Marathon 2: Durandal is one of the greatest games ever created. It takes place 17 years after the original Marathon game, where Durandal, a rampant AI that’s been controlling your every move, awakens you from cry-sleep. In Marathon 2 you will travel through numerous alien planets and spaceships to defeat an alien race of slavers, the Pfhor. You will come across not only the Pfhor and an enslaved race of aliens called the S'pht, but also a wide variety of natural creatures that appear only in their respective environments.
Although a first person shooter, that title alone would be an insult as it overlooks everything else in the game. With a deep plot and massive areas to explore, Marathon 2 is really more of an action adventure game.
What makes Marathon 2 so special is the way the rich storyline that was told to the player, a new feature to the genre. Games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom had action, but when it came to story there was little to be found. Computer terminals guide you along the game, telling you about Durandal's plans and the history of the many locations you will visit. Innovation can be found elsewhere as well, with a physics system that projects the bouncing of grenades and
how far a Pfhor soldier flies when you blow him away. Other neat features like the radar system, which alerts you to nearby friends or foes, shields which can be recharged, and even the weapons themselves influenced even the popular Halo series.
Of course, Marathon 2 still had plenty of old fashioned violence as well. Every level was crammed full of several different species of aliens and plenty of ammunition to kill them with. From flamethrowers to rocket launchers to dual-wielded shotguns, there is enough variance in weaponry to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty gamer. When you've completed the single player campaign, there is the multiplayer to look forward to. Marathon 2 not only supports your standard death-match, but also gives you the option of capture the flag, tag, and even an entire cooperative mode. The best part is that after you beat your friends in combat, you can save it in a special format to watch again and again.
Overall, this game is a classic and should be tried by any person who considers himself a gamer!
