Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review (Steam Deck & PS5)
For years, many gamers eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the original Space Marine. I, however, only discovered the franchise through Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. My initial foray into Space Marine was on Steam Deck, piquing my interest for the sequel. The recent reveal left me eager to experience Space Marine 2.
Over the past week, I've dedicated approximately 22 hours to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, utilizing both my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation necessitates testing cross-platform multiplayer and public server stability; and Focus and Saber are committed to releasing official Steam Deck support by year's end.
Given Space Marine 2's impressive visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, I was keen to assess its handheld performance. The results are a mixed bag, which this review will explore, covering 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 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing was conducted on Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a visceral third-person action shooter—brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement basics before launching you into the Battle Barge, your central hub for mission selection, game mode choices, cosmetic adjustments, and more.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weaponry feel perfectly implemented. While some might favor ranged combat, I relished the visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before encountering tougher foes is consistently engaging. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I found defense missions less appealing.
Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 evoked the feeling of a high-budget co-op shooter reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era—a style rarely seen today. It captivated me much like 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 stems primarily 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 premature to declare it my favorite 40k title, the compelling gameplay has me hooked. The Operations mode, with its diverse classes and progressive unlocks, is particularly addictive.
While full launch experiences with random players remain to be seen, my co-op experience has been outstanding. I eagerly await testing the online functionality with a broader player base.
Visually, Space Marine 2 shines on both PS5 (in 4K on my 1440p monitor) and Steam Deck. The environments are breathtaking, and the meticulous detail in textures, lighting, and enemy swarms creates a vibrant world. The voice acting and customization options further enhance the experience, allowing for creative character expression.
The single-player photo mode provides extensive control over framing, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. However, on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions, some effects appear less polished. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.
The audio design is equally impressive. While the music, though good, isn't memorable enough for standalone listening, it perfectly complements the gameplay. The voice acting and sound design are top-tier.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options:
The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers a robust set of graphics options. While Epic Online Services is integrated, account linking isn't mandatory. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution targeting, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limits, and detailed quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for later. I hope for future 16:10 support.
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 with Steam Input enabled, but disabling it resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is available, and button remapping is fully customizable. My DualSense controller (Bluetooth) displayed PlayStation prompts and even supported adaptive triggers wirelessly—a noteworthy feature.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance:
While playable on Steam Deck without configuration, performance is currently suboptimal. Even at 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the low 20s. Dynamic upscaling aims for 30fps but still experiences significant drops. While visually acceptable on the Deck's screen, the game is currently too demanding for optimal performance. Occasionally, the game requires manual force-closing upon exiting.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer:
Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck, with no anti-cheat interference. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were successful, aside from occasional internet-related disconnections (likely due to pre-release server instability).
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features:
On PS5 (Performance Mode), the game performs well, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved. Dynamic resolution scaling seems to be in use. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. 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.
Solo Play Value:
A definitive assessment of solo play value awaits full server launch and testing with random players.
Desired Future Updates:
Post-launch updates should prioritize Steam Deck performance optimization and HDR support. Haptic feedback on PS5 would also be a welcome addition.
Conclusion:
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. The gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are top-notch. While Steam Deck performance needs improvement, the PS5 experience is highly recommended. A full review with a final score will follow after comprehensive multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
