Marathon: Will Bungie's Reboot Stand Out in a Crowded Market?

Bungie's highly anticipated Marathon reboot has finally been revealed after years of waiting, but initial reactions have been mixed. While it shares the name of the influential 1990s PC game, it aims to offer a fresh experience within its genre. For Marathon to thrive in today's competitive landscape, it needs to capitalize on its unique strengths.

Despite an initial positive impression from its reveal trailers and ARG event, recent gameplay trailers for Marathon have drawn criticism. Concerns range from visual choices and similarities to other franchises to the nature of yet another live-service PvP game. Marathon faces an uphill battle to prove itself as a worthy competitor in the shooter market.

Marathon's Unique Visual Identity Thankfully, Marathon possesses a distinctive visual identity that sets it apart. This is a strength that's increasingly rare in the gaming world.

Even the initial trailer showcased a unique style, creating a lasting impression. The exotic sci-fi setting, populated by aliens, robots, and barely recognizable humanoids, makes direct comparisons difficult, save for games like Destiny. Bungie further amplified this unique style by collaborating with Alberto Mielgo, director of "Love, Death & Robots," to create a cinematic short introducing characters and the strange world they inhabit. Although the cinematic trailer raised more questions than answers, it also generated anticipation for the game's future development. Developers have promised seasonal storytelling and a on worldbuilding, but delivering on these promises is challenging in today's gaming landscape.

Avoiding Familiar Territory Long-lived service games often struggle to provide satisfying storylines or consistent worldbuilding. Even titles like Overwatch and Apex Legends have faced challenges in maintaining narrative momentum. While there can be various reasons for scrapped storylines or abandoned concepts, a major factor is often conflict with the moment-to-moment gameplay, where player experience takes precedence over the overarching narrative.

It's too early to definitively judge, but Marathon has already generated more player interest in its live-service world than many games, providing a solid foundation for future development.

The Importance of Distinct Worldbuilding Rather than simply throwing quirky characters into a battle royale scenario, Marathon appears to be taking a more direct approach to worldbuilding, as demonstrated in its cinematic short. Even if the gameplay footage doesn't fully capture the otherworldly tension and psychological horror elements of the cinematic, Marathon's world and contrasting visual design feel distinct from most games.

Unlike most free-to-play shooters, Marathon will be a paid title upon release, leading some to draw comparisons to the short-lived Concord. However, Bungie's success with Destiny 2 provides Marathon with significantly more support than PlayStation's attempt at a breakout hit, potentially giving it more room to establish itself as an independent title.

A Potential Contender in the Extraction Shooter Genre Marathon's initial gameplay reveal may have resembled battle royales like Apex Legends or the oversaturated hero shooter genre more than the tense extraction shooter genre. However, this might not represent the full picture. Following the initial reveal, a deep dive into Marathon's gameplay mechanics an emphasis on world exploration and skill-based gameplay over powerful abilities. A closed alpha test will soon provide a clearer picture of whether Marathon can deliver on its promises.

Despite concerns about market saturation, the extraction shooter genre remains relatively uncommon. Aside from games like Hunt: Showdown, the recent Delta Force, and the notoriously challenging Escape from Tarkov, few options exist for experiencing tension-filled gameplay, especially with a sci-fi twist. With Bungie's resources and history, Marathon has the potential to lead the way for the extraction shooter genre, provided it maintains the core identity conveyed in its advertising.