Like other extraction shooters, Marathon pits players against one another on raids to secure resources, defeat NPC enemies, and loot high-value locations. The goal is to drop into a game, complete your missions, and then get out alive with your gear. If you die in a round, all of your gear is left on your body, and anyone can loot it. Hence the thrilling sense of risk and reward.
There are lots of major differences, though. For starters, in Marathon, players select “shells” that define their class. Certain shells may excel at healing and damage mitigation, while other shells may boost your speed or offensive capabilities. The game is primarily structured around teamwork and choosing shells that complement one another well.
I spent three hours with the server slam last night…