embraceuk1
Original Member Since 2001
This classic Macintosh FPS shooter from those who later brought you Halo.
It was overshadowed by Doom
While Bungie has been synonymous with Halo for the past six years, it was not the prestigious developer's first foray into FPS gaming. Marathon, hailed as one of the greatest sleeper FPS titles ever made, is finally making its way onto Xbox Live Arcade. The question is, as with all Live Arcade re-releases--does the gameplay still hold up today?
From what I experienced? Yes, to a degree. I dove into the single-player portion of the game and was immediately impressed by how fluid the Macintosh shooter still flows. Almost too smoothly, as the ice skater-like animations are definitely a throwback to a simpler time in the world of gaming, yet Marathon's classic status renders this acceptable. Another saving grace is the high-def makeover given to all portions of the game's graphics engine. The HUD is also less obtrusive, which makes keeping track of game status info much less cluttered.
Mechanically, the game holds up quite well, with features such as the use of the X and Y buttons to peer left and right. Of course, it's Marathon. Any player who spent time with the game back in its heyday knows that it's worth a purchase at a mere 800 Microsoft Points, and for those not in the know, it's time to experience Bungie's pre-Halo classic gaming experience.
Marathon: Durandal should be available later this summer.
It was overshadowed by Doom
While Bungie has been synonymous with Halo for the past six years, it was not the prestigious developer's first foray into FPS gaming. Marathon, hailed as one of the greatest sleeper FPS titles ever made, is finally making its way onto Xbox Live Arcade. The question is, as with all Live Arcade re-releases--does the gameplay still hold up today?
From what I experienced? Yes, to a degree. I dove into the single-player portion of the game and was immediately impressed by how fluid the Macintosh shooter still flows. Almost too smoothly, as the ice skater-like animations are definitely a throwback to a simpler time in the world of gaming, yet Marathon's classic status renders this acceptable. Another saving grace is the high-def makeover given to all portions of the game's graphics engine. The HUD is also less obtrusive, which makes keeping track of game status info much less cluttered.
Mechanically, the game holds up quite well, with features such as the use of the X and Y buttons to peer left and right. Of course, it's Marathon. Any player who spent time with the game back in its heyday knows that it's worth a purchase at a mere 800 Microsoft Points, and for those not in the know, it's time to experience Bungie's pre-Halo classic gaming experience.
Marathon: Durandal should be available later this summer.
