It’s been a while since I played the first Marathon, and I’ve honestly been meaning to play this game for quite a long time now. Only now have I had the chance proper to actually play it. Much like the first game, I really enjoyed playing through Marathon 2: Durandal. It improves upon the game in some angles, while still keeping some of the flaws that the original had as well.
Now, like the name suggests, Marathon 2: Durandal focuses a lot more on Durandal the character. Particularly, he’s the one directing you through most of the levels, alongside giving you your assignments for each level. And yet again, Durandal as a character is a highlight of the Marathon series so far. I love characters that absolutely revel in their twisted insanity, and Durandal fits the bill as one of those characters. And I also think it’s interesting how unlike in the first Marathon, where he was more of an antagonistic force, in Marathon 2, you have no other option but to work for him. It’s a new dynamic that I really like. I also like seeing how the other characters that appear through Marathon 2 view and interact with Durandal. Especially the back and forth between Durandal and Tycho.
Yet again, a majority of the game’s story is told through computer terminals. I definitely have a feeling I missed some, I’d have to imagine that Marathon 2 also has secret terminals that provide important lore information. And since I’m not that good at finding them, I probably missed quite a few. Even so, I really like the story found in Marathon 2. I love the deep worldbuilding found in the game, while we already knew of the Pfhor and the S’pht from the original Marathon, I love the further worldbuilding the two alien races were given in this game. And I also really like how so many different characters talk to you, and treat you with reverence. Even though from having playing Marathon 1, I know of the deeds that I’ve done, being treated as some legendary hero, makes me just wonder “who exactly am I playing as?”.
And much like the first one, Marathon 2 is an absolutely amazing game to play. Movement is great, gunplay is amazing. So on and so forth.
The movement in Marathon 2 is about the same as the first one. I love high momentum, and being able to travel through the map super quickly feels really good. I’m still a big fan of the low gravity nature of Marathon. Since you’re unable to jump in the Marathon games, you have low gravity, which allows you to float a distance to other gaps, which is really fun. It allows there to be a sense of verticality there couldn’t be otherwise.
Marathon 2 does add swimming, which is a little finnicky I’ll say. The swimming controls themselves are fine, primarily it’s just press control to swim upwards. I also find it interesting how practically no weapons are able to be used underwater. It provides a unique sense in danger that is exclusive to those sorts of areas. Being able to go underwater also provides a use for the oxygen meter, which was only needed for one level back in the first Marathon. Now, oxygen is something you need to actually manage. Where I feel swimming is finnicky is actively getting out of pools of water. Sometimes the pools will have staircases that help you get out, but not all of them do. For those cases, you’ll have to hope you have enough momentum to climb out of the pools, which isn’t always the case. Yet again, that part isn’t bad, it’s just finnicky really.
I absolutely love the gunplay of Marathon 2. Though, in saying that, it’s still about the same as Marathon 1. The guns in the game feel absolutely great, and I love having a vast array of weaponry at my disposal. The pistols are great, the assault rifle is still one of the best weapons in the game, and the newly added shotgun was so needed. I may be biased here though, shotguns have always been one of my favorite weapons in videogames. I really like how each weapon, even your fists, have an alternate fire that they can use. Some just have a secondary ammo type, and others can just be dual wields. In particular, you can dual wield shotguns, which is the coolest thing ever. I really like how the assault rifle’s alternate fire, the grenades, can be used to solve puzzles, which is just really cool to me.
Now, my one personal gripe with Marathon 2, which is also the same as my personal gripe with Marathon 1 is the level design. Marathon 2 has some amazing levels in it, but a good majority of the levels are mazes. Now, I can’t deny that I really find charm in being dropped in the middle of a maze, not entirely understanding what you need to do, or where to go, but doing it for almost every level is a little tiring. Especially when you get to some of the mazes that are gigantic in size, and it feels like you’re looking for a needle in a haystack. One of my favorite levels was probably level 19, “This Side Toward Enemy”. In the previous level, you lost all of your weapons, so in this level, you had to be super cautious in order to survive, and it felt so good getting a weapon back. And while I had some difficulty with it, I really did like the final level of the game.
That aside though, I really enjoyed Marathon 2. I feel I like it just as much as the original, but it definitely improves upon certain aspects that the origin had or needed. I mean, it added a shotgun, and that means a lot to me. I have one last Marathon entry to play, and from what I’ve heard it’s easily the best. I can’t wait.
Now, like the name suggests, Marathon 2: Durandal focuses a lot more on Durandal the character. Particularly, he’s the one directing you through most of the levels, alongside giving you your assignments for each level. And yet again, Durandal as a character is a highlight of the Marathon series so far. I love characters that absolutely revel in their twisted insanity, and Durandal fits the bill as one of those characters. And I also think it’s interesting how unlike in the first Marathon, where he was more of an antagonistic force, in Marathon 2, you have no other option but to work for him. It’s a new dynamic that I really like. I also like seeing how the other characters that appear through Marathon 2 view and interact with Durandal. Especially the back and forth between Durandal and Tycho.
Yet again, a majority of the game’s story is told through computer terminals. I definitely have a feeling I missed some, I’d have to imagine that Marathon 2 also has secret terminals that provide important lore information. And since I’m not that good at finding them, I probably missed quite a few. Even so, I really like the story found in Marathon 2. I love the deep worldbuilding found in the game, while we already knew of the Pfhor and the S’pht from the original Marathon, I love the further worldbuilding the two alien races were given in this game. And I also really like how so many different characters talk to you, and treat you with reverence. Even though from having playing Marathon 1, I know of the deeds that I’ve done, being treated as some legendary hero, makes me just wonder “who exactly am I playing as?”.
And much like the first one, Marathon 2 is an absolutely amazing game to play. Movement is great, gunplay is amazing. So on and so forth.
The movement in Marathon 2 is about the same as the first one. I love high momentum, and being able to travel through the map super quickly feels really good. I’m still a big fan of the low gravity nature of Marathon. Since you’re unable to jump in the Marathon games, you have low gravity, which allows you to float a distance to other gaps, which is really fun. It allows there to be a sense of verticality there couldn’t be otherwise.
Marathon 2 does add swimming, which is a little finnicky I’ll say. The swimming controls themselves are fine, primarily it’s just press control to swim upwards. I also find it interesting how practically no weapons are able to be used underwater. It provides a unique sense in danger that is exclusive to those sorts of areas. Being able to go underwater also provides a use for the oxygen meter, which was only needed for one level back in the first Marathon. Now, oxygen is something you need to actually manage. Where I feel swimming is finnicky is actively getting out of pools of water. Sometimes the pools will have staircases that help you get out, but not all of them do. For those cases, you’ll have to hope you have enough momentum to climb out of the pools, which isn’t always the case. Yet again, that part isn’t bad, it’s just finnicky really.
I absolutely love the gunplay of Marathon 2. Though, in saying that, it’s still about the same as Marathon 1. The guns in the game feel absolutely great, and I love having a vast array of weaponry at my disposal. The pistols are great, the assault rifle is still one of the best weapons in the game, and the newly added shotgun was so needed. I may be biased here though, shotguns have always been one of my favorite weapons in videogames. I really like how each weapon, even your fists, have an alternate fire that they can use. Some just have a secondary ammo type, and others can just be dual wields. In particular, you can dual wield shotguns, which is the coolest thing ever. I really like how the assault rifle’s alternate fire, the grenades, can be used to solve puzzles, which is just really cool to me.
Now, my one personal gripe with Marathon 2, which is also the same as my personal gripe with Marathon 1 is the level design. Marathon 2 has some amazing levels in it, but a good majority of the levels are mazes. Now, I can’t deny that I really find charm in being dropped in the middle of a maze, not entirely understanding what you need to do, or where to go, but doing it for almost every level is a little tiring. Especially when you get to some of the mazes that are gigantic in size, and it feels like you’re looking for a needle in a haystack. One of my favorite levels was probably level 19, “This Side Toward Enemy”. In the previous level, you lost all of your weapons, so in this level, you had to be super cautious in order to survive, and it felt so good getting a weapon back. And while I had some difficulty with it, I really did like the final level of the game.
That aside though, I really enjoyed Marathon 2. I feel I like it just as much as the original, but it definitely improves upon certain aspects that the origin had or needed. I mean, it added a shotgun, and that means a lot to me. I have one last Marathon entry to play, and from what I’ve heard it’s easily the best. I can’t wait.