“Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2" Raises GOTY Hopes, but Try Elsewhere"

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

For years, anticipation for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been building. While I wasn't initially aware of the first game, my exploration of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through titles like Total War: Warhammer, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader piqued my interest. After a captivating reveal, I was eager to experience Space Marine 2.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires comprehensive cross-platform multiplayer testing and the developers, Focus and Saber, are actively working on official Steam Deck support, aiming for release by year's end.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's cross-progression feature, combined with its impressive visuals on Steam Deck, fueled my curiosity regarding its handheld performance. What follows is a blend of good and bad news, encompassing gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that masterfully blends brutality, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay, appealing to both veterans and newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces core combat and movement mechanics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with perfectly implemented controls and weapons. While some might favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in visceral melee encounters. The executions are consistently thrilling, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes remains endlessly entertaining. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, although I find defense missions less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters – a rarity these days. It captivated me similarly to 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 primarily stems from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 offers a refreshing experience and ranks among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 title, the addictive Operations mode, class variety, and steady progression keep me coming back for more.

I hesitate to offer a definitive judgment on the full game's random matchmaking, but my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality further with a wider range of players.

Visually, on both PS5 (in 4K mode on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck, the game is a masterpiece. While trailers hinted at its beauty, the environments are breathtaking, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with exceptional texture work and lighting, creates a truly immersive experience. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options that allow for creative self-expression.

A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers extensive adjustments for frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear suboptimal. On PS5, the photo mode is exceptional.

The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, while good, isn't memorable outside the game context, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, while tested only on Steam Deck, boasts impressive features. Epic Online Services are integrated, but account linking isn't mandatory. Graphics options are extensive, including display settings, resolution (from 800x600 upwards), render resolution (native and dynamic), quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra-performance), upscaling (TAA and FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution targeting, v-sync, brightness adjustments, motion blur, FPS limits, and various quality settings.

Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 support are present at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck performance gains with FSR 3. 16:10 support is also hoped for in future updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The game supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is also present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Remapping keyboard and mouse bindings is also possible. My DualSense controller, connected via Bluetooth, displayed PlayStation prompts and supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a noteworthy feature.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal. I experienced some freezing during startup on default and experimental Proton, but Proton GE 9-9 ran smoothly. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the mid-20s, even lower at times. Even lower resolutions struggle to maintain 30fps. This is far from ideal for a game of this caliber.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with low settings achieves better results, but still experiences drops to the low 20s. While visually acceptable on the Deck's screen, the game currently pushes the handheld's limits. Improper exits also sometimes require manual force closing.

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

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck, despite potential anti-cheat concerns. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth and enjoyable. Minor internet-related disconnections were experienced, but this is expected with pre-release servers. Further testing with random players post-launch is needed.

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 guaranteed. Dynamic resolution/upscaling is apparent, resulting in occasional blurriness during intense combat. Load times are quick, and PS5 Activity Cards support streamlines access to different modes and saves. 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. The final build's cooldown status remains unclear.

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

A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking and the Eternal War (PvP) mode, both of which are yet to be fully explored.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Post-launch support is anticipated, and key improvements include proper HDR support to further enhance the game's stunning visuals, and haptic feedback for DualSense controllers.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While online multiplayer testing remains incomplete, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb across platforms. While not recommended for Steam Deck currently, it's highly recommended on PS5. A final score will follow comprehensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

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