You don't need to be familiar with Warhammer to enjoy Space Marine 2

One of my favorite games from 2011 (God, I feel old) was a brutal third-person perspective action game that revolved around a group of powerful men in combat suits wielding massive chainsaw swords, grunting grimly through conversations, and practically killing everything and everyone they encountered. Oh, and I suppose it was set in the Warhammer universe.

That may sound derogatory towards the 40K universe, but that was the magic of the first Space Marine game. While it offered a lot for fans of the broader universe, one didn't need to know anything about the series to enjoy the brutal combat and mighty warriors. Whether you're someone like our department head Ben Sledge, who adores everything about Mordheim, or embarrassingly have to resort to Googling where Warhammer takes place and are still uncertain about the answer like myself, there was still something for you to relish.

Fortunately, that very same magic is abundantly present in the long-awaited sequel, Space Marine 2, which I had the privilege of playing for approximately 30 minutes at Gamescom 2023. The demo commences with Titus and his team landing on a planet overrun by swarms of Tyranids, as they prepare to do what they excel at - tearing and crushing.

Typically, when I play a game that I intend to write about, I take my due diligence and make copious notes to ensure that I am as informed and knowledgeable as possible about the subject, regardless of my personal interest in the world. However, in this case, I deliberately shut off my mind from the realm of Warhammer and immersed myself in its chaotic battles without concerning myself with such matters. I was intrigued to see if I could succeed in traversing a decade back and allow Titus' chainsword to do the thinking for me.

I may not be able to delve into intricate details about the world, characters, or storyline of Space Marine 2 without oversimplifying things significantly. However, what I can convey to you is the sheer magnificence of the gameplay experience in Space Marine 2. Mowing down swarms of smaller Tyranids with your weapon, followed by dissecting larger units with your chainsword, remains as satisfying in 2023 as it was in 2011 (and even more so, thanks to the multitude of squishy enemies that can be on screen simultaneously).

Just because I didn't dwell too much on the broader world doesn't mean that Space Marine 2 is thoughtless. This fact became apparent to me time and again when I ran out of ammunition or wasted my precious grenades on a single enemy instead of saving them for the voracious horde lurking right in front of me.

The close-quarters combat is surprisingly intricate, with counters and evasive maneuvers being essential to grant Titus another grim day. When combined with the ability to command AI teammates and the absence of regenerating health, there is a lot to keep track of all at once.

Eventually, everything began to fall into place, and I once again felt like that unstoppable badass from back in 2011. This sensation came to my advantage towards the end of my demo when I had to hold my ground against a massive horde of Tyranids, while waiting for a door to open and allow my team to pass through. Witnessing an endless multitude of creatures pouring in from every corner of the map, charging towards me, was one of the most exhilarating moments of Gamescom. And it only got better as the minigun turned everything in my line of sight into Swiss cheese.

My Gamescom-brain turned off on the second day wouldn't be able to tell you why Titus angrily slaughtered hordes of aliens or even what the name of the planet was where he killed them. But that didn't matter at all. All that mattered was that it was magnificent and made me feel like an absolute badass for a moment, just like the first game had accomplished.

After my time with Space Marine 2, I not only felt like a badass capable of tearing a phone book apart with bare hands but also like someone who should give Warhammer a fair chance. Whether I'll finally do so and appear less like an idiot when talking about Titus, or whether I'll simply enjoy Space Marine 2 for its bloody good time, remains uncertain. But regardless of what happens, I know that I am eagerly looking forward to seeing more.