Nowadays, it feels like the gaming industry is crumbling right before our eyes. We’ve seen numerous AAA studios experiencing layoffs, and the continued emphasis on AI-driven experiences. It’s safe to say that while the last few years have brought some of the best games of the generation, it has also led to the industry’s darkest state yet. Nowhere have I noticed this more than in the release of several major multiplayer games throughout the 2020s.
Every time a multiplayer game launches, whether it’s an MMO, a hero shooter, a battle royale, or a cooperative adventure, it is always on a timer. If it is unable to bring in a stable player count, you can expect its services to end within a few months. In some cases, they’re delisted within just a few weeks. As such, people have found it hard to be excited anytime a new multiplayer game is revealed. After all, why invest time learning the mechanics and systems of one when it could close down in just two weeks?
As such, when Bungie unveiled Marathon for the first time, there was a lot of baggage attached to it. While the style and aesthetic seemed compelling, people criticized the decision to turn one of the oldest single-player first-person shooters ever released into a multiplayer-focused extraction shooter. I was one of those people, so when I had a chance to try out Marathon for myself, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, especially as someone who’s never really liked extraction shooters.
However, after spending hours playing Marathon ever since its launch, experiencing every zone, playing as every shell, and doing what I can to master its mechanics, I have concluded: save for a few issues here and there, this is easily one of the best multiplayer games I’ve ever played in my life, and one that I’ve quickly become enamored with after just a few weeks.
Somewhere in the Heavens…
In the year 2472, the UESC Marathon began its maiden voyage to the Tau Ceti star system with the goal of creating a new home for humanity. In 2773, all contact with the ship was lost, and in the decades since, all rescue attempts were unsuccessful, and there were no humans left on Tau Ceti IV. Suddenly, though, a message from the UESC Marathon is broadcast in the year 2888. The message simply states: “Somewhere in the heavens, they are waiting.”
This is where you come in. You are a Runner, a mercenary hired by corporations to salvage the remains of the human colony on the planet, and if you’re lucky, the UESC Marathon itself. Compared to other Bungie games where you play as an elite super-soldier or a borderline superhero, Runners are disposable shells that can easily be torn to shreds by the UESC’s many drones that patrol Tau Ceti IV. Not only that, but you’re also in competition with other runners as you work to uncover as much loot as possible and escape unharmed.
In order to make the most of your journey on Tau Ceti IV, you’ll need to work with six different factions. These include CyberAcme, a corporation focused on AI and software, NuCaloric, which specializes in agricultural products and pharmaceuticals, Sekiguchi Genetics, the creator of your shells, and MIDA, an anti-corporate anarchist organization. There’s also Traxus, the most powerful corporation in history, and Arachne, a death cult obsessed with the “thermodynamics of violence.”
Each faction is interested in Tau Ceti IV and the Marathon for very different reasons. For instance, Traxus was part of the original expedition and is looking to recuperate their lost revenue. On the flipside, NuCaloric is genuinely interested in the total loss of human life on the colony and wants to figure out how to prevent similar incidents. All of them give you contracts to complete on each of your runs. Along the way, though, you’ll be facing off against the UESC remnants themselves and learn more about the dark secrets hidden throughout the colony.
When I first heard that Marathon would be a multiplayer-only extraction shooter, I feared that the narrative would take a bit of a backseat. I was especially concerned since Bungie’s stories have captivated me ever since I was a kid, and the original Marathon trilogy in particular had shockingly deep worldbuilding considering the era in which it was released. Yet, against all odds, this new Marathon manages to continue its story in a meaningful and satisfying way.
There’s a great balance between the traditional sci-fi concepts you’d expect from a game like Halo or Destiny, with a more Cyberpunk dystopian vibe, thanks to the overabundance of corporations. Tau Ceti IV isn’t some bustling metropolis; it’s a ghost town that serves as a condemnation against corporate expansion. Yet, hidden beneath the surface, there appear to be more sinister forces at play, such as the influence of a mysterious AI and the presence of horrifyingly ancient alien creatures.
Part of what made the narrative so compelling, despite the lack of single-player focus, is the aesthetic. Each element of the game is themed around a concept known as graphic realism, which means that while the many inhabitants and structures within the world look realistic, it is all more stylized compared to the real world. Certain buildings look almost brutalist in their design, while the Runner shells look akin to a crash test dummy, with a mix of bright colors, asymmetrical features, and decals linking to one of the game’s many corporations.
Even from the very first trailer, I was enamored with Marathon‘s design. In practice, it looks better than I could’ve dreamed. Certain zones you visit, such as Outpost, are drenched in rain. Yet, they have structures that seem deeply advanced, yet prioritize function just as much as form. In the case of Outpost in particular, the center has a pinwheel that you need to unlock to get some of the best loot in the early game. It’s not just a challenge to work towards as you play, it’s also a physical landmark that stands out from any corner of the map.
One of my favorite elements of the game’s personality is the aforementioned factions. Each faction representative interacts with you through cutscenes that play the more you progress their contracts. Their designs look fantastic, with some of them looking like a living sculpture, while one is literally just a worm. The game also boasts a massive voice cast, which you hear either from the aforementioned representatives or through hidden files you can find as you unlock more of the Codex.
Personally, my favorite character is _gantry, the representative from MIDA. His cadence and the way he speaks about revolution to you are so fascinating. He talks about the UESC being “pro-corpse idealists,” and directly tells you that MIDA is “not your friend.” My favorite line of his is when he states, “We are fire. Are you fuel? Prove it.” The overall writing of each character, as well as the Codex entries, is fantastic and a necessary improvement over the often lackluster dialogue in the Destiny games.
Ever since Marathon was announced, people have lamented the choice to put such a massive emphasis on narrative and aesthetic in a multiplayer-focused experience. I was certainly one of those people until I played the game itself. The narrative and aesthetic are so strong that while I would’ve loved a broader focus on the story, being able to organically unravel the secrets of both the Marathon and Tau Ceti IV through environmental storytelling is still thrilling.
In fact, it’s the best possible way they could’ve adapted the original Marathon‘s subtle approach to telling its story. The original trilogy hid its greatest mysteries in terminals, which more often than not were extremely difficult to find. So, overall, I’m fairly pleased with how Bungie has handled the narrative in the latest entry in the Marathon franchise. I can only hope that, as time goes on, the story continues to progress in compelling ways. The main reason I am content with the lack of single-player content is because of just how strong the gameplay is when it comes to the mechanics, multiplayer options, solo queuing, and the many locations you can explore on both Tau Ceti IV and beyond.
Run, Run, Run (Gameplay, Contracts, Shells, Zones)
While I’ve always loved first-person shooters, I was never fond of extraction shooters. The prospect of scouring a massive map and looking for loot, only to be ambushed by either an enemy player or an NPC and lose everything, never quite appealed to me. I’ve tried a few of them in the past, but I had the same ambivalence towards the subgenre as I did towards battle royale games. When I first booted up Marathon, my expectations were extremely low. Imagine my surprise when those expectations were blown completely out of the water.
Marathon isn’t just the best extraction shooter I’ve played; it’s easily one of the most fun multiplayer games I’ve played in general. This is partly because Marathon pulls from numerous genres to create the perfect blend of everything. To start with, there’s the gunplay. Bungie has always managed to create weapons that feel fantastic to shoot, ever since the original Marathon, and this new iteration is no exception.
Each weapon has value depending on what your playstyle is. For example, you may find yourself gravitating towards machine guns and pistols, or you may prefer the volt weapons. There’s a great degree of strategy in how you approach each weapon as well. Due to the way the game’s loot mechanics work, once you exfiltrate with a weapon, you can take it back with you in your next run. However, you can also use one of the game’s free sponsored kits to take a pre-determined loadout without risking your favorite weapons.
Every gun also feels satisfying to fire, which certainly helps when you’re fighting some of the game’s more brutal enemies. Throughout your exploration of Tau Ceti IV, there are numerous threats around every corner. While you’ll occasionally run into a few tics and poisonous plants, your main obstacle will be the UESC drones standing in your way, as well as the opposing runners vying for the same loot as you. For the most part, you’ll be encountering more of the former rather than the latter, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The UESC Drones are brutal to fight against. While a majority can be downed after just a few rounds of whatever gun you choose, others will quickly overwhelm you with their overwhelming firepower. There have been plenty of situations where I have run into a fight, trying to complete a contract or get some loot, only to be quickly outnumbered and downed within seconds. Yet, I never found myself overly frustrated in these encounters. This is partly because, while death can mean a loss of vital loot, I was usually able to quickly load back up and go right back into another run.
Easily, though, my favorite encounters in the game were with the enemy runners. Every once in a while, I’d be walking around in an area, and I’d hear footsteps that weren’t my own. Immediately, I’d be thrust into a cat-and-mouse dance, as we tried to outmaneuver each other and get the upper hand one way or another. There have been times when I’ve just hid and let a runner pass me by. There have also been situations where I’ve used my Runner’s abilities to get the drop on an opponent. Either way, it’s led to some of the most thrilling experiences I’ve ever had in a video game.
Some of my favorite moments involved me taking advantage of the sound design to determine where my opponent is. Usually, I don’t play games with headphones on, but this is the first time I felt like I had to. There was one point where I was waiting at an exfil point, and I heard a few footsteps around me. I quickly darted around and shot a Recon shell that was trying to ambush me. With one second to go before I was taken to safety, I executed the Runner, denying her any of her loot. I felt so guilty for my transgressions, but at the same time, I couldn’t stop the sheer euphoria I felt throughout the encounter.
Navigating past these challenges is fundamental to understanding Marathon. As you start a run, you’ll usually be taking on one of the faction’s contracts. A few of these will ask you to perform very specific tasks, like spraying graffiti on the wall for MIDA. Others directly task you to kill a certain number of Runners, such as those offered by Arachne. Either way, most of the contracts add purpose to each of your runs beyond just getting loot, while also pressuring you into taking part in PvP and PvE encounters.
Occasionally, there are a few contracts that are quite frustrating. For instance, Traxus recently tasked me with acquiring claymores and grenades from a container, and then dealing a certain amount of damage against opponents. However, if you fail a run after already opening the crate, you won’t be able to get new explosives in subsequent attempts. There are similar situations where the requirements are often too obtuse, but these moments were few and far between. For the most part, I enjoyed pretty much all of the contracts offered by the game’s many factions.
One of my other favorite aspects of Marathon is the seven runner shells you can choose from. Each operates similarly to a character in a hero shooter, with all of them possessing very different abilities. For instance, Assassin is able to turn invisible and obstruct his surroundings with smoke, while Destroyer can deploy a shield, run fast, and fire missiles. There’s also Rook, who is designed specifically for solo play and deploys halfway into an active run, allowing you to scavenge leftover loot without too much trouble.
Personally, I found myself clicking with Thief. Her kit allows her to reach higher ground with a grappling hook, scan containers for loot with a visor, and use a pickpocket drone to steal loot directly from enemy runners. What I love about the abilities of each Runner is how versatile they are. When it comes to Thief in particular, you can use her drone as a way to monitor your surroundings. I’ve found a lot of enjoyment in harassing other Runners with the drone while I swoop in for the kill.
Another key piece of Marathon‘s identity is its zones. At launch, three zones were released: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost. Perimeter is the easiest zone in the game, while Dire Marsh has a medium difficulty, and Outpost is the hardest in the game. As you scale up in difficulty, you will encounter more opponents, while also getting the chance to retrieve more valuable loot.
I played every zone with both a group of three and by myself. In trios, I had a great time coordinating a plan of action and systematically working together to progress both of our contracts. However, it was playing in solo that made the game finally click with me. The aforementioned moments of tension are only heightened when you’re playing by yourself, especially on the more difficult maps. There is no greater achievement than wandering through the wide-open swamp of Dire Marsh, skillfully avoiding encounters with both Runners and the UESC, only to escape with a great haul of loot.
On the subject of zones, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the first post-launch zone: Cryo Archive. Cryo Archive was hyped up for weeks after launch, and finally unlocked after a weeks-long ARG (augmented reality game) was solved by the community. It was built up as our first encounter with just one small section of the UESC Marathon, which boasts some of the most challenging enemies alongside some of the most enticing loot. I had a chance to play it not long after its release, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s really difficult.
In my brief exploration of Cryo Archive, I was enamored with its unique approach to puzzle solving and the absurd difficulty spike. While it may seem daunting from a distance, I personally found it to be an enticing challenge to slowly overcome as I master more of the game’s mechanics. That said, I am a bit disappointed at the lack of solo queuing for the zone, as well as the fact that it’s only playable on weekends. Although I do understand the reason for said decisions, and the developers have stated that these are elements they’re open to changing in the future.
There are a few other issues that I noticed throughout my playtime. For starters, the loading times are often quite lengthy, with some even being upwards of three minutes. There are also a few performance issues on console, with there being multiple cases of rubberbanding every time I fire Thief’s grappling hook. However, my biggest concern for this game lies in its future.
While I would argue that Marathon is worth its price point of $39.99, I worry about the speed at which Bungle can add new content to freshen the experience. Take the cosmetics, for example. Right now, there are only a few substantial cosmetic options for each Runner, with the rest being color swaps. While there will be more cosmetics added in the future, some won’t be available until mid-April, which is quite a while to wait. If we may have to wait over a month for new costumes, I fear we may be waiting a while to see new zones, runners, and any more significant changes.
That said, my concerns have mostly been assuaged due to one simple factor: Bungie itself. It’s been over two weeks since Marathon released, and already the developers have been making steps to take fans’ feedback to heart and improve the overall experience.
In fact, just recently, it has released a new patch that hopefully fixes the loading screens. Furthermore, it has already discussed their roadmap for the next few months, which will bring both a new Runner and a zone in June. The support and care that Bungie is putting into this game give me a lot of hope for its future. Thanks to how good the gameplay and narrative elements are, I couldn’t be more excited to see what the future brings.
The Marathon is Waiting (Conclusion)
When I was a kid, the franchise that made me fall in love with the gaming medium was Halo. I obsessively watched all the trailers for Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo Reach, and the first chance I could, I played through every single game in the series. To say that Bungie and its creative work played a role in where I am today would be a severe understatement. Yet, over the last decade, it felt like both the Halo franchise and Bungie didn’t have the same magic they used to. With Marathon, though, that magic is finally restored.
There is so much to love about this game. The narrative is expertly done, with the faction cutscenes and hidden Codex entries offering just enough intrigue to make me really excited to see where the story goes next. The aesthetic is beautiful, and it has far more personality than most other multiplayer games I’ve played in the last few years. Additionally, the gameplay always kept me coming back for more, even when the challenge went from 0-100. There are so many other elements that make Marathon even more special, such as the soundtrack, UI, and even something as simple as the continued release of stylish cinematic trailers.
Yes, there are several key technical issues, as well as a disappointing lack of certain content, such as solos in Cryo Archive. For all I know, Marathon‘s next few updates could be extremely lackluster, and it could end service within the next year or so. Yet, due to just how committed Bungie is to improving the overall experience, plus how the game has already gathered a loyal fanbase, I have a feeling that Marathon‘s future will be bright.
More than anything, though, this is a game that I want to succeed. While there have been plenty of live service experiences that I’ve regarded with apathy, Marathon is not one such case. This is the first multiplayer game in years that I’ve gleefully recommended to friends, and one that I can confidently say is worth the $39.99 price of admission.
If you’ve ever been a fan of Bungie, Halo, extraction shooters, or even the multiplayer shooter genre as a whole, then this is a must-buy. Only time will tell what the future brings and if Marathon can continue delivering consistent quality, but as of right now, this is an extremely promising start to what could end up being the best Bungie game since Halo Reach.
Disclaimer: Bungie and PlayStation Studios provided a PlayStation 5 copy of Marathon for review purposes.
