We’ve been trying to find time to get into Marathon, but can’t seem to find it just yet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t keep our eye on it and see how well it’s doing since it launched last week.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the 90s or you’re just here for the neon-soaked extraction action, Bungie’s latest effort has finally made its way out of the hangar. After years of speculation, a high-profile delay, and a rocky alpha, Marathon is officially here.
The early verdict? It’s a polarizing sprint through Tau Ceti IV.
Style Over Substance?
The reviews hitting the web since the March 5 release paint a picture of a game with an identity crisis—though a very beautiful one.
IGN praised the “unparalleled shooting” and the “spooky cyberpunk aesthetic,” but noted that the hero-style Runner shells feel a bit generic compared to the competition. They also pointed out some early-game friction: “It takes quite a few hours of playing to get the hang of it… some of this friction seems like it’s just part of the extraction shooter DNA.”
Kotaku was more cautious, describing the game as a mix of “amazing escapes” and “clunky controls.” They highlighted the short time-to-kill (TTK) as a potential barrier for new players, questioning if the game’s incredible style is enough to keep people coming back once the novelty wears off.
Pure Xbox shared impressions from the recent Server Slam, noting that while the gunplay is “top tier,” the UI is—to put it bluntly—a bit of a headache.
Steam Says: “Bungie Cooked”
Despite some critical hesitation, the “boots on the ground” (or cybernetic feet on the planet) feedback is surprisingly strong. Marathon launched on Steam with a 91% “Very Positive” rating.
Players seem to love the meaningful story progression tied to contracts, which many say softens the blow of losing gear during a failed extraction. The consensus among the community is that once the mechanics “click,” the game becomes incredibly addictive.
This is how it worked with ARC Raiders, albeit much quicker than we’re seeing reports of in Marathon.
The “Fix Later” Fatigue
It hasn’t been all sunshine and neon. The launch has reignited the debate over the “release now, fix later” trend.
Gamingbible was particularly vocal, suggesting that launching with a major map (Cryo Archive) still weeks away and a UI that needs immediate patching is a frustrating standard for a studio of Bungie’s stature.
Bungie is already moving to address these pain points.
A patch is expected by the end of this week to:
- Double the detection radius for objective markers.
- Increase starting supplies in MIDA and CyberAcme kits.
- Tweak the microtransaction economy after complaints about the “Lux” premium currency pricing.
So Far…
It’s clear that Marathon is undeniably Bungie. It’s stylish, the guns feel fantastic, and the world-building is top-notch. However, it’s also undeniably an extraction shooter, meaning it carries all the sweatiness and inventory management hurdles the genre is known for.
If you can get past the messy UI and the steep learning curve, there’s a deep, rewarding loop waiting for you. Just watch out for those fall damage heights—they’re a killer.
Assuming Bungie are actively listening to the community. They now have that initial good will, and can work with that to potentially shape a positive future. Whether or not they will is up to them, but Marathon looks to have gotten out of that rocky initial reception from a couple of years ago.
Let’s hope the game does well and keeps a legendary studio like Bungie, running. Of course, it won’t be a sprint, it’ll be a……Marathon. So we’re keeping eyes peeled on this one. Hopefully it lasts longer than Highguard, at least.
