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<\/p>\nIn Space Marine players step into the oversized boots of the genetically modified captain Titus, an elite space marine who is charged with protecting the human race from what seems to be a never-ending wave of Orks, as well as the more menacing forces of Chaos. Unlike previous Warhammer games developed by Relic, Space Marine is a straight-up third-person shooter which makes no attempt to be strategic or tactical. It is being released on 9 September on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.<\/p>\n
In case the name didn’t give it away, core to Space Marine’s purpose is the concept of the Space Marine: an elite warrior, hand-picked from birth and genetically enhanced to become the ultimate weapon in the human army’s arsenal. Space Marines stand well over seven feet tall, weigh in at over 400KGs, and are adept with numerous weapons, both ranged and melee. Of course, they have to be giants if they’re going to go face-to-face with the brutish Ork horde, often in grizzly hand-to-hand combat.<\/p>\n
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The power and awe of the Space Marine becomes immediately apparent as soon as you begin to move Captain Titus around. His heavy armor clunks authoritatively as he charges into a group of about 20 Orks guns blazing. The Bolter Rifle allows you to soften the blow but by the time the charging enemy gets within Chainsword range your ammo clip is depleted, and you must rely on the Marine’s brute force – which is immense. Titus makes short work of regular Ork infantry using his combination of combat styles, and for the most part the game feels solid and satisfying.<\/p>\n
True to its nature, there is no cover system in Space Marine. Remember, you’re wearing enough metal to build a tank, and you’re a genetically modified human juggernaut with cybernetic implants. Forget about poking your head around cover, waiting for your enemies to politely present themselves for your bolter rifle’s sights.<\/p>\n
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During my time with Space Marine, I found myself constantly charging the enemy down, often into what would seem in most games insurmountable odds. The game is designed for Titus to thrive under this exact sort of approach. Each time you kill something your “Fury bar” fills up slightly, and once it is topped up, you can unleash a devastating melee attack which does terrifying area-of-affect damage.<\/p>\n
In the preview code I experienced a satisfying variety of weapon types. The Bolter Rifle is a staple in the Warhammer 40K universe, and is well represented in Space Marine. There is also a well implemented sniper rifle which allows you to pick your enemies off from a distance, a flame thrower, grenades and other more creative tools for destruction. Then of course there are the various melee weapons, such as the iconic Chainsword. The game does also present additional melee weapons, such as epic battle hammers and axes.<\/p>\n
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One of the highlights of the demo was most definitely the jet packs. These allow you to propel Titus high into the air before coming crashing down into a group of enemies, doing damage and stunning your foes before finishing them off in close combat.<\/p>\n
Space Marine is pretty much exactly what it says on the box: a high-intensity action game that captures the brutal and unrelenting nature of the elite Space Marine. Visually it does nothing to impress beyond matching current standards, and the audio, while solid, is not going to blow your mind. The story, just like all Warhammer games, feels like just another glimpse of the ever-raging war between humans, Orks, Chaos and other forces, and while the characters where typically stoic, whether they will be as memorable as some of rival shooter Gears of War’s icons is doubtful.<\/p>\n
Having said all that, it is shaping up to be a potential must-play for third-person shooter fans, particularly those with a soft spot for the Warhammer 40K universe. You can try out the demo yourself, it’s currently available on Steam, PSN and XBox Live.<\/p>\n
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