Marathon 25-Hour Review Impressions

The new *Marathon* is a revival of Bungie's first-person shooter series from the 1990s, predating their work on the *Halo* franchise. The original trilogy, consisting of *Marathon* (1994), *Marathon 2: Durandal* (1995), and *Marathon Infinity* (1996), was initially released for the Apple Macintosh. These games were known for their intricate science fiction narrative, a novel feature for the genre at the time. The original story was set aboard the UESC *Marathon*, a massive colony ship built from Mars's moon Deimos. Players assumed the role of a cybernetic security officer defending the ship from the alien Pfhor. The narrative was largely conveyed through text terminals, detailing the conflict and the increasingly erratic behavior of the ship's three Artificial Intelligences: Leela, Durandal, and Tycho. The 2026 reboot is set in 2893 on the planet Tau Ceti IV, the site of the lost colony from the original games, approximately 99 years after the events of the first game. Players take on the role of "Runners," cybernetic mercenaries who have traded their bodies for specialized shells, to explore the derelict colony, fighting other players and AI-controlled enemies for valuable artifacts and data. *Marathon* will feature a seasonal structure, with each season lasting around three months and introducing new, free content such as weapons, gear, and gameplay zones. To maintain high stakes, the game will have seasonal wipes, meaning players will lose their accumulated gear and progression at the start of each new season, keeping only cosmetic items. The game launched with six different "Runner" shells for players to choose from, each with unique abilities, and three distinct gameplay zones: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost. A fourth end-game zone called Cryo Archive is planned to be unlocked during the first season. Season 2, titled "Nightfall," is scheduled to begin in June 2026. It will introduce a new Runner shell codenamed "Sentinel," a nighttime variant of the Dire Marsh map with increased UESC security presence, and a new system called "The Cradle" for more in-depth customization of Runner stats. A ranked mode is also planned for release. While the new game is a multiplayer-focused experience without a traditional single-player campaign, the story will unfold through the gameplay itself. Players will piece together the mysteries of Tau Ceti IV by collecting in-game items like text files and audio logs. The narrative will also evolve through seasonal updates, with Bungie stating they have learned lessons from *Destiny 2*'s content vaulting to ensure story content remains accessible. Many thematic and design elements from the original *Marathon* series are considered spiritual predecessors to the *Halo* franchise. Similarities can be seen in weapon designs, enemy archetypes, and the overarching narrative focus on a lone super-soldier battling alien forces with the aid of an AI companion. The iconic *Marathon* logo can even be found hidden in various *Halo* games.