Marathon is set to become Bungie’s new pet project, but many fans are skeptical about the extraction shooter. A well-known critic has taken a close look at the game, had a chance to test it, and shares his impressions of the new title.
Which critic is being referred to? It is Skill Up, an Australian critic in the gaming industry. His YouTube channel has 1.06 million subscribers and covers various topics such as releases, game issues, and unbiased reviews of different games. Skill Up is particularly known for his direct and unvarnished criticism.
For Marathon, Skill Up was invited by Bungie to test the new shooter and conduct interviews. The critic assures viewers in his video that he paid for the trip out of his own pocket to check out the new game and talk to the team.
“There are good and bad things about Marathon”
What is good about Marathon? Regarding Marathon, there are good and bad things that Skill Up mentions. First and foremost, the critic praises the gunplay. This is one of Bungie’s strengths from years of experience with Halo and Destiny. They also make players feel this in Marathon.
An additional surprising point is the hostile NPCs encountered on the map. They act intelligently, present a challenge, and can really give players a hard time if underestimated. The design of Marathon, according to Skill Up, is also a matter of taste, but he liked it a lot.
Lastly, the critic is amazed that the extraction shooter plays like one and allows the player to immerse themselves in the sweaty battles. Bungie has implemented the concept well, although Skill Up notes that there is still much work awaiting the developers to create something unique – but the direction is already promising.
What did the critic not like? According to Skill Up, the outlook is particularly grim for newcomers wanting to dive into the genre. There is a tutorial that feels completed in about 5 minutes, after which players are immediately thrown onto the battlefield.
Another point of criticism pertains to the story. Bungie has already explored the basic concept of how they want to present the story to players, but when it comes to the core of the story, it’s not set in stone yet. The team is just beginning to work on it a few months before the release.
In conclusion, the critic poses two questions that are particularly relevant for the future of the game:
- Where is the one aspect of the game that makes him prefer Marathon over the competition?
- Should Marathon really be pay-to-play?
The first primarily indicates successful competition like Tarkov and Hunt Showdown, which, despite being in the same genre, possess their own character that sets them apart.
The second one targets Bungie’s statement that they want to expand and improve Marathon with the community. Development thus goes hand in hand with the fans. But if Bungie is already taking this step, why should the developers charge an “entry fee” for Marathon? Despite the positive testing in Bungie’s studio, Skill Up is unsure whether that will be enough for Marathon to succeed.
It will be interesting to see what measures Bungie will take shortly before the release to ensure that the launch goes smoothly and successfully. The release is not far off. However, if you missed important information about the shooter’s reveal, we can help you here: Destiny 2 is known for great gunplay – with their new shooter Marathon, Bungie shows whether they still have it.
