Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Review-in-Progress: A Contender for GOTY

A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress

For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the broader 40k universe, including titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Intrigued, I sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck months ago. Now, having extensively played Space Marine 2 across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my evolving impressions.

This review is a work in progress for two key reasons: thorough evaluation necessitates testing cross-platform multiplayer and online public servers; and Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, targeted for year-end release.

Given Space Marine 2's impressive visuals and cross-progression, its Steam Deck performance was a major question. The answer? A mixed bag. This review covers gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement basics before leading you to the Battle Barge hub, where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

Moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly tuned. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is a standout. Executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes is consistently engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though defense missions are less compelling.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 evoked the feel of a high-budget Xbox 360-era co-op shooter – a rarity today. Its addictive quality mirrors that of Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I 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, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's premature to declare it my favorite 40k game, the addictive nature of Operations mode with a friend necessitates a pause to resume gameplay.

While full launch testing with random players is pending, my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly anticipate broader online testing once cross-progression and cross-platform play are fully implemented.

Visually, Space Marine 2 shines on both PS5 (especially in 4K on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck. Environments are remarkably detailed and alive, enhanced by impressive enemy swarms, textures, and lighting. The voice acting, gear, and customization options are top-notch, allowing for creative character expression.

A photo mode (available in single-player) allows for extensive adjustments. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear suboptimal. The PS5 photo mode, conversely, is exceptional.

The audio design is a highlight. While the music is good, it's the voice acting and sound design that truly stand out. The music effectively complements the gameplay, but lacks the memorability for standalone listening.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings. Epic Online Services integration is present but doesn't require account linking. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution targeting, V-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and granular quality adjustments for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more.

DLSS and FSR 2 are included, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. 16:10 support is absent but hopefully forthcoming.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

Keyboard and mouse controls are supported alongside full controller compatibility. Initially, PlayStation button prompts on Steam Deck required disabling Steam Input. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping options are available. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and wireless adaptive trigger support, a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While initial boot-up freezing occurred on default and Experimental Proton, Proton GE 9-9 resolved this. Space Marine 2 is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but performance is currently suboptimal.

At 1280x800 (16:9) with low preset and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, a locked 30fps is unattainable, with frequent dips into the 20s, even at lower resolutions. This is far from ideal. While dynamic upscaling aims for 30fps, it still experiences significant drops. The game occasionally fails to exit cleanly, requiring manual closure.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck, unaffected by anti-cheat measures. Co-op sessions with a Canadian friend were successful, with disconnections attributed to pre-release server instability. Further testing with random players and friends post-launch is planned.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode

Performance mode on PS5 delivers a mostly positive experience, though a locked 60fps isn't achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling causes occasional blurriness. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards support enhances navigation. Gyro support is currently absent.

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

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional, with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs. Confirmation on whether this cooldown persists in the final build is pending.

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

This question requires further evaluation post-launch, once server populations stabilize and matchmaking is fully tested in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War testing is pending.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See

Post-launch updates are anticipated. Key desires include proper HDR support to enhance the game's visuals, and haptic feedback to complement the existing DualSense trigger and vibration implementation.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. Gameplay is superb, and visuals and audio are top-tier. While Steam Deck performance needs improvement, the PS5 experience is highly recommended. A final score will follow comprehensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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