As chances are you’ll or might not be conscious, I’m an enormous fan of the Adeptus Mechanicus. I normally like enjoying because the remnants of humanity in my science-fiction video games, however the Area Marines are extra uninteresting than Roboute Guilliman’s secret diary and the Astra Militarum really feel like they’re made for players who would reasonably be enjoying an historic wargame.
Within the case of Warhammer 40K, that leaves simply the Adeptus Mechanicus. They’re the masters of expertise within the forty first millennium, resurrecting archaic blueprints and investigating xenos tech with a purpose to push humanity’s campaign via the celebrities ever additional. They constantly stroll the tightrope between loyalty and heresy, and the gray space they reside in is extremely fascinating to discover each as a fan and a hobbyist.
Impressed by glasslike Darkish Mechanicus within the Soul Eaters trilogy and the messed-up creations in Graham McNeill’s Forges of Mars trilogy, I endeavoured to create my own force of Grey Mechanicus that continues to be one among my favorite initiatives I’ve ever accomplished.
It’s for that reason that I used to be overjoyed to see throngs of Tech-Monks scuttling across the dankest corners of Titus’ Battle Barge in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. Whether or not they have been repairing Dreadnoughts or testing on Carnifexes, they have been at all times as much as one thing cool and mysterious, and I typically paid extra consideration to them than to the Ultramarines the story follows extra intently.
Minor spoilers for Warhammer 40K: Area Marine 2 from right here on out.
Nonetheless, the Mechanicus shortly took on a bigger function within the recreation’s narrative. Whereas Titus solely shoots, punches, and decapitates Tyranids and Thousand Sons over the course of the marketing campaign, his actions are sometimes compelled by the Mechanicus.
A Magos holds a weapon that would flip the tides of the conflict, so you could safe it. One other Magos is required to function it, so you could find and extract him. The ethics and makes use of of the weapon are myriad and complicated and I can’t go additional with out spoiling main plot factors, however the Mechanicus are on the centre of Area Marine 2, and it will be poorer with out them.
The Ultramarines are the apparent selection for protagonists for a Warhammer 40K recreation. They’re the poster boys of the poster boys, essentially the most plain and boring Area Marines for brand spanking new gamers to simply perceive and use on the tabletop. Lieutenant Titus of the video video games follows the identical design philosophy: he has no persona, no traits apart from loyalty to his chapter. He’s the John Cena of the far future; a being designed to be inoffensive in each conceivable method, a pleasantly marketable clean slate that gamers can manipulate nonetheless they need.
Whether or not you give your clean slate a Boltgun or a Thunder Hammer (go for the Thunder Hammer, at all times the Thunder Hammer), the tasteless Ultramarine is the proper protagonist for an action-packed hack and slash. Nonetheless, his hustle, loyalty, and respect should be counteracted by the encircling characters. That is the place the Mechanicus step out from the shadows.
The Mechanicus are a regulation unto themselves, as they typically have authority over even essentially the most senior Area Marines. They’ll declare heretical archeotech within the title of the Omnissiah and requisition models to fulfil their goals whereas remaining shrouded in thriller. It is smart that this begins to bother Titus, as he’s given the runaround whereas repeatedly risking his life for the enigmatic Enginseers. This friction throughout the ‘good guys’ of the story offers the narrative its chew, and takes Area Marine 2’s story from completely meaningless to vaguely intriguing.
This isn’t a recreation you play for its story.
Possibly it’s my predisposition for the Mechanicus’ perplexing proclivities, however this schism between our protagonists is significant to maintain Area Marine 2 fascinating. If it was simply Ultramarines being Ultramarines, representing perfected humanity to a fault, it will be extremely boring. Sorry, not sorry followers of the thirteenth Legion, but it surely’s true. The glimpses of darkness and seeds of corruption which are inevitable when the Mechanicus are concerned give the Warhammer 40K universe that little grimdark edge – if the explosions of chitin and viscera weren’t grisly sufficient for you, it will seal the deal.
The Adeptus Mechanicus are essentially the most fascinating faction within the Warhammer 40K universe, for the Imperium at the very least. Area Marine 2 pushing their enigmatic function to the forefront of its story is a good selection and retains the Ultramarine blues at bay. All that’s left to do is add Techmarine DLC. Thanks prematurely.
