Space Marine Game - Release Date and Info

Want to get a taste before release?

You can get the two part demo on steam.

It includes two scenes: One with you and your squad running around killing orks, and a second scene where you get the jump pack and fly around killing orks.

This is a good chance to practice stuns and executions (which help you regain life). The jump pack is more efficient at stunning targets as you can land amidst a bunch of clueless orks and go to town on the lot of them. I also found grenades to pick up but was too busy shredding orks with my bolter and diving into them with my jump pack and hacking them apart in creative ways using the execution graphic moves.

Rumble over to Steam ASAP and download the demo. The demo is free.

So I downloaded the free demo from Steam and played two demos, a longish, 5 part first level that gets you used to firing the bolt pistol, bolter and some other weapons and swinging the chainsword, (while getting you immersed in the story), and a shorter 2 part level that gets you used to the formidable jump pack (which forgoes the storyline to drop you right into awesome).

The first scenario has you running all over an Ork-infested manufactorum with your squad. As you slay greenskins, you get power for your Fury ability, which makes you very deadly for a while and refuels your health. As opposed to getting health power ups, you get health by kicking ass, in the form of stunning nearby targets and then killing them.

And with the Orks there are plenty of targets. It's easy to get overwhelmed, and the Captain you are controlling has a tendency to hack and slash in a single direction (his attacks build up if you hammer the chop key or button), thus allowing Orks to pile up behind him. Since you are so close over his shoulder (I didn't bother to check camera angles in options - kill!), they can sneak up on you, but no fear as you can just turn him around and merrily hack that way. Too close? Space (on PCs) does a roll/tumble that gives you some quick space. Against Orks the various bolt weapons take a few hits to level a greenskin, while gretchin (yes, it has them too and you don't have to stun them before killing them to get health back) go down pretty easily. Late in the intro scenario, I discovered a power axe, and this makes your chainsword look like a party favor (as well it should - on further review, the chainsword is FASTER, but the power axe is a power axe), cutting down Orks in a single blow. Watch out for bigger Nobs though. They hit hard, and in traffic or if your back is against a wall, can ruin your day in a hurry, Space Marine or not. Even the power axe doesn't level them in one blow, and they seem impervious to bolter fire. Fair warning.

The second scenario is pure fun, and will be a key factor in the chaotic multiplayer action. Jump packs! Early in the scenario, strap into a jump pack and take to the skies. JPs are good for short bursts of altitude, but when you fly, you get a yellow reticle. Place it on the ground, and you can rush to the location, blasting in a small radius anything around you. Targets hit by the death from above move are temporarily stunned, allowing you to mop up. Targets near edges will get thrown to the lower level for your squad to take care of. Heavy gunners on higher levels are easy targets. It's just plain fun to zoom up, and then come crashing down on a squad and send them scattering.

In addition to being part of the story line, your AI controlled squadmates are fairly savvy, taking out Orks with controlled bolter fire and taking care of themselves in close combat when mobbed by Orks. The demo at least seems to make them indestructible (including to your lazy or panicked friendly fire). The game may not be so forgiving on release. I was not able to check the status of my squadmates, if it is at all possible, and if they are basically Gods in the game, great, I just have to cover my own butt. (Update: The squad just does its own thing, and is invulnerable, even to you trying to blast them, as are your IG and Inquisitor allies). Point being, they are far from useless, and help take some of the pressure off of you. I enjoyed standing back and picking off Orks attacking my squaddies, until I got their complete attention.

The Captain can be a little hard to control when he gets extra choppy, and the Marines move in a determined march unless tumbling, so they don't move very fast, but the controls and target reticle, and especially the jump pack controls, are slick and accurate. Your target reticle lights up yellow when you have a shadowy greenskin in site, so that you can be a little more accurate, although nothing says "For the Emperor!" like holding down the fire key/button at a wall of advancing Orks.

Reloading seems to take a bit of time, and I occasionally looked down to find that I had not reloaded. I think hitting the chainsword button/key interrupts that process, and when a dozen Orks are in your face, you don't always wait for mags to get loaded.

Not featured in the demo is the multiplayer mode where you can create your own look with colors, emblems, and other armor features, as well as any weapons you want. Multiplayer features Imperial and Chaos Space Marines so you can go toe to toe with any sides' chapters, or create your own, with gear buildout from the armory. They boast 1.8 billion combinations, so you shouldn't tire of it too soon. Whether you get sick of your opponents rocketing out of the sky on jump packs to teabag you is something else entirely.

The game takes a little time to master, but the controls are intuitive and easy to use. The details are beautiful and Space Marine fans will be thrilled with the results. I can't wait to see and play the rest of it.

Get more reviews about Space Marine the game:

PC Gamer
IGN
Imperius Dominatus Blog

P.S. Watch out for Bomb Squigs!

16 player Multiplayer will be out on release, which will allow players to customize their squads including fielding different chapters than the Ultramarines featured in the single player storyline, and attaching a variety of weapons and gear.

Multiplayer will also allow players to field Chaos Marines so teams can duke it out properly.

There are over 1.8 billion combinations of gear, colors and other factors to customize your Space Marines or traitorous Chaos Marines.

Update: Now that the game is out, I've had a chance to play the multiplayer and boy is it fun and fast-paced. Space Marine uses a level system to unlock new gear and perks, and you also get new perks and gear when you get accomplishments for a variety of actions.

One of the neat aspects are gear buildouts. You can select from Tactical, Heavy or Assault, which allows you to swap out primary and secondary weapons, and the aforementioned perks so you can customize not only your gear, but your role in the multiplayer match. Pretty cool.

At level 4 you can load up the Customizer and choose from a couple dozen chapters and warbands, unlock armor designs, change colors on logos and backgrounds, and create some cool custom armor. The chapters and warbands are well represented, so only a few purists will be disappointed that their chapter isn't there. All of the first founding chapters are there, both SM and Chaos (I think I found them all) and many successor chapters and warbands.

A word of warning, the perks upgrade the weapons significantly and at times you wonder if the game shouldn't be called F You, I Have a JumpPack/Melta Gun.

The weapons are fairly balanced, however, and more likely than not, you'll smoke someone, only to get owned by his friends, which is part of the fun.

Multiplayer is addicting, and you are certainly motivated to get every perk (or at least the ones for your favorite weapons and abilities). I will look up from play and realized hours have slipped away.

It's worth it.