Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review: guns and gore for the God Emperor

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 MSRP $70.00 Score Details Pros

Perfectly captures the Warhammer tone
Non-stop action
Variety of weapons and classes
Operations missions are a blast

Cons

AI teammate issues
PvP needs balancing tweaks

At one point in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s campaign, I found myself inside a glittering fortress cathedral. Countless deranged forces of the Thousand Sons and their ilk were hot on my heels. There were half a dozen guardsmen in front of me, once-loyal servants of the Imperium now turned foul worshipers of Chaos. I couldn’t just stop and shoot them one by one, so I sprinted past them. To my surprise, the mere act of me in my bulky power armor running toward human-sized enemies was enough to squash them into paste with an audible “splorch” as I left their gory remains all over the floors and walls.

This is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a triumphant showcase of the bloody, grimdark sci-fi universe. With intense firefights, cinematic set pieces, a bajillion utterances of the word “brother,” and moments that truly made me feel like one of the Emperor’s “Angels of Death,” this third-person shooter offers a thrilling experience like no other. It’s not without some caveats, though. It’s a game best played with friends or with others online, as solo play leaves a lot to be desired. There’s still a handful of other issues to be fixed if it’s going to reach its peak potential.

A bone-crushing blockbuster

Space Marine 2’s campaign stars Demetrian Titus, the vaunted hero of the first game who has rendered loyal service for nearly two centuries. Gravely accused of being tainted by corruption, Titus becomes a member of the Deathwatch before events finally lead him back to his original chapter: the Ultramarines.

An awe-inspiring audiovisual spectacle that rivals any blockbuster movie.

This sets the stage for a fairly linear 10-to-12-hour-long campaign, one where Titus is joined by two comrades, Chairon and Gadriel, neither of whom