I’m not the most important Warhammer nerd. I couldn’t inform you what a T’au is with out checking a wiki, or what the hell an Adeptus Mechanicus is apart from sounding vaguely like a discarded Monty Python joke, however I’ve dabbled. My first publicity to the ever-iconic Area Marines was, and I’m very sorry, a pores and skin for a Garry’s Mod Bother In Terrorist City server. Their armour alone sparked sufficient of an curiosity {that a} good friend put me onto the Daybreak of Conflict collection which I adored – particularly Darkish Campaign, as a result of I nonetheless take heed to MCR in my 20s.
It was a messy intro that finally spiralled into an obsession with Civilization and StarCraft quite than what I assume is the deep and fascinating lore of Warhammer 40,000. However there’s a lot extra selection at this time to get folks hooked on the collection, from Rogue Dealer to Darktide. However nothing screams ‘newbie’ to me greater than Space Marine 2.
Constructed on the again of the ever-impressive World Conflict Z with hordes so overwhelmingly large that they mix collectively right into a tsunami crashing in opposition to the shore, Area Marine 2 is all in regards to the vibes. You’re a giant bruiser with a chainsaw sword — a chainsword — tearing aside the equal of xenomorphs (I’ve come to be taught they’re known as Tyranids), earlier than returning to your gothic cathedral spaceship the place the Brotherhood of not-Metal worship your prowess. It’s pure energy fantasy with, frankly, one of many coolest aesthetics in sci-fi.
Being the 24-year-old emo (and happy with it) that I’m, I used to be instantly drawn to the ‘Demise Guard’. The identify alone is unbelievable, not to mention the gruff man within the armour sporting that title. I went straight to Google to search out out extra within the hopes of being really helpful a recreation or novel all about this edgy chapter of the Area Marines. I discovered a devoted Demise Guard subreddit, which led me to the Darkish Imperium and The Lords of Silence books — once more, the names name to me. The edgier the higher.
There are such a lot of casually thrown-out nuggets of lore in Area Marine 2 which might be left to take a seat, by no means bombarding you with an excessive amount of data as to push you away, and that charisma and intrigue does a lot to entice you into eager to see extra of this world.
It particularly helps that Area Marine 2 is a social recreation that doesn’t require you to be a Warhammer fan to understand what it’s doing. Like World War Z earlier than it, the mere concept of tearing by way of a few of the most technologically spectacular hordes we’ve ever seen in video games goes to be sufficient for most individuals. However when you’re by way of these pearly blue and gold gates, combating again complete armies of bugs with your pals, the backdrop will lure you in like a buff eight-foot-tall siren.
To not bemoan the tabletop recreation that birthed this franchise, we wouldn’t be right here with out it, however it’s a a lot harder promote beginning with ‘paint some miniatures’ than ‘smash a military of aliens to bits with an enormous energy hammer’. The aesthetic has an opportunity to talk for itself right here and can do a significantly better job at attractive those that would in any other case flip their nostril up at a tabletop recreation like Warhammer to lastly dig deeper.
I haven’t felt this Warhammerpilled since method again when, after I was only a child with Darkish Campaign. After just a few hours stomping on Tyranid skulls, I’m able to dive in and eventually get a style of this world that has eluded me for a lot too lengthy. And who is aware of? Possibly I’ll even chunk the bullet and get some Demise Guard miniatures.
