The Classic Marathon Trilogy in 2025 — Still Worth Playing?

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Hearing about Bungie’s unveiling of Marathon made me eager for its release in September. As a Destiny 2 player for five years now, I had no idea about Marathon until they mentioned it a few years back. This left me curious – why is everyone so thrilled about this game, and why does it seem like everyone’s already familiar with it?

As it turns out, what I didn’t realize was that it was among Bungie’s initial creations – a cornerstone work that played a significant role in defining their future trajectory.

Without a second thought, I plunged right in to uncover the solution. I delved deep into understanding how to replay the vintage Marathon games, and lo and behold, I discovered them! At the moment, they are accessible for free on Steam and mobile platforms. It’s the Aleph One version, which eliminates numerous annoying restrictions from the original and enhances it with various user-friendly upgrades.

2025 finds me giving the classic Marathon trilogy a whirl, stepping back into gaming’s yesteryears. These games were so compact, they barely took up 80MB of my hard drive space—hard to imagine that today! Yet, as I navigate their pixelated landscapes and engage in tactical combat, the question lingers: does this retro gem still captivate in 2025?

It’s a Very Old Game

Before you jump to conclusions, remember this game isn’t based on Unreal Engine 5 or Bungie’s Tiger Engine. Instead, it harks back to the roots of shooter games, sharing the same fundamental principles that made classics like Unreal Tournament, DOOM, and Quake so popular.

Starting up the original Marathon game initially gave me a queasy feeling. Although I’ve been playing the DOOM series not long ago, the camera movement in Marathon felt particularly disorienting. By modifying the mouse sensitivity and fine-tuning the perspective view (POV), I managed to find some relief. Once I got the settings just right, I plunged into the UESC Marathon – the game’s main setting, now infested with aliens.

The Story So Far

If you find yourself reading this text, it’s likely that you’re curious about the subject of ‘Marathon’. Contrary to popular assumptions, it has nothing to do with long-distance running; rather, it seems to be something else entirely.

Bungie has created a unique portrayal of science fiction space colonization, featuring various strange alien species constantly engaged in conflict.

Essentially, in this game, you assume the role of an unnamed soldier aboard the UESC Marathon Ship, following commands from three artificially intelligent entities: Leela, Tycho, and Durandal. These AIs serve as your primary communication, delivering instructions to you through various computer terminals strategically placed throughout the ship.

Back in 1995, I found myself immersed in the thrilling world of the first Marathon game. My mission? To navigate through a hostile alien landscape, taking on an enigmatic race known as the P’fhor (and trust me, there are even more challenging alien names to wrap my tongue around later).

The second installment establishes the overall mood for what follows, introducing an ancient alien mythology reminiscent of Halo. The AI character, Durandal, becomes erratic and arrogant, shaping the narrative. As a hapless grunt ensnared in his sphere, Durandal doesn’t shy away from showcasing his divine self-importance.

As Infinity unfolds, the story becomes increasingly bizarre. If you wish to maintain your sanity, I’d recommend delving into in-depth explanations provided by creators such as MyNameIsByf and HiddenXperia.

The AI

Among all the artificial intelligence characters, Durandal stands out as my top pick. He’s essentially a lone warrior with an air of divinity and no sense of restraint whatsoever. One second he’s discussing poetry, the next he’s orchestrating alien annihilation as casually as one might plan a regular day.

Appropriately, his name is reminiscent of Charlemagne’s famous sword. Bungie often chooses to name its AI after notable historical figures.

Just as Charlemagne’s sword was renowned, so too is this character named after it. Bungie has a habit of naming their AI after significant historical figures.

Lastly:
Much like Charlemagne’s legendary sword, this individual shares the same name. Bungie frequently names its AI after prominent historical characters.

In essence, the narrative of this trilogy centers on these three fundamental AIs, and it’s fair to say that without their presence, there would be no Marathon in 2025. It is they who have been guiding the Marathon spacecraft towards Tau Ceti IV.

You Don’t Have to Play the Classic Trilogy

In essence, you won’t need to experience the classic Marathon trilogy from the past to appreciate its 2025 remake. This new iteration can be seen as Bungie’s revitalized take on the franchise. However, it should be noted that skipping the original games might mean missing out on some intriguing lore and background details.

As a fan, I must say, you won’t master the intricate pronunciation of names such as “S’pht” or “W’rkncacnter,” but fear not! If all you need is to blast things away and ooze coolness, then you’ve got it covered.

In the year 2025, the story of Marathon unfolds, a full 99 years after the conclusion of the initial trilogy. A significant revelation: the Marathon spaceship remains, drifting near Humanity’s first settlement on Tau Ceti IV—deserted and purposeless.

To clarify, if you’re anticipating a typical solo campaign like in previous games, you might find it falls short. Instead, the latest Marathon offers an extraction-style shooter experience, blending both player vs. player (PvP) and player vs. environment (PvE) gameplay. Bungie has suggested potential seasonal content, but whether that entails comprehensive story missions or just scattered lore is yet to be determined.

In the end, it’s your decision on how to proceed. There are numerous methods to obtain the original trilogy, with the free Aleph One versions being officially recommended by Bungie. Personally, I found the experience adequate, albeit a touch old-fashioned for my preference. However, it’s worth exploring due to its rich lore and historical significance.

Ultimately, personal taste decides matters most. However, for a true understanding of Marathon, jump right in and start playing it today!

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2025-04-18 17:12