There’s something about finding a game to write an article about and when you start investigating, the game doesn’t speak to you immediately. Then, you dig a little deeper and start getting excited about it.

This is exactly what Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was like for me. Sure, it looked cool—lots of games do these days—but my initial thought was that this was just another Gears of War-style game.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Through an interview by Focus Entertainment with the development team at Saber Interactive, I learned that they have set themselves a daunting task. Millions of people love this franchise, which is both an exciting and frightening prospect. The team knows they need to make this game work. All members of the team have read the novels and played the previous games. They know what’s expected, and that’s why I trust that this will be a game close to the source material.

What Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 About?

The main narrative revolves around Lieutenant Titus, a legendary Space Marine who is determined to tackle the Tyranid swarms. The game offers several modes, including both PvE and PvP options.

According to the Saber Support website, here are the different game modes available: Campaign, Operations (PvE), Eternal War (PvP), Annihilation (Team Deathmatch), Seize Ground (Domination), Capture & Control (King of the Hill).

Clearly, there’s something for everyone! The graphics are insane, and the action looks even more intense. I can’t wait to dive into the narrative campaign and hope to bring you a full review soon.

Release Details
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is scheduled for launch on September 9, 2024. It will be accessible on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

Steam Pre-Purchase Options:

• Standard Edition: Priced at £54.99 – This edition includes the game along with the Macragge’s Chosen set (bolter, chainsword, and pauldron skin).
• Gold Edition: Available for £79.99 – Contains everything in the Standard Edition plus a Season Pass and grants 4-day early access (this is the version I opted for).
• Ultra Edition: Costs £89.99 – Includes all features of the Gold Edition along with the Ultramarines – Champion Pack (additional skins for bolter and power armor).
• Collector’s Edition: Exclusively available through Focus Entertainment’s website; this package encompasses everything in the Ultra Edition plus:
• A Collector’s Box featuring unique artwork.
• An intricately painted resin statue of Lieutenant Titus measuring 8.25 x 6.7 inches
• A special Collector’s Steelbook.
• “The Art and Making of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2,” a comprehensive 172-page book detailing the game’s development process.

Please note that while console versions of the Collector’s Edition come with physical copies, PC users will receive a digital code instead.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a thrilling Action RPG, set amid the chaos of a civil war in 15th Century Bohemia.

You are Henry of Skalitz, an ordinary man doing extraordinary things, caught in a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal and discovery as he embarks on an epic journey, ‘from a humble blacksmith’s forge to the court of Kings’, as he searches for purpose in this beautiful but brutal medieval world.

From bustling city streets to lush forests, discover this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure filled with action, thrill and wonder.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a 2018 action role-playing video game developed and published by Warhorse Studios, and co-published by Deep Silver. The game is set in the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia, an Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire, with a focus on historically accurate content.

What happened in the first Kingdom Come Deliverance?

During a war in Bohemia in 1403, in the time of King Wenceslaus IV, on the orders of the Hungarian King Sigismund, half-brother of Wenceslaus, Cuman mercenaries raid the silver-mining village of Skalitz. The player’s character, Henry, survives the attack. Destitute and vengeful, Henry joins the service of Lord Radzig Kobyla, who leads a resistance movement against Sigismund’s invasion. In pursuit of justice and revenge for his murdered family, Henry becomes involved in an effort to restore Bohemia’s rightful king, Wenceslaus IV, to the throne. The game features branching quest lines, an open-world environment, and period-accurate weapons, clothing, combat techniques, and architecture (recreated with the assistance of architects and historians), which encourage immersive gameplay.

 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Deep Silver / PLAION

This game, despite experiencing a little pushback at release, became a cult classic, with people holding it in high regard for its attention to detail. The developers at Warhorse Studios kept details about the sequel under wraps for a long time, so it was a surprise to everyone when they announced the game with an epic trailer!

This game is highly anticipated, featuring returning mechanics from the first game as well as brand new ones! It’s rumoured to be released in late fall of 2024, so we don’t have long to wait!

Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game deeply inspired by Chinese mythology. Embark on your journey as the Destined One, facing numerous trials and wonders along the way, to reveal hidden truths shrouded in the splendor of an ancient legend.

Story and World
The game follows the story of the Monkey King and is based on the novel Journey to the West. The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who travelled to the “Western Regions” (Central Asia and India) to obtain Buddhist sutras (sacred texts) and returned after many trials and much suffering. Journey to the West is considered one of the most important novels in Asian literature.

During his journey, the Monkey King gains almost god-like abilities, such as shape shifting and cloning himself. These abilities are showcased in the gameplay trailers, where the Monkey King transforms into a fly and leaves an image of himself when dodging.

Not much has been revealed about the story by the developers, but anticipating gamers theorise that the character might already be a clone and that the journey involves reuniting with the true Monkey King.

There are many similarities with Souls-like games, such as the timing required to dodge in boss battles, followed by well-timed attacks, the sheer size of these bosses, and the ‘campfire’-like safe havens seen in the original Dark Souls games. However, the developers assert that this is not ‘just another Souls-like game.’

Demo players have noted that while it plays similarly to a Souls game, the gameplay is much more forgiving, akin to the God of War series. Another distinction is that players can pause the game, even in mid-combat, which is a significant advantage. The game is not open-world and will be largely linear, with some larger open areas to explore. It sure sounds God Of War-like to me.

Gameplay and Progression
The main weapon is a staff, which is customisable and upgradable. Players also have three stances that change their attack style: Smash Stance, Pillar Stance, and Thrust Stance. These stances can be toggled between mid-combat.

The game features a focus mechanic, where if players time their dodges and attacks correctly, they gain focus, which can be used for devastating attacks. However, spamming dodge requires a recovery period before the next dodge, so players must be strategic or be penalised. This mechanic offers a tactical approach to planning attacks, making landing high-damage attacks more satisfying. Spells that immobilise opponents, including bosses, will also play a crucial role.

Image credit: Game Science

The game includes classic skill points and skill trees with options for magic, attacks, and buffs.

From the gameplay trailers, we’ve seen a fair number of bosses featured. However, the official number of bosses has not been announced.

The game is slated for release 20th of August 2024 by the developer Game Science.