PLOT
Marathon takes place in the year 2794 aboard a large, Multi-generational colony spacecraft called the U.E.S.C. (United Earth Space Council) Marathon. The ship was converted from Demios, one of Mars' two moons. The plot of the story sets the player as a superhuman cyborg and focuses around an invasion of the ship by hostile extraterrestrial slavers called the Pfhor (pronounced "for"). The story is primarily revealed through various computer interfaces called Computer Terminals, which relay crew logs, maintenance documents and several events. It is through these terminals as well that the player receives mission information from Leela, the ship's AI, as well as Durandal and Tycho, the two lesser AIs aboard the Marathon. The history and the relationship between these artificial intelligences serve as a significant plot device in the story.
In the Beginning the player acquire basic weapons and initiating a counterattack, which involves activating the M.A.D.D. (Marathon Automated Defense Drones) and sending a distress call to the planet Earth to warn them of the invasion. In this process, the player is kidnapped by Durandal, an Artificial Intelligence responsible for opening doors, kitchen maintenance and other monotonous functions aboard the ship. Durandal goes offline during the initial alien attack. He achieves rampancy at the beginning of the game, a state that is described by a few terminals in the game and Durandal himself as the self-awareness of a computer system that permits a progression towards greater mental abilities. His achievement of this state was a result of his extremely limited work and abuse by a human handler. Durandal and his rampancy play an influential role in the later parts of the story.
Leela eventually succumbs to the attacks of S'pht compilers, cybernetic alien creatures enslaved by the Pfhor that fight on their side until the conclusion of the game. Durandal takes her place and ends up as the Artificial Intelligence that assists the player. He proves to be a sarcastic and more philosophical entity than the rather impersonal Leela, often speaking of the "freedom" that his achievement of rampancy brings him. He eventually sends the player to explore the Pfhor ship to collect information about it. It is eventually discovered that the S'pht are under the control of a cyborg on the ship. When the cyborg is destroyed by the player, the S'pht are free and a rebellion against the Pfhor begins. Durandal gradually becomes stable and assists the player in the extermination of the last few hostile forces on the Marathon. Durandal leaves the Marathon and gains control of the Pfhor ship at this point.
GRAPHICS
One should keep in mind that this game came out in 1994 so it will not look as good as today's games. For it's time it really was not that bad. While all the objects were 2-Dimentional sprites, it still gave a very good appearance (again, for its time). The walls, switches, doors, and other things had some nice designs which prevented them from looking very plain and they had a fairly good realistic like to them.
SOUNDS
This was kind of a problem with the game. There were no ambient sounds made with this game. All you will hear are doors, switches, weapon fire and small things like that. But it was covered up in a fairly decent way by background music, which did give some "ambience" to the game and sometimes the tune did fit the area or environment that you were in.
GAMEPLAY
Regardless, this game is fun. It has interesting challenges with the combat and learning about the story adds fun and interest throughout the game. It is easy to get around and find your way back, should you need to.
My Final Score is a 8.0
Sharkie Lino Contributing Writer Gamer's Perspective
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