It’s been a few months since I delved into the deep dark space that Marauders is set in and what a fantastic return to the game it has been. I had the pleasure of participating in the closed beta where I was first introduced to Small Impact Games title and was taken aback by just how enjoyable it was. This preview will cover the game’s current state and how it fares against the closed beta. So, without further delay let’s equipped our best loadout and go looting.
For anyone that missed my Closed beta coverage, Marauders is a tactical first-person multiplayer loot & shoot set in space. After playing it the second time around I get heavy Warhammer 40K vibes as the Marauders remind me of the Death Korps of Krieg and the whole “everyone is out to kill and loot everything” vibe which portrays the 40K universe. Enough about that though, if you want to compare it to anything on the market now then the closes thing would probably be Escape from Tarkov.
Marauders allows you to customise your loadout before going out onto raid where you aim to complete contracts, collect the best loot, and extract it back to base so that you can utilise it to earn money, craft new items or get better weapons and armour. You can take your chases doing this solo or with a group of up to four players. While you’re out raiding you will have to be wary of other Marauders and AI enemies that will not hesitate to kill you and scavenge your loot. It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Marauders and you only feel safe once you have extracted and gotten back to base.
Loot, shoot, raid, repeat is the formula used in Marauders, and even though it might seem repetitive each raid plays out differently and that’s what makes this game so addictive and enjoyable. Whether you’re playing solo or with a full team, every second you spend in a raid is intense. I love these games where you’re only given one life and if you die you lose everything. It adds a sense of tension and fear while looting as you are always on edge, “am I pushing my luck?” “Just one more box” these decisions could make or break you because if you get caught off guard it could all be over.
I love all the different weapons that are currently in the game and feel like they are all balanced. There isn’t a weapon that feels truly broken and I feel like Marauders does a good job at allowing its players to run whatever load out they want without getting penalised for it. I love the big LMG guns just because they shred through enemies, though they cost a lot to buy, if you are lucky, you might be able to get them from looting. A lot of the time you’ll find yourself using 9mm ammo weapons as these are cheap and easy to come by. Though when you have found your grove and had plenty of successful raids then your arsenal will get better, and you’ll become a threat to any Marauder.
I found that in the early access they have removed the grenades which is sad as it gave you another trick up your sleeve if you get pinned down, though I have heard that they will be coming back which is great news. The spaceships are still incredibly fun to use but I feel like most players skip space fights. You rarely come across players using the bigger ships and fighting in space, it is a mad dash from your starting location to your destination and that’s it. It feels like a big chunk of the game is missing, maybe if it was a bigger distance to get to locations then people would feel the need to engage more, or maybe if you get rewards for damaging ships and boarding them, it will give players more of a reason to engage in space combat rather than just using it as a mode of transport. You can equip your ships with better weapons and gear which shows that the game wants players to do space battles it’s just sad that it’s not used at the moment.
I think that the AI in Marauders could do with some changes. It would be nice if they were on patrol paths and you could avoid them or sneak up on them. At the moment it feels like they just run around like headless chickens and when they see you just open fire. Sometimes the AI engaging in combat then run away from you, it is quite comical but can be annoying. Another thing that would be cool is if they added the option to do stealth takedowns or executions if you manage to sneak up on people as this would make melee weapons more of a viable option rather than just something you scrap. I know that if you do manage to get into close combat melee weapons do big damage, but I rarely find myself in that situation.
Graphically I can’t fault the game, the lighting is great, and the level of detail in the environment and weapons is spot on and helps create this whole feeling that there is no law and order and it’s everyone for themselves. Audio is key with Marauders as listening out for footsteps and gunfire is a key part of success while looting and raiding the bigger ships and complexes. This brings me to my next point when you are partying up with other players you need to communicate quite a lot to make sure you don’t accidentally kill one another and are keeping everyone in the loop. If you are trying to listen out for other enemies but have your team talking it can make it difficult to pick up on footsteps and gunfire. Therefore, it would be nice to get a ping system added to the game so that you can fill your teammates in without having to fight over one another on discord. This was something I picked up on in the Closed Beta and I’m wondering whether it is something that they are working on or just don’t feel the need to implement.
There is plenty of reward and replay value and the game isn’t even fully released. Each time you venture out it doesn’t feel the same even if you go to the same maps. Each player plays differently so it makes each raid unique also when you play with others you feel more confident and take more risks whereas when I play solo I take my time and carefully plan my next move. Marauders really keeps you hooked and even if I do die and lose everything, I don’t find myself getting frustrated I find it more of a learning curve on what to do next time. The community is nice and friendly and every time I look for a game in the discord chat, I come across lovely people who are willing to party up and raid the night away. It is a nice change from the toxic communities that are out there.
Conclusion
Earth has reached its breaking point and law and order doesn’t exist anymore. Marauders puts the players in the shoes of a space pirate and I love it. Embark on raids, breach enemy ships, and face off against other players and AI. There is plenty to sink your teeth into and even though it’s early days this game feels fantastic. The crafting system is simple, buying, selling, and looting are key to success and the weapons and current ships make choosing your loadout enjoyable and unique. Gather your rag-tag crew and prepare for riches as you take on space colonies, space stations as well as asteroid mines. The thrill of losing or winning drives you in Marauders and when you do manage to extract all the loot and get out safely the feel of self-achievement is rewarding. It’s nice to play a game again where my sense of reward is marked by a battle pass but getting through tough encounters and challenging firefights. I can’t wait to see what else they do with Marauders on its journey till launch but I know one thing I will be there following its journey and playing this game for many hours in the future.
If you missed my coverage of the Closed beta, please find a link to the article here: https://invisioncommunity.co.uk/marauders-closed-beta-preview-pc/
Grab your copy here https://store.steampowered.com/app/1789480/Marauders/
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