WeirdRituals Marathon Review

Bungie found their magic again, and in the least likely of places. I don't know if Marathon will succeed, but it's the most fun I've had with a PvP focused game in a decade. --- This game had everything stacked against it. Bungie has effectively killed Destiny 2. Extraction shooters are niche. Arc Raiders broke containment while Marathon was testing so poorly it was delayed. And of course there was the art theft. All signs pointed to Marathon being DOA. Even if it wasn't, I had no reason to think I'd enjoy it. I've tried Tarkov and Arc Raiders and bounced off of both. Hunt: Showdown had magic at the start but for me it was in the PvE and vibes. The PvP was seasoning, until it became the meal, and then I lost interest. I love the PvP of Marathon. I _want_ to fight people. But I also want to do contracts. I want to read lore. I want to watch the next weird faction movie. But if I see you, I'm going to shoot you. And if I die, so be it. I am (mostly) unbothered. This is part of the magic of Marathon. They've kicked the gut punch of loss while maintaining the intensity of the fight. You don't want to lose, but if you do, it's OK. You made faction progress. You can replace your gear. You had fun. When you're shooting, it doesn't just feel like you're playing a Bungie game, it feels like you're playing a top-form Bungie game. PvE and PvP are both dialed all the way in. What's more, this feeling extends beyond the shooting. Using consumables, interacting with computers, grabbing things off the ground; it all feels good. I love the animation of putting a data card into the reader and then kicking it out. Why do I love that so much? It should annoy me to wait on it, but it's so satisfying that I'm disappointed when it's skipped. Most surprising, I think, is how compelling the setting has been. Visual style aside (I think it's cool but I get the criticism), the context in which the game is being played has real potential for cool Bungie moments. Best of all, the game lets you feel that even without digging. I had played Marathon 2: Durandal, but I didn't know the lore. After playing this game for a while, I wanted to know it (it's wild). The runners are also a part of this. Like most, I cynically thought they were just an excuse for "heroes". But even if they were, Bungie hooked them into the game well. The idea is cool, and it feeds directly into the loop of the game. It all works. It all adds to the experience. That's the key. Marathon is fun, and that's what's most important. But Marathon is also extremely cool, and that's what's going to set it apart.