Marathon: Durandal

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27

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  1. C.H.
    Aug 1, 2007
    10
    I'm guilty of being nostalgic. I used to play the Marathon trilogy way back on an Apple PPC Performa. I was ecstatic to see Marathon coming to Xbox! The game's held up well over the years, and the new version looks awesome with the new HD graphics. Controls handle just like Halo, and the game runs at over twice the FPS as the original. Definitely worth taking a look, especially I'm guilty of being nostalgic. I used to play the Marathon trilogy way back on an Apple PPC Performa. I was ecstatic to see Marathon coming to Xbox! The game's held up well over the years, and the new version looks awesome with the new HD graphics. Controls handle just like Halo, and the game runs at over twice the FPS as the original. Definitely worth taking a look, especially if you're curious about Halo's pedigree.… Expand
  2. SamF.
    Aug 6, 2007
    8
    Like others, I played this on the Mac back in the mid 90s and it was easily the best game on the Apple Mac at the time. The original game was head and shoulders above Doom, which I cannot believe gets rated higher by both Shawn L and the Team Xbox magazine... the only reason Doom is held in high esteem is due to it being the first massively popular FPS. Marathon was the first fully Like others, I played this on the Mac back in the mid 90s and it was easily the best game on the Apple Mac at the time. The original game was head and shoulders above Doom, which I cannot believe gets rated higher by both Shawn L and the Team Xbox magazine... the only reason Doom is held in high esteem is due to it being the first massively popular FPS. Marathon was the first fully fledged FPS with an engaging story, decent (for the time graphics) and immersive sound that, when played in stereo back in '94 left you requiring fresh underpants. Marathon Durandal is the Aliens to Marathon's Alien. All action, loads of weaponry and maps and probably the most popular online gaming experience on the Mac to date. It only gets 8 (rather than 10) due to the speeding up of the framerate, which doesn't make you feel sick, but it does make playing the game a little awkward at times.… Expand
  3. NicholasL.
    Aug 4, 2007
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. With an immersive story and fun gameplay (kill the man with the ball, and 8 player Co-op), this is probably one of the best games ever. Beats Doom in every way.
  4. MrToastman
    May 27, 2008
    9
    Amazing for its time! This shooter was the first to build and use the ability to look up and down, map geomatery that is stackable (DOOM couldn't have rooms above rooms in its SDK) dual wielding, weapon magazines and reloading, RADAR, Enterable liquids, Secondary fire, AI Squads, Network Co-OP, Voice over network play and more that I just can't remember because it is too much!Amazing for its time! This shooter was the first to build and use the ability to look up and down, map geomatery that is stackable (DOOM couldn't have rooms above rooms in its SDK) dual wielding, weapon magazines and reloading, RADAR, Enterable liquids, Secondary fire, AI Squads, Network Co-OP, Voice over network play and more that I just can't remember because it is too much!

    It is also the Granddaddy of the Halo storyline concepts and in my opinion a better story. It still holds up well for those who are willing to think a little and solve some serious mazelike worlds. Of course those who were only exposed to DOOM have a severely high change of disliking this game due to its difficult nature.

    IT OWNS!    … Expand
  5. SMScorx89
    Sep 24, 2010
    9
    As part of Bungie's first successful series, this port of Marathon 2: Durandal lives up to the original with some new features including 8-player co-op! Don't worry, the motion sickness has been fixed since a patch was released in 2008. Anyways, the game offers a lot features that Halo players might recognize, like Kill the Man with the Ball is Oddball. The only complaint is that thereAs part of Bungie's first successful series, this port of Marathon 2: Durandal lives up to the original with some new features including 8-player co-op! Don't worry, the motion sickness has been fixed since a patch was released in 2008. Anyways, the game offers a lot features that Halo players might recognize, like Kill the Man with the Ball is Oddball. The only complaint is that there isn't a lot of people online, but most of the achievements can be earned by yourself or with friends. For the "World Domination" achievement, you need to have an online match with a person who already has the achievement. Luckily, there is a leadership board section called "The Seventh Column" which shows all the people who have it. Hopefully, you will find somebody who will help you. The Single Player can be challenging and you might get lost, but after several playthroughs, you'll get the hang of it.
    The game is also a great way to play with your friends if you want to kickback and play some multiplayer or play co-op. The game is only 800 Microsoft Points, but worth the buy. However, the cost for the Map Packs are 400 MSP each, raising the total to 1600. There is a Marathon nameplate on bungie.net for Halo: Reach for those who have recently played or have the game, as well.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
55
#55 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    55
    Marathon is certainly interesting for aspiring game designers and historians who want to observe Bungie's roots. But as a $10 offering in 2007, it just doesn't hold up very well. [Sept 2007, p.74]
  2. IGN
    74
    I think it's quite a bit better than DOOM in almost all aspects. But it's impossible to ignore the fact that everyone who has played Marathon has gotten nauseous. I've never seen this happen with a game before, but obviously anything that leaves people feeling worse than when they booted it up, can't get a very enthusiastic thumbs up.
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  3. TeamXbox
    79
    Where the action of Doom’s XBLA debut sucked me back in, I didn’t have quite the same attraction to Marathon: Durandal, especially considering the stomach-churning byproducts of its “new and improved” look. It’s a good, smart shooter, but I don’t think it’s aged as well given its more deliberate pace.
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