Bungie's Marathon: An Eye for Design

I'm almost surprised the chair doesn't have a label that says "SIT"

I like pulling off the perfect headshot as much as the next guy, but honestly, I spend an embarrassingly long time while gaming looking at all the little props, greebles, and digital details that get put into video games. And seeing the latest gameplay footage of Bungie's upcoming reboot of "Marathon," I can't wait to put my sights on all that colorful eye candy.

Bungie's Art Director, Joseph Cross, has called Marathon's art style "Graphic Realism" - meaning that as opposed to heading in a pure realistic visual direction (such as Call of Duty and alike tend to do) they are going for a more stylized representation of reality (such as Mirror's Edge). However, many people have been misconstruing this term with the actual game world aesthetic, which I would say is really a Y2K Cyberpunk mixed with Acid Graphic Design Posters.

Regardless of what you call it; the result is some overly saturated utilitarian sci fi, turned up to 11, which I am totally here for. Forget your photorealistic textures and gritty realism for a moment. Marathon seems to be serving up a tasty smorgasbord of visual information, where every object isn't just there; it's practically shouting its purpose in a vibrant, almost aggressively clear way. Think hazard stripes that could stop traffic, glowing conduits labeled with their specific energy output, and control panels plastered with icons so bold they practically jump off the screen.

This isn't just about making things look cool (though it absolutely does). It's about a design philosophy that fully, nay, overly embraces the idea that objects should inform you of their use, which was also the driving theory behind how we at BRACE Design designed the case backs for our watches. That roll of "ATTACH" tape? You know exactly what it's for. That airlock seal emblazoned with "SEAL"? No ambiguity there. It's a level of visual directness that's both refreshing and, dare I say, incredibly satisfying for someone who appreciates the intentionality behind detail. And hilariously (for me and only me) it reminds me of MSHA electrical tape (I was in mining waaaaaay too long).

MSHA Electric Tape. So you know it's MSHA approved. (There's an inside joke there... somewhere)

For us prop-obsessed gamers, this approach is like being let loose in a digital candy store. Every corner promises a new delight, a new piece of meticulously crafted visual information to dissect and appreciate. What kind of font is that warning label? How is the wear and tear distributed on that piece of machinery, suggesting its history of use? What subtle color cues are being used to differentiate between different types of equipment? These are the questions that keep me up at night (well, maybe not literally, but you get the idea).

And the sci-fi setting? It's the perfect canvas for this kind of bold design. The genre has always played with the juxtaposition of the familiar and the futuristic, and Marathon's aesthetic seems to be amplifying this by taking the mundane and rendering it in this hyper-saturated, almost cartoonishly functional style. It's the utilitarian turned artistic, the practical made pop.

So, while the masses are undoubtedly gearing up for the intense action and narrative that Bungie is known for, you'll likely find me geeking out over the texture of a "CAUTION: HIGH VOLTAGE" sticker or tracing the lines of a boldly labeled access panel. Because in the world of Marathon, it's not just about surviving the fight; it's about savoring the colorful compendium of details that make this sci-fi world a truly unique and visually arresting experience. This isn't just a game; it's a masterclass in visual design, and I, for one, am ready to dig in.

Gameplay images courtesy of Marathon Intel