-new trailershowing off the title’s much-anticipated co-op mode. This will allow up to three players to experience the campaign together. Blasting aliens to bits may be satisfying, but it’s another thing entirely to tear chunks out of Tyranids with your buddies. You can view the trailer below.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2collector’s edition opens for pre-orderBack in February 2023, the collector’s edition ofSpace Marine 2wasmade available for pre-order. The edition contains a resin statue depicting Lieutenant Titus dismembering a Tyranid, as well as a 172 making-of book and a collector’s box to contain it all.
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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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