Marathon (1994)
hour after the full reveal of Bungie ’s fresh origin shooterMarathon , I ’ve already seen plenty of comparisons between the novel exit and the fail 2024 FPSConcord . It ’s not especially surprising , asConcordhas quickly come to personify just how poorly the launch of a bear live - table service secret plan can go . In this face , however , there are so many more interesting things to verbalize about , and dragging the preaching back toConcordturns what could be an exciting treatment into an wearing one .
I ’m well cognisant of the fragility of my billet here , as talk about whyMarathonisn’t really anotherConcorddoes ultimately involve compare the two . I ’m also one of the few mass on Earth whoactually playedConcord , however , which has to bestow me some level of credence . While the 2024 game looked doomed from the head start , there ’s no reasonMarathonneeds to have the same portion , and it ’s already doing some thing good thatConcordnever did .
Like It Or Not, Bungie’s Marathon Has Style
A Harsh Aesthetic Makes Its Mark
Concordfaced two acclivitous battles from the start : well-worn esthetic trappings and an upfront price modelin a market full of free games . Both of these ingredient might have been more excusable in 2016 , whenGuardians of the Galaxystill feel fresh andOverwatch ’s $ 40 toll gunpoint elevate few complaint . In 2024 , they were far too belated , and the biz lacked the unique twisting or stylistic oomph to extenuate the weight unit of these sins .
For fan of the genre , there ’s a fate to like about the Modern 5v5 hero sandwich shooter Concord , but finding something to love feel much less probable .
Marathon ’s aesthetic is bandage to be divisive , butthere ’s a big remainder between divisiveness and nonchalance . Plenty of people hated the wayConcordlooked , and those who did n’t were mostly more neutral than enthused . While I appreciate the step back from the overstimulation that defines a lot of modern FPS housing , the character designs lean to be messy and uninteresting , and a few pretty maps could n’t make up for some horribly dull ones . It felt like a game that had never entered the flames of a true originative furnace , passing diffidently through boardroom and focus groups or else .
An eclectically point mixture ofMirror ’s Edge , untexturedGarry ’s Modmaps , and the digital frigidness of ' ninety cyberpunk .
There ’s a whiff of corporate sensibility toMarathon , too , but it manifests in a very different way . Instead of sidestep hyper - impregnation and eye - bleeding effects , Marathon ’s gameplay trailersembrace that ill will and run with it . The core is an eclectically direct mix ofMirror ’s Edge , untexturedGarry ’s Modmaps , and the digital frigidity of ' 90s cyberpunk . In pass up any concerted effort to be beautiful , it gain a lot more graphic symbol than the available technical school demo style of competitorslikeThe Finals .
Marathon Can Afford A Higher Price Than Concord
Bungie’s Name Still Means A Lot
As for the cost , that ’s a small more complicated , but it ’s also too other to make many assumptions there . Right now , all we know is thatMarathonisn’t free - to - play , which is fine by me . Despite the ongoing loot box monetisation , I was much happier spending $ 40 onOverwatchand comfortably enjoy the game without spend another penny than complain battle pass pop - ups off my heels in virtually everything since . If the price is fairish , the game is effective , and the on-going monetisation is n’t objectionable , I ’m not start to complain .
Sony wo n’t be want a PSN account for PC and Xbox participant of the coming sci - fi extraction hit man from Bungie , Marathon .
It ’s still a hurdle , butBungie has more bounce in its tone thanConcorddeveloper Firewalk Studios did . Although I ’m too indifferent to theDestinygames to manage much about the Bungie name in 2025 , the sword still has an incredible legacy , which makes a big difference in recruiting players for a paid live - divine service title . Overwatchcouldn’t have been a genius without the once - dear Blizzard , while Ubisoft ’s less favorable name could n’t keep the free - to - playXDefiantalive . Firewalk was novel , and without an emphasis on an iconic originative lead to make up for it , Concordstarted with a big disadvantage .
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky
Marathon’s Closed Alpha Is The Real Test Of Its Potential
Marathon Still Has To Prove Itself
The ultimate psychometric test , of course , is the game experience . WhileConcord ’s gunplay was solid , its ideas were almost all routine , which was basically an contiguous death sentence . Marathonlooks much more promising run in , but theclosed alpha testwill allow a much just idea of its ability to sink or swim .
At this point , Concord ’s been fairly over - hat , especially since most of its detractors have never played the game ( to be sightly , I do n’t make out why they would have).Concorddoes serve as a shining example of damn mediocrity , however , and there may be something more eternally relevant in a game sunk by lack of inspiration than there is in a unfeigned disaster . It ’s just not the example that implement good toMarathon . If Bungie ’s novel biz does falter , I have religious belief that it will oversee to do so in a more interesting fashion .
Bungie is a video recording game company headquartered in Seattle , Washington , that focuses on various secret plan eccentric – elemental hired gun - in the industriousness . Bungie initially embark on off with games like Marathon for Mac . finally , it pass away on to create some of the biggest franchise in play , such as the original Halo franchise from Halo 1 – Halo Reach . After a partnership with Activision and later being acquire by PlayStation , Bungie adjusted focal point to games as a service with the Destiny dealership .
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky
Bungie is a video game company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that focuses on various game types – primary shooters - in the industry. Bungie initially started off with games like Marathon for Mac. Eventually, it went on to create some of the biggest franchises in gaming, such as the original Halo franchise from Halo 1 – Halo Reach. After a partnership with Activision and later being acquired by PlayStation, Bungie adjusted focus to games as a service with the Destiny franchise.
