Despite My Dislike for Extraction Shooters, Here’s Why I’m Considering Giving Marathon a Try

Lately, if you’ve been surfing the internet at all, there’s one name you probably keep bumping into—Marathon. It’s Bungie’s upcoming project, and just last week, they treated us to some truly captivating gameplay footage. I dare say, it looks pretty impressive. For those of us who’ve grown accustomed to—and perhaps a bit spoiled by—Bungie’s hallmark quality, it seems like this could be the next exciting chapter. Skepticism is floating around, of course, and not without cause. But after weighing the pros and cons, I’m leaning more toward optimism about Marathon’s future.

The gameplay trailer actually surprised me with how excited it got me. Let’s be honest, extraction shooters and I haven’t exactly been best buds. I missed the boat with Escape from Tarkov, joining the party just when cheating was rampant, and whatever time I did spend there, let’s just say it didn’t capture my heart. The vibe of a robot-dominated apocalypse from The Forever Winter almost had me, but once the thrill of those aesthetics waned, the endless scrap hunt lost its charm. Every time, it feels like I’m just not meant to be hooked like others seem to be.

Yet, somehow Marathon has piqued my interest. I’m not a Destiny superfan by any means. My forays into it have been sporadic at best, mostly driven by work—an odd quest now and then, but never more than a month at a stretch. Still, I’ve long admired Bungie’s craft from afar, wondering if there’s some of that Bungie magic at play here. To be clear, I’m talking about the magic spun by their incredibly talented artists, combat designers, and numerous others—definitely not the sort of magic that executives expect will stretch smaller budgets for growing games.

That recent peek into Marathon showcased precisely what we’d hope for from Bungie: a visually captivating game. Not in the glitzy raytracing way, but in terms of distinct art design. Right now, there’s nothing else quite like it, especially on Bungie’s scale. When you’re diving into a new genre, especially one where communities are well-rooted, you can’t just churn out something nondescript.

Take a look at the weapons, the settings, and the characters—everything screams innovation and creativity. There’s a blend here that merges futuristic vibes with a sprinkle of retro-tech charm. Yes, it’s set against this far futuristic dystopia in space, but it brings to life a vivid, vibrant world that stands out from the dismal scenarios similar games often paint.

Bungie’s artists, through their work on the Destiny series, have shown that when allowed to explore new settings, they can produce truly extraordinary results. Just from what we’ve glimpsed, I’m feeling that same adventurous spirit I felt when I first encountered The Hive.

The action sequences promise tight, dynamic, cooperative first-person shooting, leveraging the game’s unique setting with clever abilities and inventive weaponry. The gameplay emphasis on Bungie’s “best-in-class first person multiplayer action” might sound like a bit of tooting their own horn, but with Destiny’s formidable PvP track record, it’s certainly deserved. Some players might skip the narrative elements entirely in favor of Crucible matches, and honestly, that’s fair play given its enduring appeal.

Such robust PvP experience is a boon for Marathon. Most extraction shooters now lean heavily towards military realism in gunplay. Bungie, with its extensive sci-fi FPS prowess, has the potential to deliver an experience that looks fresh and feels equally new. That might just convince players to linger rather than revert to the established veterans in the field.

In my view, the game holds solid promise. Bungie has a track record of delivering FPS games that feel satisfying, especially in futuristic settings. The one potential hurdle I foresee might be its pricing. The truth is, live service games have struggled to build and maintain large followings for quite some time, often ending up as forgotten relics despite noble attempts.

Right now, economic uncertainties, rising prices, and tightening wallets make selling a multiplayer-only game, without offline single-player content, a tough proposition. Titanfall, despite its brilliance, faced similar challenges.

However, here’s where I’d argue in Bungie’s favor. Through Destiny 2, they’ve demonstrated how to weave engaging stories through periodic updates, keeping players gripped between major expansions. Sure, many play the expansions and raids then drift away, but those who stay know the game remains compelling with fresh content updates. This, despite staff layoffs and a narrowed focus on Destiny 2.

If there’s one FPS developer capable of crafting a live service extraction shooter worth the investment, it’s Bungie. It’ll be up to the Marathon team to prove this to their audience continually. I truly hope there’s a strategy underway to maintain excitement post-launch. If so, and with Marathon’s current trajectory, I’m genuinely thrilled for what’s to come. Even considering past experiences.