Can Bungie’s Marathon go the distance?

After a wealth of controversy and delays, Bungie has finally launched a soft reboot of their Marathon franchise. Released into the extraction shooter genre that has been recently dominated by Embark’s ARC Raiders, Marathon has some big competition. So, can it go toe-to-toe? After many trips onto the surface of Tau Ceti IV, my short answer is that Marathon is certainly a good game, with the potential to be a great one.

Marathon is certainly more complex in both systems and gameplay. It is also brutal

While, across the internet, many are commenting on the Steam player counts compared to the recent and continued titanic success of ARC Raiders, there is an important distinction to be made between the two games. While some might disagree, I believe it is fair to say that ARC is a more casual experience, with a strong emphasis on co-operation with other raiders, as well as simpler systems for players to pick up and understand very quickly.

Marathon is certainly more complex in terms of both system and gameplay. It is also brutal. In the world of Tau Ceti IV, runners can lose their loot in seconds, with a very low time-to-kill (TTK) that seems like marmite to recent players. This forgoes the longer fights of ARC that often involve chases and evasion, instead opting for snappier battles that rely on tactical positioning and perfect timing.

While, to some, the idea that even lightning-fast reactions can’t guarantee survival is purely a source of frustration, to others, it might contribute to the tension that hangs over players during each run.

Bungie have addressed recent queries about the TTK and have resolved to look into it, yet it is important to remember that, in the early weeks of Marathon, many players won’t yet have access to more advanced shields and upgrades. Consequently, as the season progresses, skirmishes will undoubtedly become longer and more intense battles of attrition.

Upon entering the game for the first time, you are met with a tutorial, positioning you in a beginner-friendly version of the ‘Perimeter’ map. From my very first run, I was immediately sold on the atmosphere. If there is one thing that Bungie has accomplished with this project, it’s a gorgeous world of genuine intrigue.

Every location tells of hyper-advanced, post-human tech converging with organic environments

Criticism of these hyper-saturated environments has been rampant, and yet, personally, they have provided the perfect breath of fresh air to the bleak realism that floods the shooter genre. Every location tells of hyper-advanced, post-human tech converging with organic environments. With the natural verdant tones of Tau Ceti’s flora contrasted starkly by the vibrant, blocky buildings of the colony, each area is bursting with character.

The genius continues inside, with abandoned facilities dimly lit but still emanating colour, providing close-quarters combat arenas for runners and the UESC (United Earth Space Council) alike.

The UESC are currently the only primary hostile NPC in Marathon. They are the governing force of Earth and Mars, patrolling the colonies of Tau Ceti IV and hoping to cover up the disaster that occurred a century prior. Though skilled raiders can sneak past them, they are a force to be reckoned with when alerted. Ranging from grunts to grenadiers, the UESC are lethal and should not be underestimated. More than a couple of runs of mine came to an end due to hubristically charging into buildings, before being cornered and mowed down by an ensuing squad of troops.

Bungie wanted to ensure the environment was as dangerous as the player in their PvPvE shooter, and, while they have effectively accomplished this, there simply isn’t enough variety amongst their AI offerings as of release. This feeling is especially prominent when looking at Bungie’s flagship title, Destiny 2. The studio has shown they can produce eclectic extra-terrestrials that are both aesthetically unique and fun to fight, and Marathon would definitely benefit from this expertise.

There is hope, however, with the introductory cutscene ending on the message: “Somewhere in the heavens, they are waiting”.

The gunplay is immaculate, each connecting shot more satisfying than the last

As is expected of Bungie at this point, the selection of guns on offer, as well as how each firearm feels, is fantastic. The gunplay is immaculate, each connecting shot more satisfying than the last.

Typical extraction shooter loot is all there: guns, shields, grenades, keys and backpacks, with the exception of two Marathon-unique sets of items: cores and implants.

Implants are effectively mods available to all characters which give certain stat benefits and general perks, such as the increased effectiveness of healing items or even poison damage being applied to your knife. Like all the loot in the game, they come in ascending tiers of grey, green, blue, purple, and golden variants, with each tier providing greater benefits.

Cores are similar, but are largely character-specific (with a few universally applicable ones), increasing the effectiveness of each runner’s specific abilities.

Both item categories have the potential to fundamentally change how you might approach encounters, introducing an interesting build-crafting aspect to the genre.

Progression in the game is tied to six factions, with each one focused on different aspects of runs. While Arachne offer contracts that ask you to ruthlessly end the expeditions of fellow runners, NuCaloric might ask you to unearth lost data from the various locations in the colonies. Contracts are the primary source of levelling amongst factions, with levels in turn broadening out the skill upgrades on offer to you.

Instead of a simple skill-point system, upgrades require specific items found in the structures and wilds of Tau Ceti IV, giving purpose to the various bric-a-brac that you might happen upon. Seemingly, factions are also how the ongoing narrative will be delivered, informing you of their mission progress and the changing status of Tau Ceti IV.

A game that only interested me in the open “server slam” is now a game that has a tenacious grip on my attention

With the release of the end-game map ‘Cryo-Archive’ looming, and developers hinting at mechanics akin to Destiny’s intricately designed raids, the future of Marathon seems promising. While some issues need to be ironed out, Marathon on launch is a fascinating adventure into the far reaches of the universe, and one that I cannot stop playing.

Marathon has a great foundation to build upon. A game that only interested me in the open “server slam” is now a game that has a tenacious grip on my attention. There is a high ceiling for what Bungie could achieve with this property, and if the trajectory of the original Destiny is anything to go by, Marathon will be lapping its competition soon enough.