Warhammer 40K: SM 2 Review - GOTY? Play Later

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review – Steam Deck & PS5 Impressions

For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly awaited a sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. My journey began later, sparked by Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other titles in the franchise, including Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Intrigued, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck. The recent reveal of Space Marine 2 heightened my anticipation, especially after extensively playing various Warhammer 40,000 games across PC and consoles.

Over the past week, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review remains a work in progress for two key reasons: a complete assessment necessitates thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is slated for release by year's end.

Given Space Marine 2's stunning visuals and gameplay on the Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, I was keen to experience it on Valve's handheld. The results are a mixed bag, and this review will cover all aspects, including gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note that performance overlay screenshots are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 screenshots originate from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted using Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that seamlessly blends brutality, stunning visuals, and exhilarating gameplay, appealing to both veterans and newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces core combat and movement mechanics before leading you to the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, cosmetic adjustments, and more.

The core gameplay loop is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly implemented. While some may prefer ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in the visceral melee combat. The execution animations are consistently thrilling, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew tiresome. The campaign is equally enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although I found defense missions less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget reimagining of a classic Xbox 360 co-op shooter – a genre rarely seen in this quality today. It captivated me similarly to Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 offers a refreshing experience and stands as one of my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to definitively declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 title, the addictive nature of the Operations mode with a friend, coupled with the gradual progression through missions and unlocks, keeps me returning.

While I haven't fully tested Space Marine 2's online capabilities with random players, my co-op experiences have been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality more thoroughly once the game launches with cross-progression and cross-platform play.

Visually, the game shines on both PS5 and Steam Deck. On PS5, the 4K mode (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. The environments are incredibly detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with impressive texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by the superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows for extensive adjustments, including framing, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on the Steam Deck, some effects suffer when using FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 version's photo mode is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't particularly memorable outside of the game's context, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

My Steam Deck experience allows me to discuss the PC port's features. The game installs Epic Online Services, but linking an Epic account isn't mandatory. Graphics options are extensive, allowing for adjustments to display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (quality, balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA or FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution targets, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and numerous quality settings.

Four presets control texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant benefits from FSR 3 on the Steam Deck. 16:10 support is also desired.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display correctly on the Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Key remapping is also available. My DualSense controller, connected via Bluetooth, displayed PlayStation prompts and even supported adaptive triggers wirelessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While I experienced some freezing during startup on default and experimental Proton, Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. The game is technically playable on the Steam Deck without configuration changes, but performance is suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips. Lower resolutions also result in sub-30fps performance. Improved performance is crucial for a smoother experience.

Dynamic upscaling for a 30fps target and low presets yields better results, but still experiences dips. The visuals remain good on the Deck's screen, but the game currently pushes the handheld's limits. Improper exit behavior also necessitates manual force-closing.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on the Steam Deck, unlike some games with anti-cheat measures that block Proton or Linux. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth and enjoyable. Internet-related disconnections occurred, but given the pre-release nature of the servers, further testing is needed.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features

The PS5 performance mode provides a largely positive experience, although a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling seems present, causing occasional blurriness. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card support is included. Gyro support is currently absent.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression

Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 is functional, with a two-day cooldown period between syncs. Further clarification is needed regarding this cooldown in the final release.

Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play?

A definitive answer requires more testing with random players to assess matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War remains untested at this time.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Post-launch support is anticipated, and I hope to see improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. While DualSense support is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While online multiplayer requires further evaluation, the gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch. I don't recommend the Steam Deck version currently, but the PS5 version is highly recommended. A final score will follow after extensive multiplayer testing and patch releases.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA