Classic Marathon

About

Classic Marathon is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Aleph One Developers and was released on May 10, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Alien forces have boarded the colony ship UESC Marathon in the Tau Ceti system, in orbit around humanity’s first interstellar colony. The situation is dire, and as a security officer assigned to the Marathon, your duty is to defend the ship and its crew from the alien threat. This classic 1994 Bungie™ FPS had a foundational influence on the genre, and is now maintained by the fan community. Exper…

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 947 reviews

story99 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Innovative for its time with features such as mouse look, dual wielding, vertical aiming, reloading, and in-game storytelling through terminals, influencing later Bungie games like Halo and Destiny.
Rich and complex sci-fi story delivered through immersive atmosphere and well-written AI characters, especially Durandal, providing a unique narrative experience uncommon in FPS of its era.
The Aleph One modern port runs smoothly on modern hardware with quality-of-life improvements and customization options, making the classic accessible and enjoyable for new players; also free on Steam.

Level design is often labyrinthine, confusing, and punishing with many puzzles and switch/elevator mechanics that can be frustrating and tedious, notably the infamous 'Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap' level.
Gameplay can feel floaty and sluggish, with awkward controls and movement physics (no manual jump, momentum-based platforming) that may hinder fluid combat and cause motion sickness for some players.
Saving is restricted to designated terminals only, with no autosave between levels and scarce health recharge stations, making progression punishing due to potential loss of significant progress upon death.

story
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
Marathon is widely praised for its deep, intricate sci-fi story and rich worldbuilding, delivered through in-game terminals that encourage exploration. For its 1994 release, it was revolutionary in integrating a complex narrative within a first-person shooter, laying groundwork for later Bungie titles like Halo. While the gameplay and level design may feel dated or frustrating at times, the story remains a standout, offering a philosophical, immersive experience rarely seen in FPS games of its era.
- “The storytelling was far ahead of its time and this game is not only a precursor to Halo but also feels like a precursor to Half-Life.”
- “The fact that the story is not only decent, but complex and multi-layered, is genuinely impressive.”
- “Marathon was one of the first FPS games to have vertical aiming with a mouse, and an immersive story line.”
- “The story is entirely skippable, discovered through many terminals scattered throughout the levels, some of them in secret areas.”
- “Deeper parts of the story require secret hunting and grenade hopping, which I am not a fan of.”
- “The story can feel a bit cliché and convoluted today but it's from a time where FPS games literally didn't even get a story, you had to go to JRPGs and Ultima if you wanted an actual story with your game.”
gameplay
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The gameplay of Marathon is a blend of classic 90s FPS mechanics and early innovations like free mouselook, dual-wielding, and altfires, offering a slower, more tactical pace compared to contemporaries. While praised for its ambitious design, unique mechanics, and integration with a rich narrative, it is often criticized for frustrating level design, obtuse puzzles, clunky controls, and dated elements that can hinder enjoyment for modern players. Overall, it holds historical significance and appeals to fans of vintage shooters and Bungie’s evolving design ethos, though less suited for those seeking polished, fast-paced action.
- “The original Marathon is a good blend of classic FPS gameplay and rich narrative told through text terminals, which are placed throughout different missions.”
- “The actual gameplay of Marathon is actually quite modern IMO, the flow is excellent and there are lots of bold ideas that work surprisingly well for 1994.”
- “With upgraded visuals, cooperative gameplay, and a story-driven campaign, it’s a nostalgic experience that brings modern tweaks to a genre pioneer.”
- “Gameplay and level design are what you'd expect from a 90s FPS, aka garbage.”
- “I understand that this is a seminal piece of gaming history and a generous release by Aleph One, and while some view classic Marathon through a lens of historical reverence, the actual gameplay experience is an ordeal in frustration.”
- “"Colony Ship for Sale, Cheap" – the platform-raising puzzles in this level are infuriating; the mechanics of the platform-raising switches aren't explained, and if/when you finally work it out, the tedious task of running around the level to the three different switch rooms to fine-tune all the different platform heights begins.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its moody, atmospheric, and often groovy midi soundtrack that effectively complements the dark, sci-fi setting and enhances immersion. While some find the looping tracks repetitive or less fitting to the environment, many appreciate its unique, somber vibe and consider it a standout aspect alongside the rich lore and storytelling. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as an integral part of the game's distinctive atmosphere, despite occasional critiques regarding variety and memorability.
- “Outside of those, the game's lore is what really reeled me in and kept me playing, some of those secret terminals you can find feel very rewarding without being huge exposition dumps - also giving credit where credit is due, the soundtrack is awesome.”
- “The soundtrack is moody and ominous, perfectly complementing the dark corridors and sterile alien architecture.”
- “At the same time it can be very captivating with the atmosphere of the marathon's darkened maze of abstract halls, its amazing soundtrack, the satisfaction of its gun play and the surprising depth of its story for a mid-90s shooter.”
- “The only thing you have to lose is your sanity listening to the same MIDI music tracks on loop for each level, because they aren't long and loop infinitely.”
- “While its contemporaries used audio to build immersion or set the tone, Marathon has no such ambience and no OST that reflects or drives gameplay, just rinky-dink pea shooter sounds with the satisfaction of wet cardboard coming from your ‘arsenal’ of kids toys.”
- “The game feels crude as the music is absent, and the level design is claustrophobic (and confusing) which looks like it didn't undergo any redesign at all to polish the gameplay.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The game's graphics are dated and basic by modern standards but are praised for fitting the tone and atmosphere, with a distinctive, retro pixelated art style that many find charming and evocative of 1990s shooters like Doom and early Halo. While some criticize occasional glitches and slow animations, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's unique vibe and storytelling, especially when optimized with available HUD and graphics settings. Overall, the graphics are appreciated as a nostalgic, fitting aesthetic rather than cutting-edge visuals.
- “Visuals are pixelated with good looking sprites for enemies, weapons and such.”
- “The graphics, story, atmosphere, music, enemies, weapons, they are extremely well done and ahead of its time.”
- “I appreciate the game's art style; it is distinctive and visually appealing.”
- “Basically Halo with Doom era graphics.”
- “The graphics are fine - the cheap 3D rendered graphics feel plasticky and remind me of low budget FPS shareware games you had on PC for years and certainly didn't impress me.”
- “The textures on the walls also looked very weird and random at times, so the graphics design team was certainly not the best.”
atmosphere
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The game is widely praised for its immersive, eerie, and richly atmospheric sci-fi setting, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and strong storytelling through in-game terminals. Its dark, maze-like levels and detailed worldbuilding create a unique vibe that stands out among mid-90s shooters, with many noting it surpasses contemporaries like Doom in atmosphere and narrative depth. Although dated in graphics and occasionally challenging due to maze-like maps, the atmosphere remains a defining and compelling strength that continues to engage players.
- “But what does make this game really special is its rich lore and thick immersive atmosphere, further enhanced by its unique somber soundtrack.”
- “Marathon shows Bungie's early attention to detail, with incredible storytelling through terminals and a setting in the UESC Marathon that is dripping in atmosphere.”
- “Incredibly atmospheric soundtrack, dark and ominous visuals, and a story with unprecedented complexity for its time.”
- “Basically, in terms of atmosphere this game has none.”
- “I can appreciate the soundtrack for the original Doom because they have a connection to the atmosphere of the levels, whereas Marathon seems more interested in making groovy MIDI songs that barely illustrate the spaceship interiors you are exploring.”
- “Really good but if you're expecting a Doom-like experience you'll be disappointed; compared to other entries in this series this game is a lot less of a frontal lobe spanking especially in the map layout, and it's the only Marathon game that has music which makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of the game.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is marked by a playful, sometimes teasing tone from the developers, who seem to relish challenging players with punishing levels and quirky design choices. The character Durandal adds a memorable comedic flair, often laughing at the player's struggles, creating a blend of frustration and amusement. This mix of dark humor and game difficulty contributes to a unique, engaging experience that has left a lasting impression on fans.
- “Pretty darn good gunplay, level design that can go from excellent, to good, to rather questionable (surely "colony ship for sale, cheap" was some 90s US government sponsored mind experiment). Narrative-wise it has an intriguing story and this franchise might have created my favourite "rampant AI" character (besides HAL 9000 from Kubrick's "Space Odyssey"). Durandal can be hilarious and I was always looking forward to reading his terminals after rampaging through the Marathon or the Pfhor ship.”
- “Also to be honest, if you really do get stuck in a level I wouldn't blame you to look up a guide. For example, to not really spoil anything, the level "colony ship for sale, cheap" has a funny piece of trivia: the level designer, Jason Jones, apologized for creating this map.”
- “This was one of the few games at the time where you could edit the models and physics, which led to hilarious weapons that shot fists or reload animations, or simple improvements like dialing in the accuracy and spread of the M.75 assault rifle (later improved in Marathon 2 as the MA-75B).”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding in this game is widely described as tedious and repetitive, often exacerbated by frustrating level design featuring complex puzzles and maze-like layouts that require backtracking and trial-and-error. While some find the challenge engaging in short bursts, long play sessions can become boring and aggravating due to the game's reliance on obscure mechanics and limited save points.
- “There are some frustrating design choices with the levels, which aren't so much difficult but more so tedious and nonsensical.”
- “It's tedious, repetitive, and borderline impossible without a robust walkthrough.”
- “While it might be tempting to push on at low health in the hope of finding one, the fact that you can only save at designated saving stations means the best option is often a tedious backtrack through the maze to heal.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game runs smoothly on current hardware and the Steam Deck, with only occasional minor glitches such as left stick issues and some OpenGL rendering bugs that can be easily resolved. Despite some graphical imperfections, overall stability is solid, maintaining the original game's aesthetics without significant quality-of-life improvements.
- “2360 AD-model planetoid-sized colony ship, slightly worn, runs great.”
- “It runs great on current hardware but with very few to no moderation or quality of life improvements out of the box, trying to keep with the original game's aesthetics and feel.”
- “Planetoid-sized colony ship, slightly worn, runs great.”
- “This game surprisingly runs well on Steam Deck, but rare glitches with the left stick occur and can be solved by restarting the game (takes a few seconds).”
- “The game offers some good graphics, although some ugly glitches appear here and there; it is pleasant all the same.”
- “The OpenGL renderer has a few glitches in some levels.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's replayability is enhanced by its gradual learning curve and strategic gameplay, which keep it engaging over time. Fans of classic shooters benefit from community mods that significantly extend its longevity, while modern control schemes may ease the experience for new players. Overall, the emphasis on depth and community content ensures lasting appeal beyond initial playthroughs.
- “Very slow-burn, not just the story but the gameplay; you'll learn to use your tools and skills to the fullest just before a new challenge, which keeps the game interesting and adds replay value.”
- “The Doom modding scene has been around since its inception, and 30 years of community-made content has a profound effect on replayability while keeping that game fresh in my eyes.”
- “It's understandable to be apprehensive about the new extraction shooter, given the recent trend towards games that prioritize short-term thrills over long-term replayability.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is well-optimized, featuring a smooth and playable performance with a modern source port rather than a simple emulator. It offers plenty of customization options, ensuring a solid technical experience despite its story-focused design without speedrun or performance metrics.
- “Technically, the game runs smoothly and remains very playable.”
- “Great port with plenty of customization and solid performance.”
- “Not just the old program put up on an emulator either, this is a full modern source port optimized for the current day.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate that the monetization in this version is fair, with no signs of cash grabs or aggressive pay-to-win elements.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional experience of the game was overwhelmingly negative, with users reporting feelings of discomfort and illness. It appears the game may evoke distress rather than positive emotions.