ASMR Game Review: Space Marine 2 (Soft Spoken)

Introduction

Introduction

I recently completed my campaign of Space Marine 2 and wanted to share my thoughts. As someone who jumped straight into this sequel without having played the first game, I found the journey immersive and surprisingly accessible, even for newcomers. I purchased the game and went for the $ 90 version, which included the battle pass, in anticipation of some exciting gameplay and updates.

Gameplay Experience

I went in completely blind regarding the lore and characters, including the main protagonist, Titus. Fortunately, Space Marine 2 is designed in such a way that it’s easy to follow the story without needing background knowledge. The narrative is engaging, with references to epic moments from the previous game, notably a character named Gadriel who echoes a memorable line from Leandros, a less favorable character from the first title.

I played through the campaign on "Veteran" difficulty, just one step below "Angel of Death." To my surprise, I only died about six times throughout, demonstrating that the challenge, though present, was quite manageable for my skill set. However, I've heard that the jump from Veteran to Angel of Death presents a significant difficulty spike. Past experiences at Comic-Con showed me how tough Angel of Death can be, as I often ran out of ammo amidst intense firefights.

Despite my victories, I was often on edge due to limited resources. The game does an impressive job of making you feel like you’re in a desperate situation—where running low on health or ammo becomes a constant concern. You really feel like an overwhelming force one moment, and then suddenly, things can go south pretty quickly.

Story and Setting

The story is solid, immersing you in the vast and grim universe of Warhammer 40K. I appreciated the scale of everything—humanity's struggles against insurmountable odds are beautifully portrayed. Although I’m not a fan of the Ultramarines (they remind me too much of generic heroes), the storytelling captivates and draws you into this richly crafted world.

While playing, I did notice some repetitive mission design, especially with defense scenarios. It seems that a significant portion of the story revolves around defending specific locations while waves of enemies swarm you. While this moment-to-moment gameplay can be exhilarating, it can also feel a bit tedious over time.

AI and Difficulty

One notable frustration was the AI companions. More often than not, they seem oblivious to your struggles, focusing their attention solely on you while neglecting the objectives. This aspect adds to the challenge but can also feel unfair when you’re doing all the heavy lifting while your bots just stand idly by.

Fortunately, the overall game performance on my setup (a 4070 graphics card with an AMD Ryzen 5) is commendable, with only a few drops in framerate during intense moments. I didn't experience major bugs apart from a specific issue in the final boss fight, which required a workaround.

Multiplayer Mode

While I enjoyed the PvE aspect, I found the multiplayer more challenging. The matchmaking system has led to some significant balance issues, often resulting in lopsided games where one team dominates the other.

The absence of auto-balancing can cause players to become stuck in low-performing teams, leading to endless rounds of defeat. Additional frustrations arose when trying to communicate with teammates; voice chat seemed nonexistent, forcing reliance on pinging for coordination.

Customization and Future Updates

On a positive note, the customization options for character chapters are robust, allowing you to bring lesser-known chapters to life. I'm excited to see what the developers have in store regarding future updates and potential expansions.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Space Marine 2 was a pleasant surprise for me. Despite a few flaws, I found the gameplay rewarding and engaging. As I continue to explore and play, I’m keen to see how the developers manage player feedback and improve the title in upcoming updates. Here’s to hoping for a bright future for this franchise and potentially more games exploring the various chapters within the Warhammer universe.

Keywords

Space Marine 2, gameplay experience, story and setting, AI and difficulty, multiplayer mode, customization, future updates, Warhammer 40K, narrative, scale, veteran difficulty, angel of death, Ultramarines.

FAQ

Q1: Do I need to play Space Marine 1 to enjoy Space Marine 2?
A1: No, Space Marine 2 is accessible for newcomers and provides enough context for you to follow the story without having played the first game.

Q2: How difficult is Space Marine 2 on Veteran difficulty?
A2: Veteran difficulty offers a manageable challenge; I only died around six times throughout the campaign.

Q3: What can I expect from the multiplayer mode?
A3: The multiplayer mode currently faces balancing issues and lacks an auto-balance feature, often leading to unbalanced matches.

Q4: How's the performance of the game?
A4: The performance is generally good, with only minor frame rate drops during intense moments, especially in city missions.

Q5: What are the future updates for Space Marine 2?
A5: The developers have indicated expansions and updates, including a Dark Angels update and improvements based on player feedback.