Marathon is being so slept on by the FPS community.
It's been really interesting as a content creator, hearing directly from viewers that they refuse to watch because they can’t get past the polarizing visuals to understand that this is truly one of the best feeling FPS experiences in years with tight gunplay, insane tension (genuinely has my heart beating out my chest) and a gameplay loop that actually rewards skill and decision making.
But I think that's also the games biggest problem. People like to bash the art style but really I think it's that PvP games just don’t stick like they used to. They’re harder to get into, harder to watch, and don’t have broad, instant appeal. If it’s not immediately accessible or visually “safe” people bounce.
So Marathon ends up overlooked, not because it’s bad (it's great) but because it’s different at a time when most players just want familiar.
*It's also crazy that Bungie took such a huge risk on a niche game with a niche art style for such a niche demographic so I can understand where the negativity is coming from as far as gamers wanting more than just "another extraction shooter" but they made a damn good one and I hope more people give it a chance.
dude i fucking wish marathon wasnt shrouded in controvercy before release.
Universally all ACTUAL critics (not just the people who suck at fps games) have given the game an incredibly high review score and have said it scratches an itch many games dont.
Escape From Tarkov should've had an ending much like The Hurt Locker where you escape, but struggle to let go, so they later arrange for Lightkeeper to smuggle you back into Tarkov because your character is addicted to the new life in the zone.
Would've made for a good New Game+ ending that makes a little more sense than the game reverting to a state pre-Terminal escape.