I Hope Marathon Borrows One Key Feature From Bungie’s Original

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Bungie’s new game, Marathon, feels like a logical progression for the studio, particularly since they’ve spent more time developing the Destiny series than they ever did Halo. However, it’s faced criticism and doubt from fans. This is largely due to concerns about Bungie’s ability to create a truly outstanding game after several unsuccessful attempts with Destiny, and a general dislike of PlayStation’s desire for a popular, ongoing live service game like Fortnite or Genshin Impact.

Despite the initial strong negative reaction to Marathon, everything we’ve seen suggests the new game is shaping up to be both successful and genuinely enjoyable. However, for me, this highlights a concern. While the trailers have been amazing and showcase Bungie’s excellent gameplay, I really hope the game eventually includes a single-player campaign, just like its original predecessor.

Marathon Needs A Single-Player Campaign

I understand that Marathon is designed as a PvPvE extraction shooter and will only be available in that format at launch. It’s unlikely Bungie will add a traditional single-player campaign like the one in their previous game. However, I think a dedicated offline story mode would significantly improve the game in the future. It would especially help expand on the compelling world hinted at in the game’s stunning trailers. We’ve seen a lot of intriguing, sci-fi horror imagery that suggests a deeper story waiting to be uncovered.

Bungie has decided to reveal the story of Marathon only through details found within the game’s environments. It’s a little disappointing, especially since the original Marathon was groundbreaking in how it connected gameplay with its story. While it’s not unusual for a sequel to change things, completely moving away from what made the first game special feels like a missed opportunity. This is particularly frustrating because there aren’t many truly captivating story-driven first-person shooters being released right now, and the genre could really use a fresh, compelling title.

Bungie is uniquely positioned to revive the space opera genre. They’ve consistently demonstrated a knack for crafting memorable stories, most notably with Halo, which profoundly impacted gaming and military science fiction. While their attempt at an epic narrative with Destiny didn’t fully succeed, that was likely due to the challenges inherent in ongoing, live-service games, not necessarily a weakness in their storytelling. With Marathon, Bungie had a chance to revisit the style of Halo and deliver a similar experience, and it’s disappointing they didn’t pursue that path.

I don’t want the extraction shooter mode removed entirely. I strongly believe a single-player story would work well alongside a multiplayer or co-op mode, just like it did in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. I think this would actually encourage players – especially those who usually prefer solo games like myself – to try the extraction shooter mode after becoming familiar with the world and characters of Marathon. However, the most important reason to include a single-player campaign is to preserve the game’s story and legacy.

A Single-Player Mode Would Save Marathon From A Concord Fate

I still find it surprising that Concord, a game promising a rich story and interesting characters, didn’t include even a small single-player mode at launch. It seems unrealistic that Firewalk Studios thought players would connect with the characters just by reading background information and watching short videos each week. The best way to get players invested in the game’s world would have been a single-player campaign where they could play as, meet, and get to know the heroes they’d use in multiplayer.

If Concord had been supported with a traditional marketing campaign alongside its digital launch, it might still be available today, allowing everyone to appreciate the incredible work that went into it. Marathon is already causing some disagreement among players, though perhaps not as much as Concord, but it’s close. Bungie and PlayStation are trying hard to regain public trust in Marathon, and this effort could succeed. However, it could also fail like Highguard, losing players quickly after launch and forcing PlayStation to either shut it down or spend more money trying to revive it.

Adding a single-player mode would safeguard the game’s excellent shooting mechanics, beautiful graphics, and intriguing story, all of which Bungie has carefully developed over the past few years. It would give players a reason to come back and help the game have a lasting impact, similar to Bungie’s previous successes. With game preservation becoming increasingly vital, offline options for online-only games feel essential, particularly for dedicated players who worry about the game being removed from sale and servers shut down unexpectedly. Furthermore, given the uncertainty surrounding Bungie’s future, it would be great to see them create something reminiscent of their most beloved titles, ensuring a legacy that truly reflects their best work, even if things don’t go as planned.

Marathon is entering a crowded and specialized market that, while expanding, already has several well-established and popular games. Adding a single-player campaign could really set Marathon apart from games like Arc Raiders. It would appeal to longtime Bungie fans who miss their story-driven games, players looking for a good science fiction single-player shooter, and those eager to find their next favorite extraction shooter. Considering the studio’s history of strong storytelling, it seems like a smart move.

I’ve been thinking, does Marathon really need a single-player mode? What do you all think? Let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – I’d love to hear your opinions!

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2026-02-25 01:15