Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Very violent sci-fi shooter deals in gory, bloody combat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say this game provides an engaging experience for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring smooth controls and satisfying combat, but it also contains excessive violence and gore that makes it unsuitable for younger audiences. While many enjoy the game's action and story, it's recommended for older teens due to its mature content, with some players suggesting that it can be repetitive over time.
- engaging combat
- excessive violence
- mature content
- not for kids
- repetitive gameplay
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Based on the tabletop miniature war game that has been a part of modern gaming culture for nearly a quarter of a century, WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE is a third-person shooter that lets players take on the role of a meaty, sci-fi super-soldier battling an army of lime-skinned, Cockney-accented aliens known as "orks." Powerful ranged weapons make it easy to take on baddies from a distance, but eventually the enemy's sheer numbers will force players to draw their chainswords and energy-infused axes to do battle at close range, sending multiple orks flying with each swing. Once players have worked through the campaign, competitive play awaits in a pair of online modes that allow players to level up their avatars and earn experience points, perks, and custom armor.
Is It Any Good?
There's not much wrong with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, but there's also not a lot that's fresh or original. Fans of other third-person sci-fi shooters, such as games in Gears of War series, will find Space Marine familiar, even though it eschews any sort of strategic covering system in favor of simple, head-on battles. Most levels are composed of simple, linear routes leading through wide corridors that give our hero plenty of room to get down and dirty with his chainsword. It's fun for a while, but tedium eventually sets in.
It's worth adding that Space Marine isn't just a love letter to longtime fans who have always wanted to see the franchise's action from a battlefield-level perspective, but also an accessible point of entry for players new to the dauntingly epic Warhammer universe. Still, it just doesn't do much to innovate or stand out in the crowded third-person genre. It's completely competent, but far from exceptional.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in games. How do you feel after playing violent games? Do you think they have any impact on how you think or act while engaged in activities in the real world? Do games with fantasy violence directed at non-humans have less of an impact on how you feel than those that depict gritty, realistic violence toward people?
Families can also discuss online play. How do you protect yourself from online predators? What would you do if you encountered someone suspicious while playing a game online?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : THQ
- Release date : September 6, 2011
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
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