Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 PvP multiplayer video definitely has that old Gears Of War vibe

Yesterday, Nic took James and me on a tour of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's co-op campaign. We had a jolly old time cruising through fortress cities like a small herd of crusading bison, pancaking invading Tyranids using the game's ridiculous jetpack functionality, and covering our screens in so much blood that we couldn't tell who was killing what.

It looks like the massive action game’s PvP multiplayer is going to be even more involved. Saber and Focus Home have released an extended trailer that takes you through the two main modes – Operations’ PvE boss and wave killing frenzy, and Eternal War’s 12-player PvP massacre spanning a variety of match types. Aside from the exhilaration of dying for the Emperor, both of these bring back terrible memories of the early days of Gears Of War.

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Each multiplayer mode gives you six upgradeable and fairly self-explanatory classes – Tactical, Assault, Vanguard, Trench, Sniper and Heavy. Class abilities include a camouflage cloak and a flag you can heroically place to infuse your battle brothers with fervor and allow them to cleanse mortal wounds like spiderwebs (i.e. boost their defenses). Teams are divided into regular Ultramarines and renegade Chaos Marines: they look and sound different, but function the same. You can’t play as a Tyrannid or other non-human species in PvP.

Space Marine 2's Warrior Gears are evident in the large character models, the heavy handling, the fatness of the weapons, and the clunky regularity of the map layouts I've seen, which favor diagonals over curves. Of course, there's no cover system. Space Marines don't take cover. Their creed is their shield. They're also centuries-old genetically engineered giants who wear elephant armor. One class gets a handheld shield.

Look out for our collective thoughts on Space Marine 2 next week. My initial verdict on the campaign is that it's a lot of fun if you turn your brain off and wallow in the landscape of dozens of Tyranids infesting the rigging. With difficulty/companion effectiveness selection allowed, this is a game for button mashers, AOE fanatics, and anyone who rightfully responds to the suggestion of subtlety with flared nostrils and a roar of “heresy!” It's out September 9. If that sounds appealing, here are the Space Marine 2 system requirements.

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