Space Marine 2 is a Frustrating Polished Turd of Style Over Substance

[Z405]

Ps. thanks for the clown points. It takes a clown to think to know a clown.

I have a high tolerance for difficult games. I've completed challenging titles like Elden Ring, Ninja Gaiden 2 (on one of the hardest settings, no less), and the *Souls* series. I love games that test my skill and require precision, but Space Marine 2 is a colossal failure on every level. It doesn’t provide a rewarding challenge; it’s just poorly designed, clunky, and frustrating. The more I played, the less I wanted to improve, and honestly, that says a lot. Plus the fact that it's already been nerfed dramatically just goes to show the devs have no clue how to balance these mechanics. Also don't forget that the playerbase has already halved since launch.

Let’s start with the basics: the combat system. Space Marine 2 brings back mechanics from the first game but somehow makes them worse. It's a chaotic mess where you’re often stun-locked to death, surrounded by enemies that came seemingly out of nowhere during an "enemy wave", and unable to properly parry or dodge through this chaotic mess. There's nothing rewarding or skillful about that—it’s just bad design. The staggering mechanics are absurd: enemies can stunlock you with every hit, but your attacks barely phase them. This leads to a frustrating loop of poorly executed dodges, rolly pollying around like an idiot (which looks retarded on a Space Marine), parries, and attacks that make you wonder why you’re wasting your time.

The camera is another atrocity. When you’re cornered, the camera completely loses track of your character, making an already frustrating experience even worse. I’ll give Ninja Gaiden 2 a pass for its camera issues because at least the combat in that game was VERY good—Space Marine 2 doesn’t have that excuse.

And don’t get me started on the perks and progression system. It’s absolute nonsense. The perks seem like they were thrown together with no thought or imagination. For instance, you fire at ten enemies, and suddenly your plasma pistol magically stops overheating—what sense does that make? The perks and gear progression are uninspired drivel designed to add some RPG elements but instead drag down the experience even further.

The sound design is another point of failure. Compared to Darktide, the bolt guns in Space Marine 2 sound and feel pathetic, like a wet blanket. There’s no weight or punch to the guns, and the generic, heroic music does absolutely nothing to elevate the tension or excitement in the game. While Darktide’s soundtrack, composed by Jesper Kyd, creates an immersive, pulse-pounding atmosphere, *Space Marine 2*’s music is just dull. It’s the kind of score you’ll forget as soon as you stop playing, and it doesn’t enhance the action at all.

The enemy AI is laughable. Most of the time, enemies (chaos cultists etc) just stand around waiting to get shot, with no attempt to use cover or tactics. Space Marine 2 (just like its predecessor) tries to capture the energy of Gears of War, but without the dynamic cover system that made that game fun. Here, enemies just bum-rush you, and when they swarm, the game devolves into an unmanageable chaotic mess.

The difficulty is another issue entirely. I enjoy difficult games—ones that force me to adapt and improve—but Space Marine 2 isn't hard in a fun, challenging way. It’s just cheap, hence the recent nerf. You don’t have to outsmart enemies; you have to memorize patterns, which quickly becomes a chore. I have better things to do than memorize a boss’s attack cycle just to scrape by, especially when the rest of the combat is so unsatisfyingly chaotic and messy.

The healing armor mechanic is just as ridiculous as it was in the first game. Why would executing an enemy magically regenerate your armor? It’s an uninspired mechanic that breaks immersion and doesn’t make any sense, yet it’s the only reliable way to stay alive. Combat boils down to a repetitive loop: parry, shoot, execute, dodge around like a ♥♥♥♥♥♥, rinse, repeat. It’s mind-numbing, and there’s no fun or satisfaction in it.

And then there’s the technical side—connection errors, random level selection issues, and overall bugginess that make the experience even more infuriating. In a time when games are constantly being patched post-launch, it's maddening to think that developers release products like this in such a broken state, expecting players to tolerate the problems.

In conclusion, Space Marine 2 is a polished turd. It looks good—sure, I’ll give it that—but beneath the surface, there’s no substance. It’s an aggravating, poorly designed mess that fails in almost every aspect other than visually. I came in wanting to enjoy this game, especially as a fan of the Warhammer 40k universe, but instead, it left me bitter and frustrated. Style over substance in the worst way, this is a game I wouldn't recommend to anyone. If you want a good Warhammer 40k experience, stick to Darktide—it’s leagues ahead in every way.

[Kao]

If you need help to get better, ask questions and we will do what we can.

[SeanXD]

Also, glad to help a beginner whenever needed.

[The Devil]

Another Darktide fan boi coming here to cry instead of playing his favourite game. Darktide is awful by the way

[Gaata]

Textbook skill issue, Brings up other "hard" games. Complains about stunlock when their issue is bad positioning The game is hard because it's cheap, it's not me guys

[Z405]

Originally posted by Kao:

If you need help to get better, ask questions and we will do what we can.

Originally posted by SeanXD:

Also, glad to help a beginner whenever needed.

I appreciate the offer, but I think this isn't going to work. I've watched many video's and some of the "skilled" players make the game look like it might be fun, but then when I'm playing it, it just sucks the joy out of my soul. There are too many issues with the combat mechanics of this game to want to learn it.

I`ll just play the campaign with my brother and then forget I ever bought it. Waste of money sadly.

[Z405]

Originally posted by Gaata:

Textbook skill issue, Brings up other "hard" games. Complains about stunlock when their issue is bad positioning The game is hard because it's cheap, it's not me guys

It seems you are a textbook case of not being able to read. I wouldn't have been able to complete Ninja Gaiden 2 on the most difficult setting, or Souls games, if I didn't know how to properly play video games. And on top of that, I've made it very clear that the combat loop is so incredibly uninspired, that I can't even be bothered to invest more time in something I vehemently loathe playing.

[SeanXD]

Originally posted by Z405:

Originally posted by Kao:

If you need help to get better, ask questions and we will do what we can.

Originally posted by SeanXD:

Also, glad to help a beginner whenever needed.

I appreciate the offer, but I think this isn't going to work. I've watched many video's and some of the "skilled" players make the game look like it might be fun, but then when I'm playing it, it just sucks the joy out of my soul. There are too many issues with the combat mechanics of this game to want to learn it.

I`ll just play the campaign with my brother and then forget I ever bought it. Waste of money sadly.

It's okay to say you need help.

[Teran]

Bro, Leandros isn't standing behind you with a bolt pistol to your head making you play. Go try something you think is more fun.

[EleventhStar]

Originally posted by Z405:

I. It's a chaotic mess where you’re often stun-locked to death, surrounded by enemies, and unable to properly parry or dodge. There's nothing rewarding or skillful about that—it’s just bad design. The staggering mechanics are absurd: enemies can stunlock you with every hit, but your attacks barely phase them.

this happens in souls too unless you build your character to prevent it. the only difference is that you get swarmed less in souls.

And don’t get me started on the perks and progression system. It’s absolute nonsense.

so don't care about them. it's just hamsterwheel stuff even if the perks were good.

The enemy AI is laughable. Most of the time, enemies (chaos cultists etc) just stand around waiting to get shot, with no attempt to use cover or tactics.

if they stand around they aren't stunlocking you. the thing you were complaining about a bit earlier. tho aren't they supposed to shoot at you with stormtrooper aim since the patch?

[Sloths]

I have played Darktide for many many hours and love it. What I think is happening here is Darktide's mechanics of combat are very simple and straight forward. Easy to pick and and easy to learn. SM2 has its own style and it goes a little deeper and more subtley involved with a bit more of a learning curve. Makes it harder to get into and harder to find success with in game if not learning what the game is trying to teach you. If that learning curve doesn't happen then it is just an effort in futility losing more, getting more frustrated, and the cycle repeats.

[DOUKNOUKKEM]

never had this problem, get good

[DanaramaPyjama]

Originally posted by Z405:

The camera is another atrocity. When you’re cornered, the camera completely loses track of your character

The struggle is real!

[NITRO]

Me when the power fantasy game allows me to be super powerful if Im skilled enough: 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[A Cat]

Thank god it wasn't only me.

SM 2 makes sure to teach you about its "flashed out" ""duelling"" mechanics, but then it just can't quite decide wether it wants to be a horde game or not, and falls flat on its face when you have to fight a swarm of chaff from all directions, Zoanthrope twins and 10 majoris with guns like every 5 minutes. Its basically impossible to not take hits, which makes me feel like the armor system was a necessary crutch that doesn't even work properly since enemies take it out in 2-3 hits depending on your armor class and it takes forever to recharge naturally. its also NOT a great sign when the game forces you to abuse i-frames from 2 minute long execution animations CONSTANTLY in order to not die.

You just have no time to bother with the fancy wannabesouls parry-dodge system in this environment, especially when aside from blue and orange flashes enemies can also just spam you to death with autoattacks from all directions and ranged weapons that you have no counter against. Bloodborne Rally system also feels like a crutch that, guess what, also doesn't work, since it goes away way too fast even with Bulwark perks and its basically impossible to take advantage of considering how slow and clunky the combat is. You're basically just forced into abusing meltas because you have no time to actually mindfully engage with the combat.

The health management and mortal wound mechanic is also ass with how scarce med stimms are and how little they actually restore. I find myself not even caring about having stimms or health or not since in combat I'm surviving purely on hopes, prayers, and good dozen of curses anyway.

Originally posted by The Devil:

Another Darktide fan boi coming here to cry instead of playing his favourite game. Darktide is awful by the way

Darktide is a great game, and its at least an actually enjoyable horde game with combat mechanics that work even with high intensity swarms of specialist enemies. Unlike SM 2, Darktide actually lets you solo crowds of specs and regular chaff all on your own, as well as handle bosses and big monsters, and its gearing and character building system is in-depth and diverse enough to cover a lot of different playstyles and still have them work on any difficulty if you're skilled enough. Meanwhile SM 2 gives you 3 rows in a column, of which only 1 perk will maaaybe do something, and it will still make you pay extra for it.

SM 2 unironically feels like a "worse darktide" in every regard.

[Yagger]

oh hey, a clown farm