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After years of waiting, Bungie’sMarathonfinally got its highly anticipated reveal, but the reception has been mixed.
Being a reboot of the incredibly influential PC game of the same name from the 1990s,Marathonshares very few similarities with its progenitor, aside from offering a fresh experience for their respective genres.
While there’s plenty of potential for a game likeMarathonto perform well over time, it has to stick with its strengths if it wants to survive in the competitive market.
Despite making a strong first impression with its initial reveal trailers that evenincluded an ARG event,Marathon’s recent gameplay trailers have faced a fair share of criticism.
Ranging from in-game visual choices, similarities to other franchises, or simply the nature of yet another live service PvP game,Marathonwill have a long way to go to prove it’s a worthy competitor in the shooter market.
Thankfully, whileMarathondoes share similarities with games likeApex LegendsandDestiny, it still has one strength that is hard to come by these days.
Marathon’s Visual Identity Is Incredibly Unique
Setting Itself Apart From The Crowd Through Visuals Alone
Despite not revealing much about the actual gameplay that would come in the future, eventhe first trailer forMarathonwas dripping with a unique style that left a lasting impression on first viewing.
Taking place in an exotic sci-fi setting with aliens, robots, and barely recognizable humanoids, it’s hard to draw direct comparisons toMarathonoutside of games likeDestiny.
Bungie even tookMarathon’s unique style to the next level by collaborating with the incredibly talentedLove, Death, and Robotsdirector Alberto Mielgo to create a cinematic short onYouTubeintroducing several characters and the strange world they inhabit.
AlthoughMarathon’s cinematic trailer left me with more questions than answers over what to expect from the game in the future, they’re questions I’m looking forward to seeing answered through its development.Marathon’s developers have already promised seasonal storytelling and a focus on worldbuilding in trailers, but it’s far easier said than done in today’s gaming landscape.
Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, based on the 1990s title, will be difficult but fair, according to a new interview with the developers.
Long-lived service games often have trouble delivering satisfying storylines or consistent worldbuilding, with even games likeOverwatchorApex Legendsstruggling to keep up over time.
Custom Image by Steven Garrard
While there are plenty of reasons behind scrapped storylines or abandoned concepts, one of the biggest is likely that it simply conflicts with the actual moment-to-moment gameplay, with player experience taking priority over an overarching narrative.
It’s far too early to tell for sure, butMarathonhas already done a better job of piquing player interest in its live-service world than most games have in the past, offering a great foundation to build upon.
Bungie Can’t Afford To Deliver A Familiar Experience
Easy Comparisons Could Hurt Marathon’s Image
Rather than being an excuse to throw zany characters at each other in a battle royale,Marathonseems to take a more direct approach with its worldbuilding, as evidenced in its cinematic short.
Even if the gameplay footage doesn’t quite match up with the otherworldly tension and borderline psychological horror elements of the cinematic,Marathon’s world and contrasting visual design still feel utterly distinct from most games I’m used to.
Unlike most free-to-play shooters on the market,Marathonwill also be apaid title on release, with some already making comparisons thatMarathonmay eventually end up like the infamously short lifespan ofConcord.
Thanks to Bungie’s success withDestiny 2, however,Marathonhas significantly more support backing it thanPlayStation’s latest attempt at a breakout hit, which could give it much more room to stand on as an independent title.
Marathon Could Become A Serious Contender In The Extraction Shooter Genre
Introducing The Genre To A New Audience Of Players
Thankfully, it won’t be long until we can see ifMarathoncan keep up its promises, with aclosed alpha testbeginning in a few days.
Despite criticism thatMarathonis adding to an oversaturated market,the extraction shooter genre is far from the most common style of PvP game out there.
Aside from games likeHunt: Showdown, the semi-recentDelta Force, and the infamousEscape from Tarkov, there aren’t that many options to experience the tension-filled gameplay, especially with a sci-fi twist.
With the resources and history of a studio like Bungie behind it,Marathoncould very well pave the way forward for the extraction shooter genre, so long as it’s able to retain the core identity that the advertising so strongly conveys.
Source:Marathon/YouTube
