Bungie has shown the 7 classes of Marathon and there’s something for nearly every gamer – even for solo players and loot goblins.
New info on the Runner shells: Bungie introduced the 7 classes of Marathon in a video. Each of these so-called Runner shells comes with different abilities, all targeting a different playstyle – and some of them actually look really exciting.
Overall, there is a suitable class for nearly every type of player, including strong attackers, medics, and the stealthy assassin. There’s also something for solo players.
Here’s a quick overview:
- Destroyer: A combat specialist equipped with a shield, rocket systems, and engines for improved mobility.
- Assassin: The stealth class of Marathon. Can deploy synthetic smoke and become invisible.
- Recon: The reconnaissance specialist who can discover enemies with echo pulses and tracker drones and track them using holographic footprints.
- Vandal: The class for movement fans. It uniquely has a double jump and can slide further. It also possesses a “recoil cannon,” capable of launching enemies out of their cover.
- Thief: The loot goblin: Can activate a visor to see loot through walls and in addition, uses a controlled butterfly drone to locate and retrieve loot. It also has a grappling hook.
- Triage: The team’s medic has drones that heal you, as well as a sort of defibrillator ability to revive downed teammates faster. It also has abilities to strengthen you or your teammates in combat.
- Rook: The class for solo players allows you to join a running match. However, you cannot bring your own gear with the Rook but receive a starter kit. The class has a ability that prevents NPC enemies from considering you hostile, so they won’t attack.
A class to annoy your opponents as a loot goblin
My highlight of the presentation is the “Thief,” which Bungie itself refers to as the perfect class for loot goblins. It comes with a range of abilities that can be really strong and annoying.
The Thief can activate a sort of wallhack, allowing you to see loot and enemies (!) through walls for a short time when they are in your line of sight. Additionally, the class has a flying drone that you have to control yourself to steal loot from living enemy players and NPCs. To do this, you shoot a rope at your target and pull the loot from their inventory. Afterwards, you can pick up the dropped items with the rope, take them to your runner, and pocket them yourself.
I really want to test the Thief and find out how well stealing loot from other players works and whether the wallhack can be effectively used in combat. But I am also sure:
If I enjoy the abilities of the Thief, I will hate playing against another Thief.
Being able to see opponents through walls is always ridiculously strong in shooters and thus very annoying when playing against such a class. That the drone can steal your loot is equally interesting and frustrating. Recon drones are often powerful gadgets, without them stealing my valuable loot.
A fine line between fun and frustration
The Thief is not the only class that concerns me, even though it looks cool at first glance. Several of the Runner shells have abilities that have already emerged as frustration factors in other shooters. Such as the futuristic riot shield of the Destroyer.
Many players of games like Call of Duty, The Finals, or Rainbow Six: Siege would probably agree with me when I say: “Ugh, I’m not up for that at all.” Adding to this is the rocket system on the shoulders of the Runner that fires heat-seeking rockets at enemies. Whether it’s Battlefield or Overwatch (yes, I’m thinking of you, Pharah), I hate it when someone shoots me in the face with a rocket launcher.
The invisibility of the assassin could also frustrate many players. I was never a fan of such abilities even in Halo, but particularly in Overwatch I’ve learned that many players hate invisibility in their opponents. Especially in lower ranks, Sombra is almost constantly banned.
I am still curious to see how Marathon will be received by players at launch. It has some interesting concepts that could also quickly lead to frustration. One such idea that intrigues me: Many extraction shooters bore me, but an innovative idea from Marathon makes even me curious
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