This Is Not Destiny (And That’s a Good Thing)
Let’s get this out of the way immediately, Marathon is not Destiny 2 and it’s definitely not Halo.
If you go in expecting either, you’re going to be thrown off.
Instead, Marathon is very much its own thing, a tense, methodical extraction shooter that rewards patience, teamwork, and smart decision-making. And honestly? I’m liking it far more than I expected.
Tense, Tactical, and Surprisingly Addictive
Solo play is… tough.
Like, really tough.
Running alone creates a constant sense of tension. You can go from calm exploration to absolute chaos in seconds, surrounded by enemies and scrambling to survive. It’s stressful, but in a good way. That tension is what makes the game so addictive.
That said, this is clearly a squad-first experience. Playing with a team makes everything more manageable and adds a strong sense of coordination and purpose to each run.
Combat Feels Tight and Rewarding
One thing that stands out immediately is how tight the combat feels.
Weapons seem well-balanced across the board, and abilities add another layer to encounters. I’ve mainly been running the Destroyer class, which has been an absolute blast to play.
Gunfights feel clean, responsive, and impactful, something Bungie has always done well, and that continues here.
Extraction Gameplay Done Right
If you’re new to extraction shooters, there’s definitely a learning curve.
Menus and systems can feel overwhelming at first, especially with loot management. But from what I’ve been told, it’s pretty standard for the genre.
And yes…. dying means losing your loot.
That risk/reward loop is what drives everything. Few moments in gaming compare to successfully extracting while enemies close in, especially when you’re seconds away from death. Those last-second escapes are absolutely exhilarating.
A World Full of Mystery
The world of Marathon is dripping with intrigue.
The lore has this strange, almost unsettling vibe, and the cutscenes feel like a full-on fever dream at times. It’s weird, in a good way.
Even more interesting, the community has already been solving out-of-game puzzles to unlock late-game content, which speaks volumes about how deep and layered the experience is shaping up to be.
Maps That Demand Strategy
As you progress, the game evolves.
Later maps shift heavily toward puzzle-solving and strategy, forcing players to think rather than just shoot their way through encounters. It’s a nice change of pace and adds depth to the overall experience.
AI enemies can also be surprisingly oppressive if you’re not careful. Positioning and awareness are key—otherwise, you’ll get overwhelmed quickly.
Style, Sound, and Atmosphere
Visually, the game is striking.
I wasn’t fully sold based on early screenshots, but seeing it in motion completely changed my mind. It absolutely pops, especially on an OLED display pair with a surround sound system.
The art style never gets in the way of gameplay, and the soundtrack is a vibe, it perfectly complements the tension and atmosphere of each run.
Final Thoughts
Marathon has genuinely surprised me.
It’s brutal, tense, and not always welcoming, but once it clicks, it’s incredibly rewarding. Between the tight combat, deep systems, and constant sense of risk, it’s shaping up to be something special.
Just don’t go in expecting Destiny.
This is its own beast, and that’s exactly why it works.
7.5/10
