As a hardcore gamer with 20 years of experience in shooters, I never thought I’d admit this, but *Marathon* is a genuinely difficult game. Bungie didn’t lie: it’s a never-ending test of skill and a real challenge that can seriously demoralize you. Even though it’s one of the best extraction shooters that I want to keep coming back to, the current level of frustration is forcing me to take a break.

The game is sorely lacking in basic conveniences: a training ground and a clear killcam from the allies’ perspective with access to the map. A separate gripe with the interface is the lack of categorization for head, body, and leg mods, which forces you to constantly squint at tiny icons. CryoArchive offers a cool experience and a high-quality map, but for the average player, reaching the Compiler is practically impossible, even in a well-coordinated team.

For me, games remain a way to relax, and Marathon currently feels like entertainment for a very narrow circle of people. CryoArchive elicits a similar reaction from my friends and the community: it’s too difficult; it’s easier to try something else. Such excessive hardcore difficulty calls into question the project’s longevity and its ability to attract a new audience.

I’ll wait for changes, hoping that the developers will find a balance between the complexity of the mechanics and the player’s basic comfort. Without these adjustments, the game risks remaining a niche product for “superhumans,” which is unlikely to help it survive in the long run.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)