Marathon review: a damn good time

Marathon makes a run for it in the ever-growing Extraction Shooter genre and, for the most part, it’s a damn good time.

Combining Bungie’s excellence in the FPS game with the entertainment of the new genre creates something that titles like ARC Raiders and Escape from Tarkov do so well: engagement and success.

With a bright and desolate world, it keeps you on your toes and makes every defeat and success that much sweeter. If you’ve played any of Bungie’s past titles, like Halo or Destiny, you know just how fun combat can be.

The success of the Destiny series, particularly on the multiplayer front, proves that formula of PvPvE can work when done right. Fortunately, Marathon takes both the fun of Halo and vibrancy of Destiny and takes advantage of it.

With friends, it can sometimes echo the joy of playing old-school Halo and Destiny, with intense dogfights and last-minute decisions on the field.

Marathon: onboarding

Onboarding in Marathon is a mixed bag. You go through a quick tutorial going over typical combat, but are then thrust into the world and left to fend for yourself.

Expect to lose quite a bit at the start. It’s a lot of trial and error, as there aren’t any single-player missions to try Shells, weapons, or explore the world. You have to find what sticks for you and hope it’ll get you towards Exfil, whether with friends or solo.

Of course, once you hit a stride, it doesn’t let you go. Run after run, you want to get getting farther and better. It actually feels rewarding to go back and try again, even if you keep losing. Getting to an exfil is hard work, as you don’t have much ammo or guns to start with. However, it just makes each time you go in a special and unique experience.

Whether you successfully exfil with tons of loot (or nothing at all) or don’t even make it into a building, it’s the journey that makes it worth it.

In addition, there are five companies you can do contracts for, each with their own perks and assets. You unlock said organisations by completing different objectives in your run, like looting enemy AI enemies or hacking consoles around the map.

Whatever your play style is, there’s an place for you.

Marathon: design

Design-wise, Marathon oozes a brash neon palette with cold realism. Its a mish-mash that works in the game’s favour, creating a post-apocalyptic future filled with deserted bright factories and lush mechanical marvels.

It extends to many aspects of the game, like Runners and cutscenes, to craft a disturbing yet intriguing look at a world in need of being reborn.

Speaking of Runners, you get to choose between seven different Shells, each with their own abilities. If you’re the type of player who enjoys variety, there is plenty in Marathon, thanks to these. For example, if you’re more for taking to the shadows and getting in and out fast, Assassin is ideal. Meanwhile, Recon lets you keep eyes and ears on the field and help your team find and secure what you need.

Marathon: experimenting is essential

As you’re encouraged to mix things up, experimentation is essential, as each contract may be suited best for different Shells. Either way, there isn’t one standout, so be a jack of all trades, especially when with a party.

The maps in Marathon can be quite intimidating at first. Home to hulking building and complexes and vast regions of grass and water, it feels like it can go on and on. Having a huge map to run around in and loot does make those moments of PvP more intense and interesting. Plus, it lets you get a peak as to the ever growing lore of Marathon, which, while often told in text, is rich.

Longevity is a touchy subject in this day and age, as many live-service titles have struggled to keep up with the gaming landscape. Marathon, for a while, looked to be one of those one-and-done that would be lost to time.

Fortunately, Bungie has crafted something that proves that wrong, but looks to get better with each update. While not a single-player haven or easy-to-enter title, what you get is a great multiplayer extraction shooter that many should get in on as soon as possible.

Marathon is available on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S.

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