New Marathon Gameplay Footage Revealed; Bungie Promises Roguelike Seasons

Recent gameplay footage and impressions of Bungie’s upcoming title, Marathon, have emerged following a hands-on event for Chinese media in Shanghai. This event, held earlier this month, marks the first time Bungie showcased Marathon outside North America.

Expanded Worldbuilding and Narrative Depth

Attendees noted a significant enhancement in worldbuilding and narrative scope. The tutorial sequences and faction introductions now clearly establish the origins and motivations of playable characters, providing a cohesive story framework for this extraction shooter. Central to the narrative is Dr. Strauss, a character who ties together threads from the original Marathon trilogy.

Challenging PvE Experience

The new build delivered a challenging Player vs. Environment (PvE) experience. Players faced AI opponents that constantly summoned reinforcements amidst various environmental hazards, such as poison gas vents and perimeter turrets. Resource management proved essential; medical supplies and shields were costly at in-game vendors, forcing players to sell buffs to afford them. The gameplay encouraged players to focus on mission completion over early combat engagements to avoid substantial losses.

Multi-Player Capabilities

• Support for up to 18 players on larger maps (6 teams of 3).
• Smaller maps accommodate 12 players (4 teams of 3).

Visual and Interface Upgrades

Since the Alpha version, Marathon has undergone extensive visual improvements. The environments exude a darker, more mysterious ambiance, reminiscent of Bungie’s earlier works like Pathways into Darkness. The user interface has received a complete overhaul, although some participants found certain elements awkward.

Balanced Classes and Customization Options

The game features a well-balanced skill distribution across all classes, promoting flexible team compositions. Players can choose from various ‘Shells’ with enhanced mobility options. Each faction has six base appearances, and there are 28 weapons available, each offering multiple skins and customization slots for charms and stickers.

Gameplay Mechanics and Events

New gameplay footage includes a 10-minute video showcasing a large-scale PvE event called Lockdown, set on the Abyssal Swamp map. Players can trigger this event using the ‘HEC’ consumable, allowing entry into a locked area for a brief period. Following this, multiple waves of enemies appear, culminating in a boss fight. Successful players acquire loot and keycards that boost difficulty in subsequent encounters.

Bungie’s Vision for Roguelike Seasons

In an interview, Bungie Game Director Joe Ziegler outlined the studio’s vision for Marathon’s seasonal structure. Each season will present a fresh start, framed as a roguelike adventure. Players will begin with limited resources, progressively enhancing their abilities through various means while retaining certain items, such as cosmetics, across seasons.

Release Date

After several delays, Marathon is set to release on March 5 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X. As the launch date approaches, players eagerly anticipate whether Bungie can enhance the experience following feedback from earlier testing phases.