A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress
For years, many anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the original Space Marine. My journey began after playing Total War: Warhammer, sparking my interest in other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. I briefly sampled the original Space Marine on my Steam Deck, fueling my excitement for the sequel's release. Having extensively played various 40k games across PC and consoles, I eagerly awaited my hands-on experience with Space Marine 2.
Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: first, a comprehensive assessment necessitates thorough cross-platform multiplayer and online public server testing; second, Focus and Saber Interactive have confirmed upcoming official Steam Deck support, targeted for year-end release.
Witnessing the impressive visuals and gameplay of Space Marine 2 on the Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, piqued my curiosity about its Steam Deck performance. This review will cover the good and bad aspects, encompassing gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 features, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED, while 16:9 shots 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 seamlessly blends brutality, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement mechanics, leading to the Battle Barge hub. Here, you select missions, game modes, customize cosmetics, and more.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, with perfectly implemented controls and weapons. While some may favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in visceral melee combat. The executions are consistently exhilarating, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew tiresome. The campaign is incredibly fun solo or with friends in co-op, although I'm less enthusiastic about defense missions. Fortunately, their implementation here wasn't overly intrusive.
Playing with a friend overseas, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era – a style rarely seen today. It captivated me similarly to Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I sincerely hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.
My Warhammer 40,000 knowledge stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 provides 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 the Operations mode with a friend, exploring classes and unlocks, keeps me returning.
I hesitate to offer a definitive opinion on the full game's random matchmaking, but my co-op experiences have been exceptional. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality further with random players and friends post-launch.
Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a stunner. The 4K mode on PS5, displayed on my 1440p monitor, is breathtaking. The environments are remarkably detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, coupled with excellent texture work and lighting, creates a vibrant and immersive world. This is further enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, allows for adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. However, on the Steam Deck, some effects appear suboptimal with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode, conversely, is exceptional.
The audio design is equally impressive. While the music is good, it doesn't stand out as something I'd listen to outside the game. However, the voice acting and sound design are top-tier, perfectly complementing the in-game experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical options. Epic Online Services are integrated but don't require account linking. Display settings include mode (windowed, borderless, fullscreen), resolution (800x600 and above), render resolution (native, dynamic), quality presets (quality, balanced, performance, ultra performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, fps limit, and various quality-related settings.
Four presets adjust texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck benefits from this. 16:10 support would also be a welcome addition.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options
The PC port offers keyboard and mouse controls alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, further enhanced by disabling Steam Input. Keyboard and mouse remapping is also available. My DualSense controller, connected via Bluetooth, displayed PlayStation prompts and supported adaptive triggers wirelessly – a notable feature.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, performance is currently suboptimal. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low presets and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the mid-20s and lower during intense combat. Lower resolutions still experience frame rate drops below 30fps. While dynamic upscaling can reach the 30s, drops to the low 20s remain common. The visual quality remains good, but the game currently pushes the Steam Deck's capabilities. Occasional improper exits also 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. Internet-related disconnections occurred, but these are likely pre-release server issues. 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
The PS5 performance mode delivers a mostly smooth experience, although a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved, and dynamic resolution/upscaling is evident. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Card 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 currently functional, with a two-day cooldown period between platform syncs. The final build's cooldown status remains to be confirmed.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?
A definitive answer requires further testing of online functionality with random players and assessment of matchmaking in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes. Eternal War mode remains untested.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Features I Want to See in Updates and Patches
Post-launch support is expected, and I anticipate HDR support to enhance the already impressive visuals. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition, as mentioned in the game's blog post.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While online multiplayer testing requires further time, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb. I currently don't recommend playing it on Steam Deck due to performance issues but highly recommend it on PS5. A final score will be provided after more extensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
