Marathon's experience is very hardcore and not beginner-friendly. Smooth weapon handling and responsive shooting mechanics make the game feel alive, but punishing deaths, overly stylized visuals, and a cluttered UI make it harder to learn at first. Performance is not entirely great, and worlds can feel hollow, even being filled with tons of AI enemies to fight all the time.
However, map puzzles and key rooms are great, as they provide both PvP and a grind to farm these high-tier resources. If hero-style extraction PvP doesn't bother you, Marathon offers various combos and can be your new FPS shooter to try out.
Platforms – Pc, Xbox Series S|X, PS5 (Reviewed)
Review copy given by publisher
Marathon is a PvPvE FPS extraction game that takes place in Tau Ceti IV, a planet that’s hostile to human life and is ruled by UESC forces. The gameplay revealed last year had not been the smoothest thing to ever land, and that’s putting it lightly. I feel it gave a perfect lead-in for Arc Raiders to swoop in and save the day.
If you’ve ever been a fan of an extraction shooter like EFT or Arc Raiders, then you will already like aspects of Marathon. Most players think that this Bungie game has a narrower focus and has less market than ARC Raiders. The PvP fights are faster than those of other extraction shooters, making it difficult for a newbie to settle in.
Marathon gameplay feels very smooth, and it has good movement mechanics along with multiple different weapons. I feel that the guns are kind of punchy and give me a pretty good vibe. You enter the map, loot weapons and gear, fight other runner shells or AI enemies, and extract with gear. I think this gameplay is similar to the extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov-style systems, but with fast-paced mechanics.
The shooting mechanics are pretty much fine, as the weapons feel responsive and satisfying.
Combat can vary, going from a lot of PvE to a ton of PvP, especially during the 3v3, and gives a mix of Halo-style gunplay and Destiny pacing. I must say that the Marathon is very hardcore due to limited ammo and healing, or losing gear after being killed during extraction. You can expect 18 Runner Shells during the match, along with some AI enemies and a 25-minute timer.
If you’re new to the Marathon, you may feel that runs end instantly. The reason is pretty simple, and it’s because new players die often who are not aware of the mechanics. The game is shockingly hard to understand compared to competitors, but it is very rewarding for skilled players who have already played other extraction shooters.
Instead of a traditional campaign, the Story of Marathon is unveiled through logs, contracts, and clues you find during the match.
The game has two maps available when starting, and the Outpost map, which is only accessible after reaching level 12. Outpost is a great PvP map with tons of key rooms, and it has a very smart puzzle design that allows you to access one of the main areas. I also feel that the maps are not giant and sizable enough that you can get away with not seeing people in a match.