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Ladies and Gentlemen, the founding member of the Clown Marines.
Later on we jumped into the multiplayer versus modes. I know we all love co-op, but let’s face it, a robust multiplayer is a huge selling factor for gamers. Space Marine multiplayer versus is online only. There is no local split screen support. We were introduced to the versus mode with the awesome armor editor. All of your choices are purely aesthetic, but they look so frick’n cool. Space Marines have a noble dignity, while Chaos Marines look like a heavy metal nightmare. You can change between factions in the editor while you customize your character. I should note that you can only edit your multiplayer avatar. The single player campaign's Captain Titus cannot be customized.
There is a meaty multiplayer progression system. You’ll unlock things like new armor, perks, and weapons by earning XP and completing challenges. You won’t be toiling away for just another lame helmet color. You’ll be fighting for a new Plasma Cannon, Storm Bolter, or Thunder Hammer. We played at the max XP level, so I got to see all of the mightiest Wargear. It was vicious.
There are three classes that offer players a choice in fighting styles. Each class is available for either Space or Chaos Marines. The Assault Marine/Raptor can be equipped with a wonderful variety of melee weapons. They are also outfitted with a jump pack which allows them to dash in and out of combat. Their high speed and ninja-like melee skills are offset by their inability to carry heavy projectile weapons and a mockingly low armor rating. The Devastator/Havoc class carries the heaviest ranged weapons and has the toughest armor. Sadly, his melee skills are diluted weaksauce. The Tactical/Chaos Space Marine is a nice balance between the two, having decent speed and armor, as well as a wide variety of weapons.
The Devastator, Tactical, and Assault Marine Classes.
WH40k: Space Marine multiplayer is absolute chaos. When we started up the match I immediately chose the Devastator class. If you know me, you know why. I started firing rounds from my Heavy Bolter into anything that moved. Luckily, friendly fire was set to “off.” (I can’t imagine playing this game with friendly fire turned “on.” The melee weapons would wreak havoc in close quarters.) Assault and Raptor class players were flying everywhere. Knots of fighting would form and turn into furious hand-to-hand combat.
I soon figured out how to lock down my massive Heavy Bolter with the press of the right shoulder button. This changed my rate of fire from a steady “whump-whump-whump” to a ridiculous rate of “DAKKA-DAKKA-DAKKA,” pardon my Ork speak. My Heavy Bolter shredded my foes. Then a Raptor dropped form the sky and beat me to death with a Maul. So that's how it's gonna be.
I got to take advantage of Space Marine’s “Copy Loadout” feature more times than I care to remember. When you’re killed in multiplayer you can copy the exact same class, perks, and weapons of the player who just offed you. Now you can get back into the fight and give them a taste of their own medicine. With the push of a button in the spawn screen, I now had my killer’s loadout, jump-pack and all. I blasted above the battle field, eagerly looking for my first murder-Maul victim. As I reached the apex of my jump I placed my ground reticule on an unlucky opponent. By pressing the "X" button I was hurled from the heavens as if by some angry god. Woe to anything between me and terra firma: "Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t hear you over that giant MAUL IN YOUR FACE!" The session went on like this for the next three hours.