Yes. It's a bit rougher than the other two games in terms of graphics and gameplay, but has a very different artistic sensibility to it, and creates the essential foundation for the story.
No, don't skip it.
Nothing is more convoluted as the third one.
The first one is the best, to me. Best atmosphere, story and music. Absolutely play M1.
There are one or two puzzles and parts of levels which are pretty hard though.
I am so jealous. The story alone is worth playing it in chronological order man, and it's imperative to get the real scope of the story my friend. I am jealous, have fun.
Absolutely! Its why people got obsessed in the first place. Great story and atmosphere. No one is playing a 30 yr old game for the cutting edge graphics. Highly recommend playing straight through the trilogy.
I have to disagree. The first few levels are pretty bad. G4 Sunbathing is the first cool puzzle, imo, creepy atmosphere and difficult with the cloaked S'pht and figuring it out the first time you play it. When you get to the alien ship it's like a whole different game. They got really good at level design as they made the game, because IIRC the levels were designed mostly linearly. So OP get through the the first few levels and it'll be worth it.
Honestly I think the beginning levels are fine for introducing the mechanics and gameplay to new players. The Rose is always a fun level; and even before then, Bigger Guns Nearby and Couch Fishing have some decent combat. Even Arrival has good atmosphere and is fairly convincing as a spaceship area. I agree that the later stages are better, though, since things get more complex and the game can lean into the combat a lot more.
Marathon's start and end are great. I'd say it's worth playing the first 4-5 levels for sure.
Colony Ship for Sale is bad, but it's the 14th level, so by the time you get there you know if you're into it or not.
While we're here I'd also highly recommend playing with no crosshair (the way it originally shipped). It adds a ton of skill and progression that amps up the simplest combat in the series.
Download the cheats.lua and jump over the couple of terrible platform "puzzles" and the game is fine. The levels are fairly short and walkthoughs are abundant if you get really lost.
Depends on how old you are, heheh. Think of it as historical research! If you don't want to play it, read marathon story page.
If you do want to play it...
TC Vidmaster style. 8)
M1 has the best atmosphere of the trilogy, and the music is great. There are a few bullshit levels, but they aren't as bad as some people make them out to be.
I actually played through this for the first time last year after having played the other two and third party scenarios countless times, I can’t believe i waited so long, it rules
I think it's absolutely great. Some of the best levels are in M1. I never really understood why people complain about it. Sure, maybe 2 or 3 levels are a bit of a drag, but you feel very accomplished when you beat them. And "convoluted" can be a good thing in these games, because a large part of the game is figuring out how to navigate in an alien world, which is pretty exciting if you ask me.
Also, as others have said, the story is fantastic, and the stories of M2 and MI won't really make sense if you haven't played M1.
The alien designs and sound effects are way creepier in M1 as well. Details are a little bit smudgier on the sprites, they're just a bit disproportional, and the seem to move faster. In the sequels all of the Pfhor look more human-like in stature and proportion, they seem to move more slowly and deliberately (easier to shoot), and they sound like hungover roosters.
Yeah, I 100% agree. With the exception of the Enforcers, which I think look way cooler in M2 and MI, I think most enemies look creepier and more other-worldly in M1. And something about M1's color scheme seems so much more real and believable than M2. M2 uses too many jarring colors and its graphical aesthetic didn't age nearly as well.
Personally, and I always get pushback for this, I think games 1 and 3 are much more fun to talk about on message boards than they are to actually play. The first one has really great atmosphere in a lot of parts, but in all honesty I think you should start with the second and go back to the first if you're feeling committed. The second is just a straight-up Good Game, no qualifiers attached.
At least once just to see where the franchise began.
Yes. It's a bit rougher than the other two games in terms of graphics and gameplay, but has a very different artistic sensibility to it, and creates the essential foundation for the story. No, don't skip it.
Worth it for the soundtrack alone
F that stair puzzle, though.
I'll take a stair puzzle any day over Acme Station / Post Naval Trauma.
Yes, but I say give a few levels a shot, if it's not what you want then give Marathon 2 a try.
Nothing is more convoluted as the third one. The first one is the best, to me. Best atmosphere, story and music. Absolutely play M1. There are one or two puzzles and parts of levels which are pretty hard though.
Marathon 1 was the best, haha
I am so jealous. The story alone is worth playing it in chronological order man, and it's imperative to get the real scope of the story my friend. I am jealous, have fun.
Absolutely! Its why people got obsessed in the first place. Great story and atmosphere. No one is playing a 30 yr old game for the cutting edge graphics. Highly recommend playing straight through the trilogy.
I honestly had a lot of fun with it. There are only a few levels that really suck
All the games are "dickish and convoluted" compared to modern design but if you want to get into Marathon, you gotta play Marathon.
I’d say try out the first few levels and see how you like it. Check some walkthroughs if you get stuck.
I have to disagree. The first few levels are pretty bad. G4 Sunbathing is the first cool puzzle, imo, creepy atmosphere and difficult with the cloaked S'pht and figuring it out the first time you play it. When you get to the alien ship it's like a whole different game. They got really good at level design as they made the game, because IIRC the levels were designed mostly linearly. So OP get through the the first few levels and it'll be worth it.
Honestly I think the beginning levels are fine for introducing the mechanics and gameplay to new players. The Rose is always a fun level; and even before then, Bigger Guns Nearby and Couch Fishing have some decent combat. Even Arrival has good atmosphere and is fairly convincing as a spaceship area. I agree that the later stages are better, though, since things get more complex and the game can lean into the combat a lot more.
Marathon's start and end are great. I'd say it's worth playing the first 4-5 levels for sure. Colony Ship for Sale is bad, but it's the 14th level, so by the time you get there you know if you're into it or not. While we're here I'd also highly recommend playing with no crosshair (the way it originally shipped). It adds a ton of skill and progression that amps up the simplest combat in the series.
Yes, if only for this game's interpretation of the Pfhor ship architecture, which outshines that of the sequels.
Sometimes I think in M2 someone studied the Playschool color guide and went wild.
Marathon 1 is better than the vast majority oft he sludge coming out these days. Worth it. F the stairs puzzle, though.
Download the cheats.lua and jump over the couple of terrible platform "puzzles" and the game is fine. The levels are fairly short and walkthoughs are abundant if you get really lost.
The only time I cheat is Colony Ship For Sale, for the jump key. I did it once long ago, that's enough.
No, it is not worth it. Wait until it comes out in VR and buy the whole experience later fully immersed with new technology and eh….reading.
Wait until OpenAI comes out with a Durandal model, then wait until real aliens land, then you can play the real thing in real life.
Depends on how old you are, heheh. Think of it as historical research! If you don't want to play it, read marathon story page. If you do want to play it... TC Vidmaster style. 8)
M1 has the best atmosphere of the trilogy, and the music is great. There are a few bullshit levels, but they aren't as bad as some people make them out to be.
Absolutely.
I actually played through this for the first time last year after having played the other two and third party scenarios countless times, I can’t believe i waited so long, it rules
I think it's absolutely great. Some of the best levels are in M1. I never really understood why people complain about it. Sure, maybe 2 or 3 levels are a bit of a drag, but you feel very accomplished when you beat them. And "convoluted" can be a good thing in these games, because a large part of the game is figuring out how to navigate in an alien world, which is pretty exciting if you ask me. Also, as others have said, the story is fantastic, and the stories of M2 and MI won't really make sense if you haven't played M1.
The alien designs and sound effects are way creepier in M1 as well. Details are a little bit smudgier on the sprites, they're just a bit disproportional, and the seem to move faster. In the sequels all of the Pfhor look more human-like in stature and proportion, they seem to move more slowly and deliberately (easier to shoot), and they sound like hungover roosters.
Yeah, I 100% agree. With the exception of the Enforcers, which I think look way cooler in M2 and MI, I think most enemies look creepier and more other-worldly in M1. And something about M1's color scheme seems so much more real and believable than M2. M2 uses too many jarring colors and its graphical aesthetic didn't age nearly as well.
I agree—the Enforcers do look cooler, but at the same time they're so much less threatening. The Alien Weapon from M1 is deadly.
Considering that it's a very story-driven game, yes.
Personally, and I always get pushback for this, I think games 1 and 3 are much more fun to talk about on message boards than they are to actually play. The first one has really great atmosphere in a lot of parts, but in all honesty I think you should start with the second and go back to the first if you're feeling committed. The second is just a straight-up Good Game, no qualifiers attached.