Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 708 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 440 out of 708
  2. Mixed: 191 out of 708
  3. Negative: 77 out of 708
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  1. Raven13
    Sep 6, 2011
    8
    I can't go as high as a 9, but this is a decent game, if you're a Warhammer 40K fan, it's awesome. I can't go to a 9 because simply there are some issues that don't feel like they are fully polished. The Melee combat is great when it works, but many times, the camera doesn't roll very well with it. This can become even more evident in multi-player when you have two players rolling andI can't go as high as a 9, but this is a decent game, if you're a Warhammer 40K fan, it's awesome. I can't go to a 9 because simply there are some issues that don't feel like they are fully polished. The Melee combat is great when it works, but many times, the camera doesn't roll very well with it. This can become even more evident in multi-player when you have two players rolling and crashing around each other.

    The info on weapons and their usage is a little sparse, but a little experimentation or asking your teammates will get you the info you need.

    The word is well done for both single player and multi. The detail of the Spacemarines, all the way down to believing how big they are from the animations, sound FX and feel of their movement is well communicated.

    Some people are complaining about the single player being too short, I'm not through it yet so not sure, but 10hrs would be fine if its as fun as the first couple have been.

    The MP adds some new dynamics with the air assault. The rest is what we see in other games. I hope they bring some new maps in and expect they will but as far as modes, the two they have are fine with me. If you want to hate it, it's probably easy to. If you want great, extreme combat in the WH40K Universe, this game does a pretty good job of delivering.    … Expand
  2. GiJoeSamo
    Sep 6, 2011
    8
    I can't stop playing this game right now! The games pretty easy on normal for seasoned FPS players but it is still REALLY fun and worth buying or gameflying for people who only want to play campaign. Worth your time for sure.
  3. MrKeats
    Sep 7, 2011
    8
    One note: This is a review of the single player game mode, not taking into account multiplayer in the score.

    There's something to be said for sheer scope and scale. In a prior decade, I would have used a word such as "epic" to describe this game, but as that word is so overused as to be deemed meaningless, a substitute is necessary. There are many points in the game where you get so    One note: This is a review of the single player game mode, not taking into account multiplayer in the score.

    There's something to be said for sheer scope and scale. In a prior decade, I would have used a word such as "epic" to describe this game, but as that word is so overused as to be deemed meaningless, a substitute is necessary. There are many points in the game where you get so involved in the combat due to the innovative yet somewhat clunky health regen system which actually encourages you to get right into the middle of the fray and shed some blood.

    I say clunky because there are moments in the battle where you need to execute someone, and if you haven't timed the strength and rate of your attacks, there's a high likelihood that you will not have an enemy who is ready to be executed. This happens most often when you are using the high power/low speed melee weapons. For newcomers, I would stress that you can execute the smallest enemies without having to stun them, so it helps to actually leave a few of them alive for a mid battle health boost.

    Balance between ranged combat and melee is quite well executed. If you choose to run into an open area which is covered by weak ranged enemies shooting down on you from above in order to attack enemies with melee, you will most likely die due to the fact that the weak ranged can still easily take down your shields, leaving you extremely vulnerable. It is gruesome fun to pick off the ranged enemies quickly with a few well placed shots and then quickly switch to melee to finish the job up close and personal.

    It's after moments like this that I found myself surprised. The calm after the storm if you will. I actually walked back through the area to look at the carnage. I couldn't help but think of the line, "and you shall know me by the trail of dead", (now a band and a book). Captain Titus truly is a one man army, and the game does an excellent job of making you feel heroic without making you feel invincible. Comparing this to something like Deus Ex, where if you played on hardmode and put your points into the steath trees early on, the first boss would walk all over you. Towards the end of Deus Ex, though, I found that I was so powerful and virtually invisible to enemies that the fear factor and thus my heightened sense of suspension was dramatically reduced. Space Marine does not suffer from this at all. There is always a sense of potential impending doom and potential heroic glory.

    The visuals are fantastic. Dark and foreboding, the battle damaged word hangs over you like it wants to crush you. Gore is of course one of the selling points to the game, and enough can be read about that elsewhere. It is, to cover the base, wonderfully disgusting. While the art design of the levels was top notch, the level design was lacking. As with all linear 3rd person shooters, there are some invisible walls that prevent exploration; however, I eventually hit enough of these as to be discouraged from hunting down the little red skulls which provide you short snippets of back story. I started off wanting to be a completionist and gave up quickly.

    Last but not least, the sound quality. Probably the best I've heard in a game. The music is rich and deep, with enough martial drum and horn music to maintain the marines-esque feel, while at the same time there is a thumping soundtrack for the most dramatic moments. Gun and explosive noise is very well done. I found myself able to turn, locate, and eliminate ranged enemies very quickly based on voice and weapon sounds alone.

    The length of the single player campaign is certainly short. But I believe that it makes up for this in terms of overall effect. I can't help but feel; however, that it is a bit pricey compared to other titles in the genre which were far longer. There's just enough of that buyers remorse kicking in to push the game overall down a peg. Perhaps if I was more interested in the multiplayer aspects of the game, I would be able to feel better about it at the end of the day.

    So...level design sketchiness and short campaign coupled with a high price per fun ratio for single player focused people. 8 out of 10. If you only plan on playing for a story, I would wait till it comes down in price a bit.    … Expand
  4. applethin
    Sep 7, 2011
    8
    Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine is a pretty good game. As a warhammer 40k series fan, I gave no second thought when I purchased this. The combat is fun and engaging. Space marines look badass and I love how the ground quakes as you charge. Although the single player is rather short by hardcore standards, you can get many more hours out of multiplayer which was unexpectedly decent. (Honestly,Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine is a pretty good game. As a warhammer 40k series fan, I gave no second thought when I purchased this. The combat is fun and engaging. Space marines look badass and I love how the ground quakes as you charge. Although the single player is rather short by hardcore standards, you can get many more hours out of multiplayer which was unexpectedly decent. (Honestly, singleplayer missions got pretty repetitive and I feel like it ended just when it was about to get old) You will get your money's worth, but it is not a GREAT game. I saw much room for improvement. For example, the environment is really dull, story line has absolutely no depth to it, (although this is expected with most warhammer 40k stuff) and overall audio quality is just bad. The last one was the part that got me the most. Most warhammer 40k fans are used to the Dawn of War II style intense, and loud battlefields filled with units shouting battlecries such as "FOR THE EMPEROR", or "PURGE THE HERETIC". Combined with spectacular combat gore. those sounds really made the game feel alive. This trait continued for most of the relic releases, then suddenly they decided to not do it for space marines. Seriously, the multiplayer audio team must've been not given a budget because you hear NOTHING. You just hear some grunts and that's it. Not even a cheery 'Victory!" when you win. This game also has its fair share of technical issues. I absolutely abhor developers that force check point saves with no manual saves, then doesn't even make sure that there's enough checkpoints. There are parts in the game where if you die, you get rolled back 10 mins worth of fighting. If you die on the last boss fight, you have to watch unskippable cinematic all over again. The multiplayer is on peer to peer basis and lags like a mofo half of the time. This game also appears to have been made with consoles in mind as it has no push to talk. You have to mute every person in the lobby unless you want to hear background noise from 7 different people. Chat in lobbies slowly fade out for no **** reason when there's plenty of room. But hey, I'm nit picking at it at this point.… Expand
  5. SST_2_0
    Sep 16, 2011
    8
    @syrik It seems to me like you just go frustrated and quit with MP. You can mute people on PC in game by simply pressing the tab key and muting as you would in the lobby. That said, the PC MP could really use those options used in the greatest FPS games, like dedicated servers and push to talk, oh to never hear someone eat or yell BABY GET ME A@syrik It seems to me like you just go frustrated and quit with MP. You can mute people on PC in game by simply pressing the tab key and muting as you would in the lobby. That said, the PC MP could really use those options used in the greatest FPS games, like dedicated servers and push to talk, oh to never hear someone eat or yell BABY GET ME A SANDWICH..............................................The single player is short, but after playing Arkham Asylum I can understand why with this style of game they kept the campaign short. Most people loved Asylum, but after a while to me it became grappling, wait, one button kill, just as this game can simply be M1 M1 M1. However, I also found when playing SP that if you really work on trying to be a combat specialist and not just a rampaging juggernaut it takes a bit more skill and control besides hitting M1 M1 M1.............................................On the multi-player side, this game reminds me of CoD 2 in that the base of the game is very, very strong. With some more iteration this game could be come the third person sci-fi shooter. But that would mean not only putting in more PC control but also adding call downs like in modern CoD titles. In this way the game really could expand, however, I'm hoping that the MMO being developed runs in this direction, especially since newer PCs can push the LARGE, and that's an understatement, scope of this game's IP. Both in terms of number of races and such but also, scope in terms of HUGE battles which has little to no dead time, you should look up and see planes flying everywhere and pods dropping in and laser fire from unseen space craft in the sky. 40k is about nothing but war and this game is a great start but its still just Deathwatch in terms of numbers when it should be the Apocalypse expansion.… Expand
  6. dlegion
    Sep 17, 2011
    8
    This is the best action shooting 40k game in all time, considering this is only the second game of a shooter game. this is relics first shooter game - people out there who saying relic should go out of business and comparing to halo 1 its childish and gears of war would curb stomp the space marine, they dont know what they are talking about it. i give it a good score because needless toThis is the best action shooting 40k game in all time, considering this is only the second game of a shooter game. this is relics first shooter game - people out there who saying relic should go out of business and comparing to halo 1 its childish and gears of war would curb stomp the space marine, they dont know what they are talking about it. i give it a good score because needless to say its relics first shooter game and it certainly beats firewarrior, plus the 40k setting is spot on. i understand that relic didnt put as much potential as they should but the next game will ascend to the level and i wont be so nice to the next space marine if they fail to dash out more in the next sequel. now the good points of this game: overall a good storyline, though it maybe cliche but its a common start story of 40k and as long they bring out the important roles into it and make it awesome - with chaos and orks that is perfect! multiplayer, as i judge it is quite a competitive and diverse and tactical plus varieties! yes you start out poor and lower end weapons if you are new and fighting against people who have better stuff but thats the whole point. you must earn your way to the top, and with every weapon has a great mass killing spree and some has great disruption, and some of the starting weapons are still used by higher level players with perks added on. plus there is team work, sometimes my team lose badly because some stick together and the heavy weapons are like the artillery support and thats a good combo well unless if i come around corner and blindsight ya haha. anyways, yes, now the bad ones: glitchy, bad servers, limited modes and maps in mulitplayer, cheesy voice acting comparing to first dow which i still and love and play. also it can get really old really fast, but i have faith with relic that they can take this and makin it a better game and that wont happen til space marine 2 or whatever they will call it but i will exspect even more til then with more features and expanding the campaign and muliplayer capabilities depending on what or how much they are working at that time, hopefully not two more dow 2 expansions in two years. in conclusion if you have faith with relic, love 40k, and at least what another competitive or cooperative mutliplayer game, get it, if not, dont… Expand
  7. McSterls
    Sep 19, 2011
    8
    Great game, not perfect but a real blast to play. I've been having trouble lately finding a game to keep my attention, and Space Marine does that. the graphics are spectacular. The amount of detail that went into everything from textures, the main models and even units which you only see briefly like tanks were top notch. Killing Orcs in melee is great fun, and shooting their heads offGreat game, not perfect but a real blast to play. I've been having trouble lately finding a game to keep my attention, and Space Marine does that. the graphics are spectacular. The amount of detail that went into everything from textures, the main models and even units which you only see briefly like tanks were top notch. Killing Orcs in melee is great fun, and shooting their heads off from a distance results in an impressive explosion of blood. Just plain fun.

    Problems with the game: There are some levels where they seem to have forgotten to add enemies. There are several levels where you can run for up to a minute without encountering any resistance such as in the living quarters of the manufacturing facility. The game engine has a mechanic device that slows down time to introduce dialogue, you can't run during this period and it's done so that you can talk and absorb info from your fellow space marines, but I also had the game forget to revert back to regular time and only death could reset the problem. I assume this will be fixed in a patch.    … Expand
  8. jtrain
    Sep 19, 2011
    8
    I think this game is pretty good for a first outing in the WH40K shooter realm. I enjoy the hand to hand combat a lot, and the ranged weapons are great. However the game seems to be on rails, I was hoping for a more fluid world. The level ups for rage and melee weapons are nice too, but they fall short. The team mate AI is horrible. They might as well not be there. The jump pack is cool,I think this game is pretty good for a first outing in the WH40K shooter realm. I enjoy the hand to hand combat a lot, and the ranged weapons are great. However the game seems to be on rails, I was hoping for a more fluid world. The level ups for rage and melee weapons are nice too, but they fall short. The team mate AI is horrible. They might as well not be there. The jump pack is cool, however it is not an option to keep it, and that sucks as it is really fun to do the diving smash thing. Overall I gave this game an 8 because I was fully enthralled by the game and I am a 40K franchise fan. I do not play the board game however.....… Expand
  9. Dakka
    Sep 20, 2011
    8
    Campaign was fun but short, multiplayer is really fun and the various options and loadouts you can choose is good. Lag only a problem when the host has a bad connection.

    Overall a good experience, just wish for longer solo player campaign.
  10. Unyko
    Sep 20, 2011
    8
    Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines offers you a movie game experience. there are some aspect that make this game loose a bit of the WOW! effect. The game interface is raw and simple, I was expecting something impressive as what the developers did in the title Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, where you have a planetary display of the sub-sector Aurelia, in which you select a planet to travelWarhammer 40,000: Space Marines offers you a movie game experience. there are some aspect that make this game loose a bit of the WOW! effect. The game interface is raw and simple, I was expecting something impressive as what the developers did in the title Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, where you have a planetary display of the sub-sector Aurelia, in which you select a planet to travel to and then you would be orbiting a planet (Calderis, Meridian, or Typhon) and then select a mission of your choice, giving you a free strategy selection and variety by giving you days to accomplish certain primary and optional missions. The most spectacular part is the gameplay experience, which is impressive and the attention to detail of the combat is astonishing, I am delighted by the bloody effects and the stunning executions covering you in blood and glory; the feeling of being overwhelm by the enemy makes you desperate to kill the Orks before they do. It is fun to kill the Orks. it is worth to play, even thought I was expecting more blood. I hope that Relic and THQ develop a hardcore version with more blood, jump pack missions and with a more elaborated storyline; which brings me to the storyline of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines, which seems to be a linear and lost - the epic and inspired storyline that have characterized the other titles -Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, Chaos Rising, Retribution are well elaborated. The extraordinary graphics of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines will make you have desire to jump inside the screen along with the sound effects, which are astonishing, detonations will even make your ears ring like experiencing a real explosion. The music is beautiful, it is a must have in your collection. Enjoy the execution done by using a chainsaw, a power axe or the mighty hammer along with the jump pack.… Expand
  11. Dipsydont
    Oct 12, 2011
    8
    This game has the feel of how powerful space marines should be. The single player leaves you wanting more right up until the end. Aka give me more. The graphics are great. They would be even better with dedicated physics cards on nvidia. I have played 52 hours in a week.

    Multiplayer is fun. People say the weapons are imbalanced and can camp etc. There are strategies for every instance    This game has the feel of how powerful space marines should be. The single player leaves you wanting more right up until the end. Aka give me more. The graphics are great. They would be even better with dedicated physics cards on nvidia. I have played 52 hours in a week.

    Multiplayer is fun. People say the weapons are imbalanced and can camp etc. There are strategies for every instance so I have enjoyed it. The weapons are from tabletop specs not dawn of war specs. This is a good thing. To the non-Warhammer gamer the weapons are probably a little misunderstood, but a plasma cannon is more powerful than a bolt pistol. There are a lot of achievements that unlock better gear. They are mostly attainable for "normals" like myself

    The astoundingly underdeveloped part of the game is the p2p server system. I have a hard time finding games especially during off hours for multiplayer. It is an actual hindrance. I am never a fan of console ports. The interfaces seem of the xyab button school. Graphics settings are minimal which means you need to override them with video card game management settings. This introduces a lot of tweaking.

    I would buy it again but I think ten bucks less on the price would have been better.    … Expand
  12. Endiablado
    Oct 21, 2011
    8
    Overall a really nice representation of the Warhammer 40K Universe. Some of the material makes more sense to fans of the tabletop game. However the plot seems to drag on sometimes with too many inconsequential objectives before you reach the final goal. I felt it was worth the money, but then I am a fan of the overpriced tabletop game.
  13. ZeddsDead
    Oct 22, 2011
    8
    I really liked this game a lot. The blend of close combat and ranged combat is amazing. If you are a fan of the genre, there is nothing I have seen yet that brings home the feeling of being a Space Marine quite like this game does. I also like the multiplayer with the ability to earn ranks, skills and specialized looks, so why not a 10? Here is why: Single player game is VERY short.I really liked this game a lot. The blend of close combat and ranged combat is amazing. If you are a fan of the genre, there is nothing I have seen yet that brings home the feeling of being a Space Marine quite like this game does. I also like the multiplayer with the ability to earn ranks, skills and specialized looks, so why not a 10? Here is why: Single player game is VERY short. It's so short that you don't even really have time to get creative with the weapons before it's over. If they came out with some expansion material that was inexpensive or free, this game could be a 9 or 10 for me.… Expand
  14. Simulacra_53
    Nov 5, 2011
    8
    If you like shooters, if you like the 40K universe, if you enjoyed the look of the Dawn of War series, you will most likely enjoy Space Marines. It may not be the best shooter on the market today, but the scenery oozes 40K character and detail. When playing the single player campaign you should take some time to enjoy the scenery, how it matches the Dawn of War 1 & 2 look and how muchIf you like shooters, if you like the 40K universe, if you enjoyed the look of the Dawn of War series, you will most likely enjoy Space Marines. It may not be the best shooter on the market today, but the scenery oozes 40K character and detail. When playing the single player campaign you should take some time to enjoy the scenery, how it matches the Dawn of War 1 & 2 look and how much detail there is - easily overlooked if you just run through the levels. The game developers eye for detail shows that they love the subject. The multiplay is interesting but suffers from balancing and match making issues, which bring down the average. THQ should take a close look at the more established shooters and redesign this part of the game, as it stands the multiplay is enjoyable, but not great. Note however that the balancing issues can be offset with smart playing and experience (not a challenge for the experienced fps player), just accept that you'll have to swallow your pride when a high xp players pops along to kill you in a single blow. Orcs would be fun in multiplayer, just a suggestion. I'd give it 8/10 as its stands today.… Expand
  15. Freez
    Jan 5, 2012
    8
    This game is good. If your a fan of Warhammer 40k then i dont think youll be disapointed... i played the board game when i was a kid and this was the first games workshop game i played since. Since then ive bought the dawn of war series due to this game (which is awsome but thats a diff review), its fun..but only if you know or like the warhammer 40k series, like do u know what a vox is?This game is good. If your a fan of Warhammer 40k then i dont think youll be disapointed... i played the board game when i was a kid and this was the first games workshop game i played since. Since then ive bought the dawn of war series due to this game (which is awsome but thats a diff review), its fun..but only if you know or like the warhammer 40k series, like do u know what a vox is? or an Inquisitor? if not it would probably be a bit confusing...the reason i give it an 8 is because the battle music isnt great and all you fight it orks and chaos marines, but the chaos are only in the bitter end.. no eldar or anything else, but ya, a good and fun game...again only if u know the warhammer world, otherwise youll be hopelessly confused and kinda dissapointed in my opinion.… Expand
  16. jimplunder
    Feb 5, 2012
    8
    The game is what it is, an action movie masquerading as a computer game. If you like point-and-click hack-and-slash games, then this game is for you. It's not innovative, it's not ground-breaking, the graphics aren't spectacular, but you can have a ton of fun if you don't put a lot of hopes on it being the next big thing in third-person shooters.
    To be honest, I was kind of hoping for an    The game is what it is, an action movie masquerading as a computer game. If you like point-and-click hack-and-slash games, then this game is for you. It's not innovative, it's not ground-breaking, the graphics aren't spectacular, but you can have a ton of fun if you don't put a lot of hopes on it being the next big thing in third-person shooters.
    To be honest, I was kind of hoping for an action RPG, but basically you just find all of the items you can use in the game and the game decides at certain points to make various items available to you (as if to say, "Hey! You'll need these items in the upcoming mob/boss fight!"). The story is typical Warhammer 40,000 fare: an ork invasion leads to something more sinister! If you've played either Dawn of War game, you'll see the story coming. But once you get the jump pack and the hammer, you'll wish that was the whole game experience. There's nothing like flying up into the air and then swooping back down into a group of orks and then pounding their skulls into mush with the hammer. Unfortunately, the jump pack sequences are too short and too few.
    I don't really play multiplayer, so I'll leave those reviews for those who've tried it, but it seems like it's getting upgrades. It's pretty much Space Marines vs. Chaos Space Marines in death matches and capture points. They also have a dreadnaught add-on that seems like it could offer a new aspect of gameplay for people (but it's a DLC add-on, so you'll have to pay for it). If the game's on sale, go ahead and get it. It's good for the lower price.    … Expand
  17. Senex
    Mar 28, 2012
    8
    I have really been enjoying playing this title. While I have never been into the board aspect(s) of the Warhammer Universe I own each of the PC titles beginning with Dawn of War, and to be honest this was a nice break from the "usual". I am hoping for future updates to squash many of the little bugs, albeit none critical on my rig, to truly make everything more seamless, and hopefully alsoI have really been enjoying playing this title. While I have never been into the board aspect(s) of the Warhammer Universe I own each of the PC titles beginning with Dawn of War, and to be honest this was a nice break from the "usual". I am hoping for future updates to squash many of the little bugs, albeit none critical on my rig, to truly make everything more seamless, and hopefully also address smoothing out and, or creating more consistent frames per second in many scenarios. Trust me my rig can handle any of the modern titles, in fact I am still waiting for a title to truly utilize all the PC powa I have waiting to ambush Dx11-plus titles with textures, and polygons running amuck. Yet, overall I have recommended this title to my friends and look forward to continue progressing through this cinematic FPS playstyle!… Expand
  18. QuitBeingStupid
    Sep 12, 2014
    8
    Well done graphics and storyline. Follows accurately in the Warhammer universe. Diverse amount of weaponry, and cool graphical interactions with the melee weapons. Aiming and movement are fine as well.
    Game was a little too short, but not overly. The only real letdown was the final battle (which consisted of the hero fighting the villain in a cutscene that only required pressing the right    Well done graphics and storyline. Follows accurately in the Warhammer universe. Diverse amount of weaponry, and cool graphical interactions with the melee weapons. Aiming and movement are fine as well.
    Game was a little too short, but not overly. The only real letdown was the final battle (which consisted of the hero fighting the villain in a cutscene that only required pressing the right key at the right time to continue winning the fight (think Star Wars: The Force Unleashed cut scene attacks, or Just Cause 2 when trying to steal a vehicle).
    Worthwhile game though.    … Expand
  19. Cymek
    Jul 1, 2012
    8
    This game is nothing truly spectacular, but it's solid. Definitely worth the 7.50 I paid for it. Some notable strengths include the intense, fast-paced combat and the portrayal of the Warhammer 40K universe from a Space Marine's perspective. Notable weaknesses include the linear, hedged-in gameplay, the healing system, and the fact that the power hammer weapon, when equipped at the wrongThis game is nothing truly spectacular, but it's solid. Definitely worth the 7.50 I paid for it. Some notable strengths include the intense, fast-paced combat and the portrayal of the Warhammer 40K universe from a Space Marine's perspective. Notable weaknesses include the linear, hedged-in gameplay, the healing system, and the fact that the power hammer weapon, when equipped at the wrong times, makes certain areas extremely difficult to beat.… Expand
  20. Lulgrim
    May 24, 2012
    8
    A decent action game and pretty much the only choice if you want a Warhammer 40,000 title in this genre. It's actually quite good for a first-time developer (Relic's merits being from RTS games). Straightforward gameplay with no real flaws, decent if unsurprising campaign. Multiplayer was very active for a month or two and then dwindled away, as it had little content on release. More modesA decent action game and pretty much the only choice if you want a Warhammer 40,000 title in this genre. It's actually quite good for a first-time developer (Relic's merits being from RTS games). Straightforward gameplay with no real flaws, decent if unsurprising campaign. Multiplayer was very active for a month or two and then dwindled away, as it had little content on release. More modes and co-op were added later but too late as most players had moved on. This was a bit disappointing as it could still be lively with better early support. Still worth it at a sale price, IMO.… Expand
  21. 5hassay
    Jun 3, 2012
    8
    Not worth more than $20 USD. Exceptional programming (besides occasional audio blips). Conventional, fun Warhammer 40k story. Entertaining, novel gameplay, i.e. combat system. Poor online multiplayer support (no servers, just peer-to-peer, so almost always laggy games); possibly sucks up lots of bandwidth! Wonderful environments. Unfortunate take-your-money DLC; game has been tossed awayNot worth more than $20 USD. Exceptional programming (besides occasional audio blips). Conventional, fun Warhammer 40k story. Entertaining, novel gameplay, i.e. combat system. Poor online multiplayer support (no servers, just peer-to-peer, so almost always laggy games); possibly sucks up lots of bandwidth! Wonderful environments. Unfortunate take-your-money DLC; game has been tossed away by developers. If you are a War. 40k fan, definitely get it.… Expand
  22. birdman3
    Oct 7, 2018
    8
    Playing this game years after its release, I can say that this game has held up relatively well. It based itself on combat, not on graphics, which means that there's still a fun brawler here. The fun of the game comes from determining how you will obliterate your next set of victims - swapping between ranged and melee attacks is easy enough that you'll find yourself headshotting one orcPlaying this game years after its release, I can say that this game has held up relatively well. It based itself on combat, not on graphics, which means that there's still a fun brawler here. The fun of the game comes from determining how you will obliterate your next set of victims - swapping between ranged and melee attacks is easy enough that you'll find yourself headshotting one orc just before placing your axe into the brains of the rest. I was disappointed in the reliance on executing enemies for health because you make yourself vulnerable while the animation plays, so it's very possible that you will die in an attempt to gain health. You also can't execute enemies from range, so certain enemies at the end of the game take a lot of bullets to put down since multiple headshots will stun them, rather than kill them. Lastly, the game requires that you have the pistol and bolter (assault rifle) the entire game, limiting your choices of weapons to just two - and typically you'll want one of those weapons to be the sniper rifle, meaning you really only get to choose one weapon from the variety that they give you. They also let you choose melee weapons, but never really explain how they're varied from each other (i.e. after I got the power axe, I never went back to the Chainsword because I thought the axe was more powerful, but I was still given the opportunity multiple times to switch back to the chainsword. I don't know why). Inside of the game, while the plotline is fairly mundane, the writing deserves a bit of credit because the entire human faction maintains a strong stoic, Roman-esque aura that lends credibility to the idea that the Ultramarines are basically gods among soldiers. They're treated with reverance and they speak like thespians.

    I wouldn't have paid full price for this game on release, but even at this point in time, it's worth putting some time and money into if you're curious about what this blood-soaked game contains and feel like bashing in some ork skulls.    … Expand
  23. constantius
    Nov 24, 2012
    8
    The game is good
  24. Xradus
    Dec 11, 2012
    8
    If you played the Warhammer 40k strategy games you're gonna love it for sure, but even if you didn't play any Warhammer games before you're gonna love the campaign. I played so many games in my life, from Final Fantasy to Amnesia, so I can say that this game has a really solid story better than most of the games that came out in 2011/2012. You really get into the story and how theIf you played the Warhammer 40k strategy games you're gonna love it for sure, but even if you didn't play any Warhammer games before you're gonna love the campaign. I played so many games in my life, from Final Fantasy to Amnesia, so I can say that this game has a really solid story better than most of the games that came out in 2011/2012. You really get into the story and how the Warhammer world feels and you really get into your character you play. Along with a great story you get a combat system with a lot of action, you have a lot of weapons to choose from and every weapon has some pro's and con's so you need to choose what fits you the most. You actually also feel some progress with every new weapon and upgrade and don't feel like you get some useless junk you're never going to use. It actually gets pretty challenging when you get almost an endless horde of enemies storming at you, it's a hack and slash but you can die easily sometimes if you don't shoot some other more dangerous enemies first. You get also quiet a lot of different enemies from the very weak you can kill in one shot to the tank that smashes you to death in 3-4 attacks. I can't give any review to the multi-player because I didn't played it yet, I rather enjoy a single-player campaign with a good story than multi-player but maybe I'm gonna give it a try sometime. I give it a 8 because it's better than a lot of other hack'n'slash games out there and quiet underrated compared to others, but there's still a lot of potential that could have been done in the game, like upgradable armor and skills like in the Warhammer strategy games.… Expand
  25. Spiralyguy
    Jan 15, 2013
    8
    This is only a review of the single player campaign. I thought it was quite enjoyable. Combat was fun and fast with really good cinematic effects, love those slow motion executions. The game was devoid of any tedious elements and kept the pace going solid right up to the end. I completely disagree with the guy saying hallway shooters are dated. Most "freedom" added in games is just aThis is only a review of the single player campaign. I thought it was quite enjoyable. Combat was fun and fast with really good cinematic effects, love those slow motion executions. The game was devoid of any tedious elements and kept the pace going solid right up to the end. I completely disagree with the guy saying hallway shooters are dated. Most "freedom" added in games is just a bunch of tedious garbage that adds nothing and slows the pace of the game down. There's no inventory in this, no crafting, no skill points, no secret rooms, just go and kill. Sounds perfect if you ask me. The control wasn't 100%, there's a couple funky issues due to the fact that this is a console port, but nothing game breaking at all. Mostly the melee is a tad difficult with mouse/keyboard. The mouse aiming was solid and that's usually the biggest culprit in console ports. They do a good job of making you swap between melee/ranged as you can't reload while things are hitting you. I liked the heal mechanic quite a bit which involves executing an enemy. The first negative review you read here complains about how you keep getting hit while you're doing this execute, ya well no **** buddy. You're supposed to use it on the last guy or last 2 guys, not wade into combat trying to heal. Plus by the end of the game you can usually use your fury cooldown to heal if you're in trouble. It's not an issue at all. The ending was satisfying which is pretty important IMO. The story was nothing special with some relatively predictable twists but solid enough to carry the game onward. It took me about 12 hours to get through the campaign.… Expand
  26. Cordova
    Apr 13, 2013
    8
    On discount it's really worth picking up. Everything feels WH40K, movement has good weight, weapons are fun to use and melee combat is integrated excellently. Most shooters that have some type of melee attack have it as a emergency move for the purpose of having something to do when out of ammo. Not in Space Marine, it's part of the game and knowing which enemies you should spend timeOn discount it's really worth picking up. Everything feels WH40K, movement has good weight, weapons are fun to use and melee combat is integrated excellently. Most shooters that have some type of melee attack have it as a emergency move for the purpose of having something to do when out of ammo. Not in Space Marine, it's part of the game and knowing which enemies you should spend time smacking around vs shooting makes the game that much more dynamic.

    Jump pack storm hammer? OMG best thing ever. I think they knew this and it only happens a couple times in the game, but if it was always available, I don't think I would have used anything else. Too much fun.

    However, it is linear and with everything in the WH40K universe to choose from, they could have done so much more. So -1 point for being too linear and -1 point for missing it's potential. But really fun and satisfying experience overall.    … Expand
  27. Ndi
    May 20, 2014
    8
    I wish this game had no multiplayer. So many poor reviews, simply because MP was lacking.

    It is a great SP game, and it gives, IMO great immersion. Games can either go for great mechanics, a great story, excellent graphics, and manage to be good games. There are great games out there, but it doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be a good game. If you get a Space Marine game, you pay    I wish this game had no multiplayer. So many poor reviews, simply because MP was lacking.

    It is a great SP game, and it gives, IMO great immersion. Games can either go for great mechanics, a great story, excellent graphics, and manage to be good games. There are great games out there, but it doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be a good game.

    If you get a Space Marine game, you pay to be the fury of the Emperor, incarnate. The purpose of this game is to make you feel like the Emperor's finest, and it does. It doesn't need the best graphics ever to be a GOOD game. And it is, it is a good game.

    It has good sound, good immersion, nice kills and a good overall feel to it.

    Now, it had poor controls (way too many buttons for a PC). Jump and smash-land should be same button. Double-tapping keys should have implemented dodging, instead of more buttons. Holding Melee should have been stun, and lo and behold, they fit on a mouse and directional keys instead of having 11 controls (I have an older version of the game, maybe they fixed that).

    And these things (controls, checkpoints, etc) keeps it from being a GREAT game. But it is a GOOD game, and I recommend it. I heard people say 50 dollars. I recommend you get it cheaper. Right now it's 20E and I say go get it.    … Expand
  28. wuff
    Aug 29, 2013
    8
    Space Marine is a brilliant game based on one of the best and most popular table top games.

    Relic has created a game which not only captures the atmosphere and brutality of the universe but delivers a competent story with enjoyable gameplay. You play a space marine captain sent to investigate a planet which has fallen silent. You soon discover the planet has fallen to the green tide    Space Marine is a brilliant game based on one of the best and most popular table top games.

    Relic has created a game which not only captures the atmosphere and brutality of the universe but delivers a competent story with enjoyable gameplay.

    You play a space marine captain sent to investigate a planet which has fallen silent. You soon discover the planet has fallen to the green tide of Orks.

    The gameplay is smash the hell out of the Orks with awesome powerful melee weapons and blast them in the face with huge guns, the gameplay loop of smashing hordes of Orks to not only heal and pull off special moves works brilliantly.

    You feel powerful and can pump more points into the play style you prefer.

    The multiplayer is fun with a lot of unlocks but the P2P system on the PC functions adequate at best and normally most games one or two players are lagging like crazy.

    You can pick up Space Marine quite cheap now and it is real bargain.    … Expand
  29. GRANITsalvo
    Jun 2, 2014
    8
    A solid third-person-shooter mixed with hack/slash. Graphics are good, Lore is accurate [minus the inquisitor being the same size as a space marine] , and controls feel good. . .really good. This is brought together with great sounds, making you 'feel' like an instrument of the Emperors wrath. I also really enjoy hearing the different sound for the remaining bolts in the magazine,A solid third-person-shooter mixed with hack/slash. Graphics are good, Lore is accurate [minus the inquisitor being the same size as a space marine] , and controls feel good. . .really good. This is brought together with great sounds, making you 'feel' like an instrument of the Emperors wrath. I also really enjoy hearing the different sound for the remaining bolts in the magazine, giving an audio cue of your remaining rounds without having to look.
    It does have its flaws, though. For starters, I am disappointed by the lack of graphic options. It always looks great, but I want the warm feeling of controlling the options. Also, the combat is not very deep, making the game feel repeatative at times. You could argue that it being a "hallway shooter" with limited freedom is a flaw, but it's still fairly standard practice in shooters. It does feel cramped at times, though. And limiting SPOILERS; while I felt the final battle had an anti-climatic end.....I really couldn't suggest something better without breaking lore/tabletop rules.

    Also throw in good steamworks multiplayer and horde co-op that still has a surprising amount of players for 2014.
    If you like sci-fi shooters, you can't really go wrong with this. It goes on sale occasionally on steam, so you can wait for the seasons if $30 is too much. If you are a fan of the Warhammer 40k universe you should already have this game.    … Expand
  30. moorsey789
    Jan 16, 2014
    8
    The game is unique in its own way. Playing as a space marine in 3rd person I didn't mind, great game play experience. The things I found odd and kind of stupid in the game was the process in getting your health back. indeed sometimes its no problem. but in some situations where there is no cover and your getting blasted by guns and and hacked by axes I found it hard. also I was playing itThe game is unique in its own way. Playing as a space marine in 3rd person I didn't mind, great game play experience. The things I found odd and kind of stupid in the game was the process in getting your health back. indeed sometimes its no problem. but in some situations where there is no cover and your getting blasted by guns and and hacked by axes I found it hard. also I was playing it on hard. The weapons are great and the story is good. the graphics are brilliant at most stages of the game with allot of different things to fill in the landscape such as dead bodies, blood, etc gives you the atmosphere of war. I feel like most of the time that the main character you play does most of the killing seems like the other marines and imperial guard does very little damage. Never the less a good game to show you the might of a space marine captain.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best PC Game of 2011
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
79
#79 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Oct 31, 2011
    70
    The campaign requires an interest in 40K, while the basic multiplayer modes are fun for all. [Dec 2011, p.67]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 30, 2011
    60
    The only thing rising Space Marine from the grey pool of mediocrity is world of Warhammer 40.000 itself. Rich story background deserved more than a linear hack'n'slash game. [Oct 2011]
  3. PC Games (Russia)
    Oct 27, 2011
    75
    A solid debut in action genre for Relic and a must-buy for any Warhammer 40k fan. [Nov. 2011, p.61]
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