Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Preview

When I think back to my trip to Gamescom in 2010 one of the games I remember most was one I did not expect to be so excited over. The demo I was shown back then caught me hook, line and sinker and I've been itching to get my hands on a playable demo of it ever since.

The game in question is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and the PC demo has just been globally released. After finally getting our hands on the demo (there has been some issues with obtaining the UK PC demo, which you can read about HERE) this game has so far not disappointed us.

The demo level chucks you right into the midst of the action. After witnessing a short cut-scene you are let loose on the many, many Orks around you to slice, dice and shoot your way through in a genuinely pleasing fashion.

You play as the beefy, hard as nails Space Marine commander, Captain Titus of the Ultramarines Chapter. A character that embodies exactly what you think a Space Marine would. Built like a tank with the capability to hit as hard as one too, which is displayed in the many battles you will fight along the way, eradicating all Orks.

The combat really is the bread and butter of this game, and while the storyline seems like a solid one so far, the fighting is where the attention seems to have been lavished. Think of a really good hack and slash title, then think of a good third person shooter. Add these two together and you get Space Marine.

Devastating your Orkish foes is great fun, with the ability to switch between melee and armed combat as and when you please, you can really pull off some fantastic looking kills which are not only pleasing to the eye but manage to put a massive smile upon your face. It is great fun to launch into a big pack of Orks with your chainsword carving and slashing its way through to then mix it up with a bit of close quarters gunfire. While you have NPC helpers, you truly feel like you are a one man army, ready to take on anything and everything in your path.

To add to the brutality, once you have beaten upon something enough, you can choose to end their suffering the painful way by unleashing an execution move upon them. These attacks are available all the time against certain enemies but some of them will require you to stun them first. These are very satisfying to watch and require nothing more than for you to hit the correct button at the right time. The combo's and abilities you can unleash only get better and better as you play through and pick up more weapons too.

You also have special abilities to help you with your survivability, such as a shield which regenerates over time and the ability to claw some of your health back by killing your enemies by either executing them or utilising your special fury abilities. Cover isn't really an element that comes into play like some other third person shooter titles, running along with the one man army theme, you are expected to be your own cover. No running and hiding for you!

The Demo comes with two different mission types you can try, the second of which is definitely the most fun. It involves everything I have written above, but then adds jump packs to the mix.

With the jump pack, you can launch yourself into the skies and head for higher ground. It also enables you to escape your foes and you can even incorporate it into your killing sprees with abilities such as ground slam which decimates anything unfortunate enough to be stood beneath you.

So far, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is shaping up to be a solid game, both for fans of the Warhammer universe, as they get to play the Space Marines as they should be played, and for newcomers to the series who are just after a good hack and slash/shoot 'em up/kill-everything-in-sight kind of game. The demo is a lot of fun and we at GameGrin would highly suggest that you give it a go.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is due for release on PC, Xbox and PS3 on the 9th of September.