The secret to understanding the vast libraries of knowledge behind the Warhammer 40K franchise is that everything from the Black Library novels to the elaborate Warhammer Plus animations are there to sell you on the idea of ​​collecting your own army of miniatures to paint and play with. No one understands this better than Saber Interactive, the developer of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Space Marine became a cult classic because it captured the fun of playing a transhuman tank, a weapon of war that stomps across the battlefield, quickly ripping arms from torsos and heads from shoulders. Space Marines 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel; much of the core combat is similar. Everything else has been expanded and improved, allowing players to battle their way through one of the best depictions of 40K’s eternal war yet.

The main attraction of Space Marines 2 is the battle. The protagonist, Lieutenant Titus, is accompanied by two of his brothers in arms. The game begins on the jungle planet Kadaku, which is being invaded by the voracious Tyranids. These insectoid aliens are extremely adaptable and merciless and plan to subjugate these worlds for their valuable biomass, which will create more Tyranids.

Titus is a genetically engineered warrior of the highest caliber, but the Tyranids are a worthy opponent. Saber used the swarm technology of World War Z for the Tyranids, and it is truly breathtaking to see wave after wave of them flood a fortress. These enemies range from thousands of tiny, rat-sized Rippers to the huge and monstrous Carnifex. There is only one solution: tear and rip.

This is not a cover gunner; Titus is most comfortable in the thick of combat. Titus is equipped with both a melee and ranged weapon and switches seamlessly between them. When Titus successfully parries an enemy attack, he gains a chance and can fire a free shot. Stunned enemies can be executed, triggering a needlessly gory animation and earning Titus a piece of armor for free.

There are a few moments where the power fantasy weakens, especially on Kadaku. Titus may be a transhuman weapon of war, but he can’t jump over a small ledge or walk through a small wall of rubble. This game is at its best when it flows from combat encounter to combat encounter, and it’s great fun to pick apart the endless armies of Tyranids. Some of the execution animations had me screaming and yelling; it’s incredibly satisfying to grab an alien by the face, rip its head off, and then stomp on what’s left with a big boot.

Space Marines 2 is more than just a bloodbath; the game builds on the narrative of the original. Space Marines are created to be the ultimate soldiers to defend the Imperium of Mankind. At the end of the first game, Captain Titus of the Ultramarines is fighting against the arch enemy, also known as the forces of Chaos. For his good deeds, his own battle brothers make him the secret police of the Imperium. The Imperium tortured Titus until he was eventually sent to a Space Marine group called the Deathwatch.

After 200 years of punishment, Titus is finally reinstated into the Ultramarines. The Ultramarine forces in Space Marines 2 is much more established, issuing orders from aboard the battle barge Resilient. In the first game, Titus deals primarily with the Inquisition and the Imperial Guard. This time, Titus deals with the various sub-factions of the Empire represented there, and navigates the tense political relations between the groups.

Titus and his battle brothers leave Kadaku and pursue the threat into the hive world of Avarax. These densely populated urban centers are one of the most interesting parts of 40K, And Space Marines 2 does a great job of depicting these huge environments. I loved Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for the meticulous work of capturing the 40K atmosphere; Space Marines 2 achieves similar performance.

In the second half of the game – similar to the first part – a new threat emerges. Chaos Space Marines, particularly the magical Thousand Sons, appear to torment Titus. The Thousand Sons are made up of powerful psykers who command armies of Rubric Marines, empty armor shells filled with soul dust. Encountering these traitors raises doubts and suspicions among the Ultramarines, and as they pursue the Thousand Sons, Titus begins to quarrel with his new force. Will history repeat itself? Is Titus doomed to fall to Chaos, or will brotherhood and good faith prevail?

About halfway through Avarax I noticed Space Marines 2 started to feel less well-executed. There were a few cool sequences that, instead of providing an exciting set piece, were relegated to mere cutscenes. The inventive execution animations also fell short. The first few times I ripped the helmet off a Rubric Marine and watched magical confetti shoot out like a macabre piñata, I laughed and clapped like a trained seal. The 50th time was less magical.

The storyline surrounding Titus and his comrades is also the crux of the main narrative, but there are a few story highlights that seem to pay off later but then go nowhere. Space Marines are also narrowly characterized compared to other groups in 40K, as they are indoctrinated transhuman soldiers. There is a lot of banter within the force that can be summed up as “Brother, I did not act honorably,” followed by “I understand, brother, but we must always act honorably.”

Despite some chaotic detours and an annoying boss fight, Space Marines 2 resolves everything neatly and leaves the door open for further adventures. There’s still more to explore, including co-op play of the campaign with friends, the PvP modes, and the side missions that show different perspectives of the Ultramarines’ campaign. As someone who enjoyed Titus’ first journey in 2011, I enjoyed his triumphant return.

The core storyline tickles the same part of my brain, but the expanded narrative, larger environments, and sheer size and reach of the Tyranids are noticeable and massive improvements. The Space Marine games are one of the best entry points into the vast 40K canon, as it is so satisfying to step into the shoes of an Ultramarine, and Space Marines 2 continues this legacy.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will be released on September 4th for PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X. The game was tested prior to release using a download code provided by Saber Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These have no influence on editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. More information on Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.