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Space Marine 2 has 3 game modes each having their strenghts but the TL;DR is that the game is great and totally worth the buy. I wouldn't recommend the DLCs as far as of early December 2024 tho as it's only cosmetics and the base game has plenty of cosmetics that are better looking IMO. To sumarize the game is simply a very well focused and polished horde beat them all type game with shooting elements. It is not a shooter, and it's not DMC either, it's more a strange hybrid gameplay that encourage getting in the thick of it. If you like horde shooters this might be the one game that give a nice melee spin and if you've played the first game it's a straight improvement on every mechanics.
In depth review of each gamemode :

The Campaign:
The campaign is around 9 hours or so long. It prioritise quality over quantity, and it shows. Pretty much every sections of the campaign is good and provide a fun experience with very little downtime and no single section that feels like a chore. It is also completely playable in coop with 3 players total, with each player playing a different campaign character that each have their moments. But it's also completely playable solo with no major difference in the experience.
The story is very good too, it manages to keep everything clear for newcomers while giving good lore bits for the initiated, all the while making every cinematic interesting, every set pieces nice to experience and leaving you wanting to know what happens next. It will not change your worldviews or make you rethink existence but it will provide generous entertainment and investment in what you are doing.
The difficulty is well balanced with the devs even pointing out the intended experience on the difficulty selection screen. However the campaign does get easier with additional players and the solo experience will provide the greater challenge that may encounter some difficulty spikes here and there.

Operation mode:
Once you've finished the campaign or while completing it you may switch to this mode to complete parallel missions. It is intended to be the live service PVE experience of the game. Basically you complete pre-made missions but instead of characters you get 6 classes to chose from each of which has a different archetype as well as loadout to chose from. You won't be able to pick up weapons on the ground either so you'll have to focus on your loadout. This mode has experience points and stat increases as well as perks, so you have an incentive to grind them, however they are only useful if you want to play at the higher difficulties in this mode which are different than the campaign difficulty and there are instead meant to be for higher level players to sink their time into managing the highest difficulty. You will also unlock cosmetics each time you win a mission.
This mode will probably be the one where you have the most time spent in if you do intend on grinding the game to total completion. Each class is actually fun to play and has it's own strenghts and playstyle, with each a single ability, they are as follow :
Tactical
This class is a balanced option, having access to the most varied gun selection. It's what your mind will usually go to if you're thinking of a space marine. They can be thought of as a jack of all trade but they don't actually have that master of none con to them, instead having a ability that allow focus on certain enemies and increasing the total DPS of the entire team on them, they are a welcomed addition to any groups.
Assault
Unfortunately having a more limited version of the jumppack than the campaign or PVP so that they don't fly out of bounds they are melee focused and meant to rush inside doing a maximum amount of damage, they however don't have a primary gun but are the only ones with access to the thunderhammer. Good for people who love rushing in and crush skulls.
Vanguard
Also melee focused, but less insane than the Assault, they have a grappling hook instead and are more meant for dueling stronger enemies than dealing with hordes. They also have less armor but access to primary guns that complement their skills.
Bulwark
Also melee focused but tanky instead, they have a shield that allow them to continuously block ranged attacks however they have no access to a primary gun. They are also the only class that can have the powersword and are great at cleaving through hordes. Their main ability is a flag that can be tweaked with perks for its effects but will always regenerate armor in a small AoE allowing you and your team to stand your ground against an onslaught of enemies.
Sniper
It's in the name, you have access to snipers. Great at dealing heavy damage to single targets they are welcomed in any boss fights and also to take care of dangerous major enemies . They can turn invisible and have less armor. It's a great class for those who want to play at a range or want to play as an assassin with their knife.
Heavy
Also meant for players who preffer to play at a range, they have access to the biggest weapons in the game like the Heavy Bolter, the Heavy Melta or the Heavy Plasma Incinerator (my favorite). It's however the only class without a melee weapon, making you very dependent on that (strong) primary gun dps. You have an energy shield as an ability (iron halo) but it's no really meant for defence and more meant to let you unleash your firepower at full even if the enemies are attacking you.

PVP mode
Gives you access to the same classes as in operations, and let you gain the same cosmetics as you get wins, but instead you fight against another team of players. With one team as chaos marines and the other for the Imperium, you have 3 gametypes : capture 3 zones, team deathmatch, and capture a single zone that will jump around to different locations.
This mode is very simple and straightforward, it's pvp in an arena, it's got high time to kill and small symetrical maps. If you loved that era of 2000s shooters with console multiplayer you're gonna enjoy this. Right now it lacks map variety, maybe a couple more gametypes but the fundamentals are extremely solid and fun, and I surpised myself by playing it way more that I initially expected.

Space Marine 2 has 3 game modes each having their strenghts but the TL;DR is that the game is great and totally worth the buy. I wouldn't recommend the DLCs as far as of early December 2024 tho as it's only cosmetics and the base game has plenty of cosmetics that are better looking IMO. [b] To sumarize the game is simply a very well focused and polished horde beat them all type game with shooting elements. It is not a shooter, and it's not DMC either, it's more a strange hybrid gameplay that encourage getting in the thick of it. If you like horde shooters this might be the one game that give a nice melee spin and if you've played the first game it's a straight improvement on every mechanics. [/b] In depth review of each gamemode : [u] The Campaign: [/u] The campaign is around 9 hours or so long. It prioritise quality over quantity, and it shows. Pretty much every sections of the campaign is good and provide a fun experience with very little downtime and no single section that feels like a chore. It is also completely playable in coop with 3 players total, with each player playing a different campaign character that each have their moments. But it's also completely playable solo with no major difference in the experience. The story is very good too, it manages to keep everything clear for newcomers while giving good lore bits for the initiated, all the while making every cinematic interesting, every set pieces nice to experience and leaving you wanting to know what happens next. It will not change your worldviews or make you rethink existence but it will provide generous entertainment and investment in what you are doing. The difficulty is well balanced with the devs even pointing out the intended experience on the difficulty selection screen. However the campaign does get easier with additional players and the solo experience will provide the greater challenge that may encounter some difficulty spikes here and there. [u] Operation mode: [/u] Once you've finished the campaign or while completing it you may switch to this mode to complete parallel missions. It is intended to be the live service PVE experience of the game. Basically you complete pre-made missions but instead of characters you get 6 classes to chose from each of which has a different archetype as well as loadout to chose from. You won't be able to pick up weapons on the ground either so you'll have to focus on your loadout. This mode has experience points and stat increases as well as perks, so you have an incentive to grind them, however they are only useful if you want to play at the higher difficulties in this mode which are different than the campaign difficulty and there are instead meant to be for higher level players to sink their time into managing the highest difficulty. You will also unlock cosmetics each time you win a mission. This mode will probably be the one where you have the most time spent in if you do intend on grinding the game to total completion. Each class is actually fun to play and has it's own strenghts and playstyle, with each a single ability, they are as follow : [b] Tactical [/b] This class is a balanced option, having access to the most varied gun selection. It's what your mind will usually go to if you're thinking of a space marine. They can be thought of as a jack of all trade but they don't actually have that master of none con to them, instead having a ability that allow focus on certain enemies and increasing the total DPS of the entire team on them, they are a welcomed addition to any groups. [b] Assault [/b] Unfortunately having a more limited version of the jumppack than the campaign or PVP so that they don't fly out of bounds they are melee focused and meant to rush inside doing a maximum amount of damage, they however don't have a primary gun but are the only ones with access to the thunderhammer. Good for people who love rushing in and crush skulls. [b] Vanguard [/b] Also melee focused, but less insane than the Assault, they have a grappling hook instead and are more meant for dueling stronger enemies than dealing with hordes. They also have less armor but access to primary guns that complement their skills. [b] Bulwark [/b] Also melee focused but tanky instead, they have a shield that allow them to continuously block ranged attacks however they have no access to a primary gun. They are also the only class that can have the powersword and are great at cleaving through hordes. Their main ability is a flag that can be tweaked with perks for its effects but will always regenerate armor in a small AoE allowing you and your team to stand your ground against an onslaught of enemies. [b] Sniper [/b] It's in the name, you have access to snipers. Great at dealing heavy damage to single targets they are welcomed in any boss fights and also to take care of dangerous major enemies . They can turn invisible and have less armor. It's a great class for those who want to play at a range or want to play as an assassin with their knife. [b] Heavy [/b] Also meant for players who preffer to play at a range, they have access to the biggest weapons in the game like the Heavy Bolter, the Heavy Melta or the Heavy Plasma Incinerator (my favorite). It's however the only class without a melee weapon, making you very dependent on that (strong) primary gun dps. You have an energy shield as an ability (iron halo) but it's no really meant for defence and more meant to let you unleash your firepower at full even if the enemies are attacking you. [u] PVP mode [/u] Gives you access to the same classes as in operations, and let you gain the same cosmetics as you get wins, but instead you fight against another team of players. With one team as chaos marines and the other for the Imperium, you have 3 gametypes : capture 3 zones, team deathmatch, and capture a single zone that will jump around to different locations. This mode is very simple and straightforward, it's pvp in an arena, it's got high time to kill and small symetrical maps. If you loved that era of 2000s shooters with console multiplayer you're gonna enjoy this. Right now it lacks map variety, maybe a couple more gametypes but the fundamentals are extremely solid and fun, and I surpised myself by playing it way more that I initially expected.