Computer Game - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Demo)

Let’s see if I can sum this up easily..... HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

I have been a 40K fan since I was a teenager. Even though I don’t really get the chance to piss about with little models anymore, the 40K lore has always stuck in the back of my mind. Everything from the second edition rule book with the excerpts from the different stories to the full on Black Library books, there is just something about the gothic far future of the forty first millennia that draws me in.

As for the game, it’s not out yet.....but the demo is.

I’ve played a lot of 40K computer games in my time. Everything from Chaos Gate to Dawn of War. Mostly these have been strategy games. Space Marine breaks the is a third person shooter from Relic and to say they got it right would be an understatement. The feel is just right. The weapons sound and feel how I always thought they would. Melee combat with the chainsword is the most satisfying in any third person game that I have played.

There is no cover system a la Gears of War. Yeah you can stand behind a crate, but it’s not like you crouch into it. Then again, you are a seven foot tall, genetically modified super human covered in several inches of Ceramite armour. Taking cover in this game has another name, cowardice. No servant of the emperor hides in the face of the enemies of mankind.

Sorry, got a bit carried away there. Back on track.

Gears of War will get a lot of mentions when you read about this game, a lot of that will be from the uneducated who think that Space Marine has ripped off the lancer with chainsword.

Newsflash: 40K has been around a LOT longer than GoW.

Also there is no regenerating health. The only way to recover your health is to perform execution moves with your melee weapon or use fury mode, power for which you generate during combat. There is, however, a rechargeable “Shield”. That bit I do find quite strange as Space Marines shouldn’t have shields, just their Power Armour.

There are two scenarios in the demo. First “The Inquisitor” is a full mission where you are on an Imperial forge world searching out an Inquisitor (wow, who would have guessed). You have five weapons at your disposal; A Chainsword, Bolt Pistol, Bolt Gun (Bolter), Stalker Bolter (basically a scoped Bolter) and the Vengeance Launcher (A grenade launcher). The Bolt weapons have unlimited ammo. [Edit - As pointed out by Mr Porkov, only the Bolt Pistol has unlimited ammo. The Botler and Stalker Bolter require you to pick up ammo along the way.] The Vengeance launcher doesn’t but there are plenty of ammo dumps around the levels. On the way you basically have to hack, slash and shoot your way through an entire Ork horde. This is plenty of time for you to get a good feel of the combat. It’s visceral, bloody and damn good fun. This has been rated M and Relic have made good use of that.

The second is called “Battlements” and is to give you a feel for the assault combat mechanics. The jump pack yet again feels right as you leap long distance into a horde of Orks. Pressing the melee button while in the air will cause you to drop down and smash into the enemies. When you are equipped with the Jump Pack, you can only use the Bolter or Chainsword/Bolt Pistol. Trust me though, you only need the chainsword.

I found myself playing through the whole demo just using the chainsword (or the Power Axe which you can find during one of the missions, don’t want to spoil it too much).

My biggest gripe with this is the chapter they have based it round. I can't stand the Ultramarines. Everyone is well aware that they are Games Workshops favoured chapter, but really they should have used any of the other chapters with far better lore. I would have gone for Blood Angels but Dark Angels or Space Wolves would have been awesome as well. As far as a gripe goes though, that's not much.

We still need to wait for the full game to be released but this demo is a fanboys wet dream. If you have any interest in Warhammer 40,000 or Space Marines. Go give this a try.

For the Emperor

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine will be released on September 6th.


Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Playstation 3
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Xbox 360
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - PC DVD