Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

After a delay that pushed it to the latter half of the year, it won’t be much longer until we have the Space Marine 2 in our hands. Saber Interactive has gone all-out when it comes to the game and ensuring it remains faithful to the franchise.

Naturally, fans will have a lot of questions regarding the upcoming game. Some newcomers may also be curious about what to expect. Though developers have kept a lot under wraps, there has been a wealth of new information revealed that should help gamers decide if Space Marine 2 is the title for them.

There Will be Various Types of Tyranids

The Tyranids are one of the main enemies players will be up against in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. They move in overwhelmingly large swarms, making strategization a must if players want to come out on top.

Though Tyranids are all controlled by the Hive Mind, players will face different types of these enemies. We’ve gotten a glimpse of some of the Tyranid types to expect. This includes the common Termagants, Hormagaunts that stick to the front of the swarm, and the ruthless Tyranid Warriors.

Why Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Co-op Multiplayer Will Only Feature Three Players

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will feature a co-op multiplayer mode. Typically, such a mode is a four-player affair, but developers settled on making it a three-player experience. This has been done to ensure the game isn’t too easy.

In an interview with PCGamer, Saber Interactive’s Yann François shed light on the studio’s decision. He explained that Space Marines are almost invincible, so having four of them working together would eliminate any challenge, and “that is what led to the choice of creating a multiplayer of up to three players.”

Hive World

Titus makes a return in Space Marine 2, and he’ll be tackling two planets, namely, Death World and Hive World. The latter is similar to the setting of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, and it will feature Hive cities packing billions of people in large vertical areas. Players can expect dense, highly detailed environments where the hordes of Tyranids will roam.

Inspiration Behind the Return of PvP and the Development of a New PvE Mode

Space Marine 2 will feature both a PvP and a new PvE mode. This choice was motivated by the desire to craft the “perfect sequel” which would necessitate not cutting any features present in the first game. This meant that the return of PvP was a must.

The three-player PvE co-op mode was inspired by the fact that there is a galaxy-wide conflict with the Tyranids going on. Titus can’t be everywhere at once, so he needs a squad. Hence, the Operations mode was created.

Improved Enemy AI

The Tyranids move in swarms like insects. However, they haven’t been designed as mindless foes. Instead, Saber Interactive has taken the time to improve enemy AI to ensure a more challenging and engaging gameplay experience. The Tyranids attack in more coordinated ways, making it a bad idea to blindly charge into battle. Players will have to take a more tactical approach and adapt to varied situations to emerge victorious.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Will Feature Both Ranged and Melee Attacks

An arsenal of weapons will be available to players. It’ll be up to gamers to decide which weapons are best suited for what situations. For ranged attacks, there will be numerous rifles and pistols to use. When players are up close with enemies, it’ll be smart to opt for one of the various melee weapons. This includes the standard combat knife as well as the Chainsword and Thunder Hammer, to name a few.

Brutal Executions Return

Space Marine 2 is a stomach-churningly violent game full of action. Players will be slaughtering Tyranids in the most gruesome ways possible. Fans can look forward to the return of brutal executions. There will be three types of executions: parry executions, melee executions, and pistol executions.

These executions can be performed when an enemy is staggered, leading to a gory death animation. Executions recover some health and shield, so it’s worth grabbing the opportunity to perform them whenever possible.

You Don’t Need to Play Space Marine 1 to Play Space Marine 2

Space Marine 2 will appeal to its player base but this doesn’t mean that gamers need to play the first title to understand the upcoming game. According to Saber Interactive, “it’s a fresh story that can be understood as its own without having played the first game.” This is good news for those who haven’t gotten to the first game but want to jump into the action when Space Marine 2 launches.

There Will be Varied Dialogue Depending on Player Actions

The developers have gone all out when it comes to voice acting. As creative director Oliver Hollis-Leick explains in an interview with Gamereactor, “every single Space Marine class is a character, fully voiced by an actor, they have their own personalities.” The dialog will be varied and responsive to different situations, meaning players will hear different dialog depending on their playthrough choices.

There Will Be Different Difficulty Levels

Not everyone who jumps into Space Marine 2 is going to be a veteran when it comes to third-person action games. This isn’t a problem, as the game will have varied difficulty levels to accommodate all kinds of gamers. According to PCGamesN, there will be four difficulty levels to experiment with. Depending on what difficulty levels players pick there will be small changes regarding how they’re meant to complete objectives. This ensures the game has high replay value.

There Will be Quick Time Events (QTEs)

In a move that has received mixed reactions from players, there will be Quick Time Events in Space Marine 2. According to IGN, there will sometimes be a short QTE window giving players the chance to counterattack with a pistol blast. QTEs don’t have the best reputation but if implemented well, they could be an exciting part of combat that gives gamers a chance to gain the upper hand.

A Heraldry Editor is Included

Customization is a huge aspect of Space Marine 2, and players will be able to customize their weapons to their liking. Additionally, the game will feature a Heraldry Editor, allowing gamers to create their own combinations. This will be an important part of making every Space Marine feel unique. Players can expect more cosmetic options to be released post-launch, though there won’t be any microtransactions in the game.

There is No Friendly Fire

In multiplayer mode, things can get chaotic when bullets are blasting and swords are swinging. Fortunately, players need not worry about getting caught in the crossfire when their team is unleashing their arsenal. As confirmed through reports, it’s impossible to harm your own teammates. The lack of friendly fire means players can focus on the important things, like tearing up Tyranids.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Will Feature Cross Platform play

With multiplayer such an important component of Space Marine 2, fans may be wondering whether friends will be able to play together across different platforms. It has been confirmed that there is separate PvP matchmaking which means different player pools for PC and consoles. However, there is full crossplay for all platforms in campaign and Operations. Crossplay can also be turned off to stick to a specific platform.

Expect Cold Brutality

Space Marine 2 is not for the faint of heart, and it will feature gratuitous violence. According to Hollis-Leick, the studio is attempting to take the 2011 game and adapt the experience for modern audiences. The result is a game that’s less cartoonish and more ferocious. As Hollis-Leick explains to Gamespot, “things like the ranged combat, the melee combat, the scale were all great, but we wanted to make it more raw, more violent, and with a kind of cold brutality.”

Players can expect tons of action, heaps of customization options, and jaw-droppingly large swarms of Tyranids to chop down. It’s a title that appears to offer authenticity for series veterans while still being accessible to newcomers. Space Marine 2 launches on September 9 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.