Space Marine 2 review

    SPACE MARINE 2 is a game that I should have gotten into a lot sooner than I did. I was one of the original players of the classic SPACE MARINE game that was a classic hack and slash shooter that put you up against endless amounts of Orks as well as the forces of Chaos. The company that produced it went out of business and aside from a pseudo-sequel in BOLTGUN, no one ever thought the property would be revisited (let alone characters).

    The premise for Space Marines 2 is that Titus (Clive Standen), the protagonist of Space Marine, is  now a member of the Inquisition's Deathwatch after the events of the first game. It is not a punishment but certainly doesn't feel like a reward due to Titus' fanatical loyalty to the Ultramarines. Unfortunately, his final mission with the Deathwatch turns out to be a slaughter for his men as they are all killed attempting to poison a horde of Tyranids invading a jungle world.

     Good things come out of the worst events, though, at least in Warhammer 40K and Titus finds himself being upgraded to a Primaris Marine status. Which means he's bigger, faster, and stronger than he used to be. He is also reinducted into the Ultramarines but as a Lieutenant when he was previously a captain. Titus is also still under suspicion by the mysterious Chaplain, who seems to know Titus and support him only begrudgingly.

    What follows is a campaign about Titus attempting to deal with the massive influx of xenomorph-like aliens as well as a conspiracy to use a Chaos device against the forces of the enemy. This is more or less a repeat of the original game with the twist that "oh, it turns out harnessing the forces of Hell tends to backfire against you." This is not a spoiler as it is such an obvious plot element that it would be an enormous twist if it actually worked.

    The game can be played without having done the original but I think my playthrough was strongly enhanced by having done so. Titus has an enormous chip on his shoulder from being held by the Inquisition, tortured, and then put into a bunch of suicide missions for a century. The fact it was done by his fellow Ultramarines means that he unreasonably treats them with suspicion even when they depend on him to lead them.

    Space Marines 2 isn't a game you play for its incredibly deep story and characterization, though. Instead, it is about the gameplay and Space Marines 2 delivers that in spades. There's literally hundreds of Tyranids that can appear on the screen at any time and I initially assumed a lot of the hordes coming at you in the background were just pre-rendered scenery, but, no, you will find yourself overwhelmed by a million xenos. You and two NPCs fight your way through these armies and the controls are similar but not identical to Space Marine's. 

    The graphics are an amazing triumph and you can see multiple planets of Warhammer 40K. There's dark Gothic architecture with many cathedrals, factories, and crumbling cities. There's also a Death World full of oversized alien jungles and a Tomb World that is where the honored dead of the Imperium are buried. You even get to spend some time in the Warp, working against the surreal but beautiful environments.

    If I have one complaint about the game, it is the fact that the single player campaign is heavily entwined with the multiplayer campaign so if you play just the former, you miss out on a lot of story content. There's still plenty of people playing the Expeditions (multiplayer missions) so I was able to enjoy both but I wish they'd included the story missions of the multiplayer in the main campaign rather than separately.

    In conclusion, Space Marines 2 is a fantastic game that I absolutely loved from beginning to end. Titus is a great character and his story arc is an impressive one. The architecture and world design is amazing as is the gameplay loop. However, a lot of the game seems set up to serve the multiplayer with the campaign taking a secondary importance to it. That's fine, it's an enjoyable mode but not my preference.

9/10 

 

Penitent (Bequin #2) by Dan Abnett review

    PENITENT is the second book of the Bequin trilogy by Dan Abnett. It is also the ninth book of the Inquisition series that takes place in the Warhammer 40K universe. Unlike the majority of novels in the setting, the focus isn't on Space Marines or big armies, the focus of the Inquisition novels are on slow steady investigation of evil cults as well as powerful conspiracies. 

    The premise for Bequin is Eisenhorn quadrology supporting character Alizabeth Bequin has a mysteriously created descendent, Beta Bequin. Beta has been raised by the mysterious Cognitae to believe she was being trained as an agent of the Imperial Inquisition when she was actually being trained as the exact opposite. Having teamed up with Eisenhorn despite his heretical status, Bequin also has made contact with Gideon Ravenor in hopes of reconciling the two Inquisitors to work against a third foe: the mysterious King in Yellow.

    The book starts almost immediately after the previous one, Pariah, with Bequin attempting to track down information on the secret cabal that has been at work on the decaying planet of Saucer in the French-themed hive-city of Queen Mab. They have an encrypted code book by one of the Cognitae's leaders but few other leads even as Bequin struggles to deal with the immense amount of distrust between the two teams.

    I said the previous book was a coming of age drama and still believe that to be the case here as we see Bequin go from being bounced around between sides to asserting her own agency. Bequin swiftly learns not to entirely trust Eisenhorn and to also realize that Ravenor will always end up siding with his old master regardless of how mistaken the former can be. So, in true Inquisitorial fashion, Bequin starts to cultivate her own operatives in hopes of unraveling the Yellow King's operations.

    I really like Bequin as a protagonist and think she's a character that would be very good for introducing someone into the complicated world of Warhammer 40K's Imperium. A female perspective is hardly unprecedented inside the staggering amount of lore for the setting but it's still pretty rare. She's very prim and proper, which is a nice contrast to Kara Swole and Patience Kys who feel very much like more traditional ladies in men's fiction.

    Those looking for romance in Warhammer 40K are still going to be disappointed as while there's some hints of such with Lightburn and character Comus Nocturnis, but they don't really go anywhere. Still, I like the hints of her and the winged Adeptus Astartes. While I might question the literal logistics of that, he's a great character and Dan Abnett wouldn't be wrong to explore a romance there.

    There is one serious flaw with the book and that is that it loses a lot of its appeal if you're not familiar with the previous Inquisitor books or the Horus Heresy. The reveal of the King in Yellow's true identity is a huge one for those who are familiar with one of the Emperor's court but others will have to consult the wiki. 

    In conclusion, Penitent is a really good book and another great installment in Dan Abnett's work. Sadly, the final volume of the trilogy is stalled from release due to the events of the Amazon series. I hope they get this settled because I'd really like to get the next volume of this series. This is a very good book and highly recommended.

9/10 

Available here

Pariah (Bequin #1) by Dan Abnett review

    PARIAH by Dan Abnett is the first book of the Bequin trilogy, which is the sequel to both the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series. If you're not familiar with those, you don't need to read them in order to appreciate the books but they strongly enhance the experience. The premise for the books is they are in the Warhammer 40K universe and follow the adventures of Inquisitor teams as they attempt to root out heresy in the grimdark future.

    The premise is that Beta Bequin, who may or may not be related to Alizabeth Bequin from the Eisnehorn trilogy, is being trained as an inquisitor in the crumbling Hive City of Queen Mab. A female perspective is fairly rare in Warhammer 40K and Beta is a fascinating character that has both a mature and immature set of qualities. In many ways, she's an intelligent and old soul but in others she's painfully naive as well as judgemental. There's a kind of 19th Victorian noblewoman quality to her that works surprisingly well in the Imperium.

    Beta quickly finds things may not be as they appear because the school she attends is raided by what appears to be law enforcement despite the Inquisition being above such petty concerns. Beta is forced onto the streets of Queen Mab and doesn't know who she can trust (hint: no one)  or who is telling the truth (hint: no one). What follows is a coming of age story as she slowly develops the skills she needs to navigate the complicated politics and intrigues around her.

    Dan Abnett does a wonderful job of establishing the character with a unique voice and unique attitude compared to all of his many burly men, sneaky Inquisitors, as well as noble officers. He gets to reintroduce most of his older characters from the previous two trilogies as well as show them utterly flabbergasted by a woman they continue to underestimate (including the women on the team).

    The setting of Queen Mab is a delightfully original one that feels like it takes place in the future, past, and present simultaneously. There's a Victorian air to the place but also a sense that the Hive World is crumbling at an extraordinarily slow pace. It gives you a sense of the Imperium's immense age as well as how the fact it is a civilization on the decline. The world-building is tremendous.

    The supporting cast of the book is tremendous. I love the character of Lightburn, who is a heretic that has been branded with "cursedom" that leaves him socially ostracized but in a unique position to serve as a mercenary to criminally minded citizens. I also appreciate the handling of the Ecclesiarchy in the setting, which is the Catholic Church equivalent of the Imperium.

    In conclusion, Pariah is a fantastic book. It's a great place to begin Warhammer 40K even though it is the 7th book in a series technically. Beta Bequin is a fantastic character and the city of Queen Mab is a fantastic character. We get to see a variety of weird and fantastic characters in a society that is full of decadent nobles, drugged-up artists,  as well as impoverished peasants. Fun for the whole family.

9/10 

Available here 

Tales of Supervillainy: Villains Out Shopping is out!

 
The 11th Supervillainy Saga book, TALES OF SUPERVILLAINY: VILLAINS OUT SHOPPING is now available for purchase. An anthology collecting the funniest and craziest tales of the superheroes of the Supervillainy Saga. You don't need familiarity with the series to enjoy its hilarious handling of superhero tropes but it helps.

“What do villains do in their spare time?”

 The Supervillainy Saga has primarily centered around the misadventures of Gary Karkofsky AKA Merciless: The Supervillain without MercyTM. Nevertheless, each volume has revealed more heroes and villains that have made the world almost as complex as publications that have gone on for decades.

TALES OF SUPERVILLAINY: VILLAINS OUT SHOPPING is an anthology with over a dozen tales of these individuals alongside some wholly original Gary stories. Mr. Inventor, Gizmo and Ms. Terri, Nighthuntress, Kerri Karkofsky, Damselfly, Diabloman, plus the Freelancer all have stories within. We also get stories of Gary up against monsters ranging from Cthulhu’s daughter to...William Shatner? That can’t be right (but it is).

This is a collection of both old and original stories set within the Supervillainy Saga. Enjoy the wild and zany antics of the best and worst of C.T. Phipps’ creations.

Available here 

Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition review

 
    I have a mixed relationship with Warhammer 40K. I'm a huge fan of the setting but also went for about ten years without reading much material of it. I think I just fell out of the fandom due to other things preoccupying me. Still, I have a great affection for the grimdark future and could recommend many series to people hoping to get into it. Also, I've played plenty of the games.

    Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition is a remaster of the classic chainsword and bolt gun game that has since gotten its sequel in the extremely popular Space Marine II. Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition includes all the DLC, brings it up to 4K resolution, runs at 60 fps, better lighting, better audio, and has high fidelity upscaled graphics. In other words, it’s just a re-release with fixes for modern consoles. A warning for those poor Playstation 5 players, even though it’s been out for a year, it remains exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC. I played the original game in 2011 and was eager to give this one a try.

    As expected from the title, Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition is set in the grim dark future of Warhammer 40,000. All the usual tropes are present with the galaxy’s Imperium of Mankind under siege by malevolent forces (be they Orks or Chaos) and the only advantage humanity having be the (almost) invincible super soldiers, the Space Marines. This time, you play Captain Titus (Mark Strong), who is a member of the Ultramarines chapter. 

    The story is simple: an Imperial Forgeworld has come under attack by Orks and is too valuable to simply scour all life from orbit. That this is even considered, let alone the first idea anyone proposes, is something that tells you just about everything you need to know about Warhammer 40K. The Ultramarines are dispatched and given the job of liberating the planet’s incredibly important mecha and, if they have time, save some of its people. What follows is a surprisingly well-acted and written story from beginning to end.

    The gameplay of Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition is direct but functional. Titus wanders through various arenas and battles the endless hordes of Orks or Chaos forces. You can use one of four sci-fi guns or your melee weapon (the iconic chain sword or a power axe). You often have two backup Space Marine NPCs to provide cover fire but are just as often alone. If you suffer from injuries, you can stun an enemy and regenerate your health by slaughtering them in a particularly graphic execution.

    Mark Strong does a fantastic job acting as Titus, successfully capturing the attitude of a guy who has absolute confidence in his abilities but not necessarily the same from his subordinates. The enemy variety is okay with a dozen or so variants on Orks as well as similar numbers for the Chaos forces. The environment is almost entirely industrial ruins, factories, and sewers but they are all extremely well rendered. Even so, the campaign is not something that is going to impress anyone with its originality and didn’t even in 2011.

    Roughly, the biggest problem of Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition is that it is very much standard feeling its gameplay. Even what it innovates like adding a jumper (rocket pack) is removed almost immediately after you get to briefly play with it. The game does what it does extremely well, though. If it gets a bit repetitive, the game is broken into neat little sections and gives you the option of repeating the ones you enjoyed at any point. The multiplayer DLC is included but is certainly fine. 

    In conclusion, Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition is a pretty good investment at forty dollars but not something I would recommend if it was any higher priced. Even then, I got it on sale. The gameplay is serviceable and the story is fun, especially for Warhammer 40K fans. However, the level design doesn’t blow me away and it can get repetitive after a few hours. So, this is a game best probably handled in spurts.

8/10

Tales of Supervillainy: Villains Out Shopping Cover Reveal

I've got the edits backs for VILLAINS OUT SHOPPING (Supervillainy Saga #11) and here is the list of short stories, novelettes, and vignettes included. Some of them are familiar to y'all who have been purchasing the Kindle versions while others are completely new. The anthology exists to give smaller adventures of Gary and company but also some perspectives on the world outside of his. 

I am particularly fond of "The Silence of the City" and "Assault on Securitron Industries" for their perspectives from a most Un-Gary-like character.

1. Foreword
2. Merciless Versus Sidekick Girl [Merciless and Sidekick Girl] 
3. The First Kill [Agent G] 
4. Jane Versus the Black Knight [Jane Doe] 
5. Silence of the City [Mr. Inventor] 
6. Escape From Ironhyde [Damselfly] 
7. The Freelancer’s Cunning Plan [The Freelancer] 
8. Dungeons and Garys [Merciless] 
9. Honor is Just a Word [Wraith Knight] 
10. Merciless Versus Hitler [Merciless] 
11. Merciless Versus William Shatner [Merciless, Ms. Teri, Gizmo] 
12. The Haunting of Stately Warren Manor [Kerri Karkofsky and Diabloman] 
13. Merciless Versus Shoot-Em-Up [Merciless] 
14. Assault on Securitron Industries [Nighthuntress] 

Owners of Tales of Capes and Cowls will note we're reusing the art but substituting a new cover for that book (which has some of these short stories).

Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2: Loose Cannon review

    VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE: BLOODLINES 2 is a game that I very much enjoyed but has also been panned as a major downgrade from its predecessor. The behind-the-scenes shows that once it got cancelled the first time, that was always going to be the case. One element that is interesting is that the season pass would originally introduce two new clans but after fan outrage, ended up being used for DLC about minor characters: Benny Muldoon and Ysabella Moore.

    These are odd choices for the protagonists because both of them are villains in the campaign and genuine scumbags no less. Benny Muldoon is a corrupt cop and the Sheriff of Seattle that has ditched his current duties in order to hunt down Thin Bloods. Thin Bloods being those vampires who are so weak they might as well be human.

    I just finished my playthrough of LOOSE CANNON and I am torn on my opinion because it's extremely good content...for while it lasts. Benny Muldoon was not a character that I particularly wanted to revisit because he's a Thin Blood hating scumbag psychopath with all the depth of a puddle. I wanted more Phyre and Fabien with possibly some of the game's lost content being restored but I always secretly knew that was never going to happen. If they were going to hire voice actors or other people then they would have done it for the original announcement of the DLC to replace the cordoned off Clans.

    Still, I have to say this is probably some of the best content for V:TM:B2. Benny has a quality about him that separates him from 90% of Bloodlines 2's NPCs: he's actually interesting and has a distinct personality. Benny hates the courts, hates Thin Bloods, and loves his sire but while this isn't much of a personality, it's more than most of Seattle's Kindred. We get to see his promotion to Sheriff, his reaction to Campbell's death, and what events led him to being recruited into the Sabbat.

    The gameplay is really the biggest benefit, though, because Benny can use melee weapons and has a gun that compensates for his lack of telekinesis. Only having the Brujah tree of powers also makes the character challenges more difficult. The ability to use melee weapons is also something that carries over to the main game. Plus, you can reload Benny's gun with the bullets of the Anarchs you kill. I suspect the Toreador DLC will add the ability to use every variety of gun.

    We honestly don't learn that much about Benny from the DLC and most of what we do learn could be inferred from the main game. Even so, it does give a different perspective to Phyre's rampage through the city and implies that the police think something absolutely massive is occurring (and is).

    The problem with the game is that it is still blindingly short. I finished it at about an hour and a half with no real ability to expand beyond that. You slaughter a bunch of Thin Bloods and Sabbat with a decent boss fight against a Lasombra before it's over. Is it work 15 dollars? I don't know, really, but the improvements to the main game are probably the real benefit to buying this DLC. Still, it wasn't boring and I appreciated that.

7/10