Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Review from Barry - Monday, 19 September 2011 @ 6:09pm

Have you ever wanted to pretend that you are some sort of specially bred super killing machine solider? The kind of super killing machine solider that is genetically modified and even has multiple extra organs surgically implanted, just in case your original cops a stray bullet?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions hurry off to the shops and buy a copy of Warhammer 40k: Space Marine.

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine puts you into the over sized heavily armored boots of Captain Titus of the Ultramarine chapter of the Space Marines. Look, if you are new to the Warhammer 40k universe there are a few things you just need to roll with, like how psykers can control their bleeding with their psychic ability, how Ork Wierdboyz can use magic and that all Orks seem to be British.

50 : 1? Good odds for Titus

Without spoiling the story too much, after you have killed a few hundred orks you come across a distress call from Inquisitor Khal Drogo, which means its time to saddle up the khalasar and ride to his aid, fast forward to a few thousand dead ork’s later when you get to Khal Drogo and all is not as it seems.

On the surface it might seem like the combat in Space Marine is pretty simple - mash X to kill things with your melee weapon, or pull the RT to shoot someone - while this may get you through the first couple of fights, it quickly becomes obvious that you not only need to priority target, but also utilise some more complex strategies for ridding the forge world of all its evils.

Who needs a jaw? Lets hope not that bloke

Quite a few times in Space Marine I found myself confronted by a seemingly never ending horde of Orks wishing to brutally murder Titus and his companions - and succeeding. Its in situations like this where you need to re-evaluate your “mash X to win” strategy as it simply will not work. Grenades, combo stuns and clever use of your fury meter will see your prevail, but not before a few servings of humble pie are jammed down your throat by some Ork Nob.

One thing you quickly learn when you play Space Marine is that once a Space Marine has been given a mission nothing will get in their way of completing this mission except death - or a waist high ledge. According to the lore a space marine’s skin has been genetically modified to meld with their power armor which means two things. Firstly - like Samus, the suit never comes off and secondly they weigh about 2 tonne - sadly this rules out any sort of jumping.

POW - Right in the kisser

That is probably why they invented jump packs. unfortunately you can't rock a jump pack the entire time you are laying waste to the invaders of the forge world. The game is chock full of juxtaposition like giving you a jetpack, but restricting your available weapons while you have it, or allowing you to equip the fully OP Thunder Hammer, but only let you use with your Bolter or Pistol until you swap it back for the axe or chainsword. This gives you options for how you will tackle the next area, either up close and brutal with your mighty hammer - or from afar with your sniper style laser cannon.

While the single player campaign is only around 6.5 hours long, it feels just right. There are only so many location you can kill things in on a planet who’s sole purpose is to forge things before you feel like you have been here before. That is not to say they aren’t awe inspiring. Giant epic hangars with Titan class mech’s sitting idle give way to abandoned residential sections that have been destroyed by the invading force are just some of the locations you can expect to brutally murder Orks. It would be nice to see a few different shades of colour other than brown though.

The Ork Warboss - He is a pain in the ass.

The upgrades are spread out enough through Space Marine to allow you to really feel like you are being all that you can be. This also allows for the game to throw more and more enemies on the screen at the same time, especially towards end game where you have multitudes of elite enemies charging towards you as well as their underlings. This is where you thank the Imperium and their Tech priests for the Iron halo and Ultimate Fury upgrades.

Jet packs - who doesn't love em?

What would truly make Space Marine epic would be the inclusion of some sort of RPG elements. Give me a Darksiders style skill tree and maybe Mass effect style influence system over your fellow squad mates. That would really take it to the next level, perhaps we will see this in Space Marine 2.

The story is nothing too special, but it moves along nicely and is an enjoyable experience full of intrigue and ending in quite the cliffhanger, even if you can see the twist coming from a space mile away.

Cause im freeeeeeeeeee! Freeeeeee Fallllling

Pros

• Excellent combat
• You really feel like a 7' instrument of death
• Fun story
• Great pacing
• Jet packs
• You can tear an Ork’s face apart after you bury your axe into his foot.

Cons

• Fairly short game
• Somewhat repetitive locations. (Fits the story & location however)
• Lack of RPG system may see players getting bored