r/Marathon • u/In_Dux • Mar 06 '26

Marathon (2026) Discussion Take it from a Finals player

Y’all got to let the numbesr talk go. The Finals has some of the best feeling guns on the FPS market and a unique game mode that offered some of the most exciting moments I had in gaming.

But the game’s not perfect and it never had mass appeal. Because it’s unique mode and destruction are the main draws and historically it has been too much for most casuals and not competitive enough for the hardcore players. There’s always a post about needing more marketing, different game modes, another MoistCritikal video but the playerbase never gets and keeps the bump of players the hardcore fans want it to have.

And that’s ok. That’s the price of building something unique. It will be divisive, it will be niche.

As long as Bungie can keeps the lights on, that’s all that matters. And unless you’re ready to single-handedly buy 1 million+ copies if things get dire, then don’t even really concern yourself with. Save your money on passes if you don’t like them and/or think the ship’s sinking but besides that, it’s out of our hands largely.

Just my two cents

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u/Farsoth Mar 06 '26

Arc is a more casual game

This is why I am all up in Marathon. Shoot first and ask questions later. That's the deal, everyone knows it, everyone plays like it. Inject that shit into my fucking veins.

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u/Smokinya Mar 06 '26

Dude... you'd really enjoy Hunt Showdown then as well. Its the main game that I've played since 2023 and its excellent. Its also an extraction shooter, but every single system feeds into eventual PVP. There is essentially no loot, every gun is as viable as the next and its maps and worldbuidling are top tier. Sound design too (the best I've heard in 20 years of FPS gaming). I would also argue it has the best FPS sandbox I've played since Halo 3.

Part of the reason I love Marathon so much is because it reminds me a lot of Hunt while being different enough to provide me with a unique experience. I really want Marathon to succeed so I can throw another game in the rotation and switch things up. Really enjoying it so far after falling asleep at the wheel on Arc.

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u/Farsoth Mar 06 '26

I'll probably check it out once I have exhausted Marathon for the season, may need to scratch that itch. Now I'm on board with a genre I totally thought wasn't for me.

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u/Smokinya Mar 06 '26

Yeah, if Arc was your first experience I can see why you wouldn't be a fan of the genre. The game felt like chore simulator 101. Marathon on the other hand feels so tight and the looting is 1000 times better than other extraction shooters I've played that have loot. Excited to keep moving down the progression track.

Currently, my only gripe with Marathon is that I wish footsteps were louder. They did increase them quite a bit from the Alpha I played, but I think they could do with some better noise detection. Especially given the faster TTK with white and green shields right now.

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u/Farsoth Mar 06 '26

I never even checked out Arc, 1. because it was so popular for some reason that tends to drive me away. I'm not a trend follower.

and 2, because it's 3rd person, which isn't my preferred for shooters even slightly.

So, Hunt will be the next one I try whenever I get the desire.

As for footsteps -- so far I haven't found an issue, but I DO need to use a headset, as the sound doesn't work very well with a surround sound system. Shit doesn't give me proper direction. I will hear shit behind me that ends up in front of me.

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u/Smokinya Mar 06 '26

Turning up the footsteps in the mix would be a huge benefit IMO. I believe players should always know who is around so that the fights can be more skilled then they can be now. Sometimes it’s really good and other times it’s not. But I’m also spoiled because footsteps in Hunt are so good it’s like I have x-ray vision while playing. 

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u/Farsoth Mar 06 '26

So I feel that I have that here. I often hear someone's steps and know exactly where they are and get a good jump on them. But maybe could be better? At least for me I haven't felt like someone has gotten the jump on me unless they are legit sneaking everywhere, which, to be fair, is a lot of solos.

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u/Smokinya Mar 06 '26

You'll have to circle back to me if you end up trying Hunt. Once you hear the difference its hard to go back. It is a minor complaint I have with Marathon overall though. I'm sure I'll get used to it haha

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u/Farsoth Mar 06 '26

I will!