A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress
For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the original Space Marine. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore other 40k titles like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. Months ago, I briefly sampled the first Space Marine on my Steam Deck. Now, having extensively played Space Marine 2 across PC and PS5, I'm eager to share my impressions.
Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Space Marine 2, utilizing cross-progression between my Steam Deck and PS5, and testing online functionality. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough evaluation requires extensive cross-platform multiplayer testing, and official Steam Deck support is slated for release by year's end.
Space Marine 2's impressive visuals and gameplay on Steam Deck, coupled with cross-progression, piqued my curiosity regarding its handheld performance. The news is mixed, and I'll detail both positive and negative aspects in this review. Gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more will be covered. Note: Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 screenshots 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; brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for newcomers to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A concise yet effective tutorial introduces combat and movement mechanics before you reach 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 weapons feel perfectly implemented. While some may favor ranged combat, I found immense satisfaction in visceral melee combat. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before facing tougher foes never grew tiresome. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though I personally find defense missions less engaging. Fortunately, these missions didn't significantly detract from my overall experience.
Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters, a genre 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 knowledge 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 too early to declare it my favorite 40k game, I'm compelled to pause this review and resume playing. The addictive Operations mode, class variety, and gradual progression keep me hooked.
I can't definitively assess the game's full potential until launch, but my co-op experience has been superb. I eagerly anticipate testing the online functionality with random players and friends once cross-platform play is fully live.
Visually, on both PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. The PS5's 4K mode (played on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. While trailers hinted at its beauty, the environments are stunning, and the game feels incredibly alive, thanks to massive enemy swarms, detailed textures, and exceptional lighting. This is complemented by superb voice acting and extensive customization options, allowing for creative self-expression.
A photo mode, accessible in single-player, offers extensive adjustments to frames, expressions, visible characters, FOV, and more. On Steam Deck, using FSR 2 and lower resolutions results in some less-than-ideal effects. However, the PS5 photo mode is exceptional.
The music, while good, isn't memorable enough for repeated listening outside the game. However, 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. Epic Online Services integration is present but doesn't require account linking. Adjustable settings include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), resolution upscaling (TAA, FSR 2 on Steam Deck), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and various quality-related options.
Four presets control texture filtering, resolution, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, volumetrics, effects, details, and cloth simulation. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck performance improvements with FSR 3. 16:10 support is also desired.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options
Keyboard and mouse controls are included, alongside full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts didn't display correctly on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is present, and remapping is available. My DualSense controller worked flawlessly over Bluetooth, including adaptive triggers.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
While some initial freezing occurred on default Proton and Experimental, Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. Space Marine 2 is technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration, but it's currently demanding. At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, it struggles to maintain 30fps, frequently dipping below. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates remain suboptimal. I hope future updates improve performance to a consistent 30fps. The game also occasionally fails to exit cleanly.
Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps with low settings achieves a fluctuating frame rate in the 20s and 30s. While visually acceptable, the game pushes the Steam Deck's limits.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions
Online multiplayer functions correctly on Steam Deck, unaffected by anti-cheat measures. Co-op sessions with a friend in Canada were smooth. Occasional disconnections were experienced, likely due to pre-release server instability. Further testing is needed once the game launches.
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 achieved, and dynamic resolution is apparent. 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 functions well, though a two-day cooldown exists between platform syncs. Further clarification is needed on whether this cooldown will persist in the final release.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?
This question requires further evaluation post-launch, once online servers are fully populated. Testing of Eternal War (PvP) mode is also pending.
Desired Features for Future Updates
Post-launch support is expected, and I hope for improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback would also enhance the DualSense experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. While online multiplayer testing remains incomplete, the gameplay is exceptional, and the visuals and audio are superb. I currently recommend it for PS5 but not Steam Deck. A full review with a final score will follow after further multiplayer testing and patch releases.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA
