Bungie has exploded back onto the sci-fi stage with Marathon: a pulse-pounding PvPvE extraction shooter that throws you into the deadliest corners of the lost colony of Tau Ceti IV, where every decision could make you rich or wipe you out completely.

You play as a bio-cybernetic Runner, thrust into a relentless fight against hostile AI, rival players and the constant pressure of needing to secure loot before it goes sideways. It’s all powered by Bungie’s signature gunplay that made Halo and Destiny both legendary titles. Straight away, Marathon is tense, unpredictable and addictive. Danger is everywhere, no two runs feel the same, and once you drop in, you’ll be desperate to find out what happens next. 

Marathon’s gameplay is built around a high-risk extraction shooter loop where each run feels like a gamble. You can play solo, or with a crew of two or three, or enter matches as a Rook, a scavenger-style character that will drop into ongoing games with no gear and nothing to lose. If you decide to play Marathon alone, it’s definitely more challenging, but the option to fill your crew makes things more manageable if you want/need some backup.

The goal of each run is to enter one of the zones on Tau Ceti IV, complete contracts, collect valuable gear and reach the extraction point before the timer runs out. If you fail to exfil, you lose everything you brought in, which makes the decision-making important. Each zone presents its own difficulties and risks: from lower-threat areas to extremely hazardous locations. Progression is heavily tied to the faction and contract system, where you work with six different factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, Arachne and Sekiguchi Genetics.

You strive to earn reputation, unlock upgrades and gain access to better gear. The contracts are the main objective during runs, with priority contracts offering story progression and better rewards, making them worth focusing on whenever possible. As you rank up with factions, you can also unlock expanded vault storage (where you can store gear to keep it safe) and increase what items are available in the armoury.

The armoury allows you to purchase equipment using credits and salvage found during the runs. If you want to run a free kit, you can run a “Sponsored Kit”, which gives you the bare essentials to get back into the action without losing any of your valued loot. Another major part of this game is the Runner shell system, which lets you choose different combat roles depending on your playstyle.

Each Runner shell has its own abilities, traits, and stats, e.g. the Destroyer for direct combat, the fast-moving Vandal, the Recon for tracking enemies, the stealth-focused Assassin (who was my pick of the bunch), the Triage for a more support-based approach, the loot-focused Thief, or the previously mentioned Rook for scavenging runs.

These shells can be combined with different weapons, implants and upgrades to create some truly unique builds. Take some time to create your loadout, additional ammo, medical supplies, shields and an additional backpack to carry more loot. There is nothing worse than being in mid-firefight only to find you’re out of ammo!

Marathon offers surprisingly intuitive controls for a first-person shooter of its era; you move fluidly through the levels while keeping the combat manageable. Standard movement forward, backward, left, and right feels responsive and aiming feels precise for both ranged and close-quarter combat. The game also makes good use of special abilities, with actions mapped to RB, RB and LB combinations, and B, allowing players to quickly drop smoke grenades, deploy shields or activate a recon pulse to see where enemies are, all whilst keeping the game fluid.

The game also added actions like opening doors or interacting with a terminal, which were mapped well into the control scheme. There was one system that took a little while to get used to, which was the movement heat mechanic. If you move too much or spring constantly, your suit will begin to overheat, which forces you to pace yourself and plan your manoeuvres carefully. You can do things like run into the water to cool it down, but it quickly becomes a burden in those bigger PVP scenarios.

The menu system was the most frustrating part for console users, as navigating with a joystick required moving your cursor around, making it feel more like a PC Port and slowing down the menu navigation. Once in a game, the controls become user-friendly. However, these usability issues show that the interface requires refinements to make the experience more enjoyable.

The sound design does a great job pulling you into the action, with every gunshot, explosion and ability sounding sharp and powerful. Weapons all have their own distinct punch, making fights feel loud, chaotic and intense, especially when multiple players are going at it. There was minimal environmental audio, such as distant gunfire and supply drop effects, but nothing further.

The soundtrack leans heavily into a futuristic, high-energy style that builds a tense, cinematic experience. There were a couple of moments when players ran up behind us, and I could have sworn they teleported there, because I couldn’t hear them at all. Enhancing the directional footprints and making enemy movement a bit clearer would go a long way in making the gameplay feel fairer and more competitive.

I’ll be perfectly honest: I was a little blown away by the graphics in Marathon. There was a clean, futuristic art style that instantly stood out from other extraction shooters. The environments are packed with detail, from the bright neon-lit facilities to the harsh outdoor landscapes that both look and feel out of this world. The lighting played a massive part in the atmosphere, with reflections, shadows, and glowing effects making each firefight feel a little more intense.

The characters and weapons both have sharp, high-tech looks that fit in with the sci-fi setting, and the surprisingly smooth performance kept everything moving at a fast pace. I’m still on the fence if I like the player and weapon cosmetics, but I’m sure that with some more hours sunk into the game, I’ll come across.

Marathon is shaping up to be a promising return to sci-fi for Bungie, delivering a tense and stylish extraction shooter that already shows potential. The core gameplay loop is addictive, the gunplay feels tight and responsive, and the mix of factions, contracts and Runners will keep players coming back.

Written by: Hayden Nelson