MeinMMO author Maik Schneider has checked out the new hardcore shooter Marauders in the closed beta and was completely surprised. He talks about his first round in the game and why he can’t wait for the full release.
Marauders is a new hardcore shooter on Steam, which I would roughly describe as a kind of “Escape from Tarkov” in space. An extraction shooter through and through. A closed beta recently took place, and there is still no release date.
Like in popular Tarkov, I lose everything upon my death, start raids for fresh loot, and a hit in vital areas of my character leads to a grim end of the round.
But instead of warehouses, there are asteroid mines, and instead of Soviet flair, there’s spacecraft ambiance.
Furthermore, the game divides into two different gameplay situations: I sneak in first-person view through hostile areas with mortal fear or zip through mission areas with a rickety space skiff.
He is only slowly venturing into the genre of hardcore shooters and has gained his first experiences with it in Escape from Tarkov. With Marauders, this gameplay style could celebrate its breakthrough with Maik.
When I first received information about Marauders, I immediately thought: The idea is really good, just what I need. But after watching the trailer, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
The quick cuts, a few stutters, and few really significant scenes – the presentation of the announcement trailer from March 2022 totally put me off. But see for yourself:
However, we received a few game keys for testing and I checked out the closed beta, which is now offline again.
It took less than 5 minutes; I was blown away.
My first mission took me to a typical asteroid field. Debris of rock of all sizes orbits a station in the deepest nowhere. Technical devices are recognizable everywhere. The technology looks old, dilapidated, but somehow also advanced.
At that point already the first pleasant surprise: I control the ship completely and it feels good. The steering is a bit twitchy, not too direct, and due to the inertia, precise maneuvers are difficult.
Moreover, Marauders makes use of the dieselpunk setting. This means: I shoot with bullets at enemies. Lasers, phasers, disruptors – none of that. Together with the controls, this creates strong conditions for fast-paced battles in space.
Space combat is an essential part of Marauders, which I never would have expected in this extent.
What does “dieselpunk” mean?
The term describes a sub-genre of science fiction. While the better-known “steampunk” setting is based on old-fashioned technologies utilizing steam energy, the “dieselpunk” setting uses diesel fuel.
The setting is often darker and dirtier than in steampunk, but somewhat more advanced in technical style.
Marauders utilizes an alternative timeline and takes place in 1992, after wars between three rival factions have displaced many people from Earth.
The titular characters “Marauder” are a type of pirates who can only survive through looting.
After the WOW effect, I left the ship view and switched to first-person shooter mode. I stand on the functional bridge of my small adventure ship. The gray of the steel walls is only interrupted by the red warning signals that light up everywhere on the ship.
I was still fiddling in the menu when there was a bang. I looked at the old consoles, at rusty pipes, and was sure – the sound comes from my spaceship. Already in the description, I am surprised that it still flies.
At the second bang shortly after, I ran from the control options directly to the bridge. The sounds were no longer signs of aging of my ship; it was gunfire – enemy contact, I had been in the game for 2 minutes.
Another “Marauder” was shooting unabashedly at my little noob ship. But the enemy’s vehicle was also no better. I wouldn’t describe the ensuing battle as “epic”. But at least it was exciting.
Two bloody newcomers engage in a humiliating duel in slow motion, and only luck determines the winner. I was unlucky and had already taken two nasty hits before the fight. But revenge was to come.
In Marauders, ships do not burst into a million pieces. You have enough time to calmly walk into the belly of the clunker, take a rescue capsule, and leave the sinking ship.
For me, however, it was more of a panicked sprint through all the corridors to finally stand in front of the capsules after a complete tour of the ship.
I certainly didn’t know that I had enough time. What I did know: These helpful rescue capsules are also nasty boarding pods that allow me to board the enemy’s ship.
Out into space, direct interception course on the annoying enemy, and after a skillful left-right dodge combination I suddenly found myself in the sparsely furnished cabin of the enemy.
For the enemy, the whole thing was probably as overwhelming as it was for me. However, I was not the one with an enemy in the space basement.
In this moment, alone on the enemy’s ship, his steps on the metal floor getting closer, I was extremely deep in the game; the immersion was almost perfect.
I was briefly that guy who had no ship and thus no escape option left. But one chance remained. Eliminate the enemy, take over the ship, return home with a black eye.
As the enemy Marauder came down the stairs, my pulse was as high as the fire rate of my MP40. I completely flinched when firing, but two or three hits landed, and that was enough.
I grab his stuff, then full throttle to the bridge and home in the same breath. Slowly, I calmed down, mentally sitting back at my desk and already having a fantastic evening. The “raid” lasted only 5 minutes.
Conclusion: Fortunately, first impressions can be misleading
After my first impressions of Marauders, I expected nothing. The gameplay sounds good, but there are often similar experiences on Steam, and then disappointment comes at launch.
Then the shooter suddenly hits me with such an entry into the game. After 5 minutes, love at second sight.
I spent a few hours in the closed beta, and my impression has only solidified further. I want to emphasize the sound during the first-person shooter gameplay.
It is extremely sharp and precise. Even distant footsteps are easily audible, with the direction being determined exactly with the appropriate headphones. Additionally, every little movement causes a sound, which ensures that you always know pretty accurately what is happening around you.
Moreover, the enemy density in the first-person shooter missions is high. NPCs constantly run around corners, and player enemies, Marauders, are not rare. This brings in a lot of action and provides ample loot supply.
This mix of spaceship combat and hardcore shooter looting missions really excites me. And it was implemented very well.
I saw weaknesses in the closed beta regarding performance. There were occasional minor stutters. However, not during the battles, which mostly ran smoothly.
Additionally, I noticed imbalances – armor is too strong compared to the low health. Here I would wish for higher health.
Moreover, campers have an advantage because player localization works so well through the audio system. You are only “hidden” if you do not move at all.
So far, however, it was only a beta version, and there is still no concrete release date. As soon as it happens, I will be ready with a box of fine chocolates and fragrant flowers to embrace my new shooter love on Steam.
Leave me a comment with your opinion on Marauders. If you want to read more about my gaming adventures, then check this out: Why my girlfriend will always be better than me in games like Rust.
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