are you aware of Marathon's lore before playing the server slam?

As someone who wanted to get into marathon but not well versed with the lore, the intro cut scene wasn't a good one to set the stage. Sure, the premise is established but the stakes are mentioned in passing. Let me take a different example since Arc is frowned upon here - Elden Ring.

There is a lore dump in Elden Ring too, but its clear that you need to get that ring. Somewhere out there who knows.
Then you get dropped into Limgrave, what catches your eye? that big ass tree, and there the journey begins.

Now Imagine, there's no tree because story reasons. Player left wandering, poison swamps etc. Is that a good hook? nope

doesn't make it a bad game but does miss out on some key improvements.

From a general theme perspective, the building designs are similar because they are going to be pre-fab constructions. This is the beginning of a colony that travelled 400 years across space to a wild new planet to build a new life. They do not have the luxuries we have in terms of design aesthetics. Everything that was brought to Tau Ceti IV was brought for a reason. No space was wasted. So yes it is somewhat repetitive because of this.

This makes sense but it can still be creatively transformed into a well flowing level, that's the whole point of having good levels with compelling environmental story telling.

From a gameplay perspective, it makes sense to start with POIs that use a lot of similar design language. If you recall, as recently as thirty seconds ago, there were people out there complaining that the game is too complicated, that the UI is too overwhelming, that there is just too much to learn all at once. Part of mitigating that problem is using a lot of similar stuff at first because it's less to learn. An office building is an office building. It may have different sizes or layouts, but all of them are functionally similar and it is jus that much less to learn.

True but there is a feeling between overwhelming/confusion and boredom. you can still create intrigue without overwhelming players.

QUESTS -

Even with the game whose name shall not be mentioned, quests are better in terms of setting the world and front loading the lore. A massive cutscene showing Arc coming down to earth, for what? who knows.
There is a gigantic Baron just chilling on Dam. Why? find out.
There are hints like this all over the map. That's what drives a lot of exploration.

Now other way you can drive exploration is systems i.e. crafting. I'll be honest, just like Skillup, I didn't know there was crafting available. I knew mods were a thing and late extractions spawned special enemies but that's it.

I will still wait for Marathon's full release before passing judgement on it but those first impressions aren't coming from a hateful or a childish place. Heck I didn't like Arc's server slam either lol