Introduction
Basic information
Developer: Auroch Digital
Full name: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Release date: 2023
Released on: Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
Cross play: no
Genre: action First-Person Shooter
Additional information: Will name this game Warhammer Boltgun for the rest of the review.
Extra information: This review is a lost relic from the year 2024 that was never published and kept safe for back up, but it will now be released for everyone!
Initial thoughts
I was mostly interested in the pixel graphics, and shooting demons. I did not expect that I would need to know the whole story of Warhammer to know what was going on. When I started playing this game, I expected a fast-paced shooter with minimal puzzles. Looking for key cards or a switch? That’s great. Demons spawning behind you? Sure, time to dive into this game!
Story and setting
Plot overview
The plot overview will be a bit tricky for me. It takes place after one or several other Warhammer games; I don’t know which one. You are tasked with retrieving something from a corrupted race, and you need to purge them. But as someone who never played Warhammer before, I had no idea what was going on. Who I needed to kill or why. Why they had to be purged. To be clear, I was utterly confused.
World building and immersion
The world building appears to be short with just a few cutscenes. I did not feel immersed at all; I thought this would be a good standalone game. But instead I needed to understand the Warhammer lore. What was the first game? I have no idea.
Character development
I did not think there was any character development at all. You just keep going on and killing demons. You have to get the artifact away from the sorcerer, that is about all that seems to happen in this game.
Emotional impact
Unless you have played every Warhammer game up to this point and know what is going on, there will be no emotional impact.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story, and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 3.0.
What in the hell is going on? The low rating is because the story is not very good and you have to play other games in the franchise to know what is going on.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The core mechanics are the same as pretty much all the other first-person shooter games out there. You are dropped in a hostile environment with monsters lurking around. You usually start with a melee weapon, but you will find a gun in no time. There are other guns to find like a shotgun or a machine gun.
Your health is important and can be protected by faith, which is probably something for the Warhammer series that is important. You can find an insane amount of health, ammo, and faith lying around. While shooting demons is good, there are too many puzzles for my taste. Getting stuck for twenty minutes in a warping puzzle is not my idea of fun.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty is quite low with all the extra items spread out everywhere. Some difficulty comes from enemies spawning behind you or having rooms where you need to purge demons. It is best to keep moving or even snipe them from far away. As long as you keep moving, it should be fine. Difficulty also comes from boss battles, not per se difficult, the hard part is finding them.
Pacing of the game
The pacing of the game feels fine, Warhammer Boltgun is divided by chapters. Each one has new monsters, but most of the enemies are dumb in this game. Which kinds of ruins the pacing.
Innovation and uniqueness
There is nothing new or unique in this game; it is a boomer shooter that continues the lore of Warhammer and leaves those without lore stranded in the deep abyss of unknowing. All in all, a glorified lore boomer shooter.
Controls and user interface
The controls are smooth and you can even jump over holes. The user interface is minimalistic and does not get in the way at all.
Microtransactions
Microtransactions available: No
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 6.0.
Too many puzzles, and without proper lore, you cannot connect well to the game. The enemy A.I. is very poor. You can snipe them, and they will just take the hits.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics are something that have been done well. The levels look amazing and all have their own feel to them. The enemies are apparently unique to the Warhammer lore, but I would not know. They are demons, and you should kill them.
Technical performances
There are some serious technical difficulties on the Xbox One. We encountered massive lag spikes, frame stutters, slowed down gameplay, and even a few crashes. No major loss of save data occurred, but it was still annoying.
Environment and design uniqueness
The environment does feel unique. All the levels are great to walk through, except for the puzzles. Some warping portal puzzles are very annoying. Except for the puzzles, the environments are great.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 7.0.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The music is good, but it is very fast-paced. This is fun and good when the demons are coming at you. However, when you are stuck in a puzzle, this fast-paced music can annoy you.
Sound effects quality
The quality of the sound effects is good; you can even taunt the demons. The sound effects are fine for a fast-paced boomer shooter.
Voice Acting
There is only a little amount of voice acting, like taunting, but all in all, fine.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 7.0.
Multiplayer components
Online gameplay experience
Not applicable.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game length is what you would expect from a boomer shooter. If you play every level, you should spend about ten hours in game. You can replay levels, but I don’t see what good that would achieve. You can try harder difficulties, but that is about it.
Extra Content
As far as I know, there is no DLC planned or any side quests to do in this game.
Replay value
There is a low replay value in this game. After clearing the game once, I see no need to replay it at all.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Warhammer Boltgun with a 6.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
The only suggestion I can think of is related to preparing yourself. If you’re a fan of retro shooters and enjoy fast-paced, demon-slaying action, Warhammer Boltgun might be worth a try. The pixel graphics are well-executed and provide a nostalgic throwback to classic FPS games. However, be prepared for a steep learning curve in understanding the Warhammer lore if you’re not already familiar with the franchise. For those new to Warhammer, some background reading or watching a few lore videos might enhance your experience and understanding of the game’s context.
Comparisons
When compared to other modern retro shooters like DOOM (2016) and its sequel DOOM Eternal, Warhammer Boltgun falls short in terms of narrative engagement and enemy AI complexity. While DOOM successfully balances its fast-paced action with a coherent storyline that newcomers can grasp, Warhammer Boltgun assumes a level of familiarity with its universe that might alienate new players. This happened to me. Additionally, the enemy AI in DOOM offers a more challenging and dynamic combat experience, whereas Boltgun’s enemies often lack tactical depth, diminishing the overall difficulty.
However, if we compare Warhammer Boltgun to older titles such as the original DOOM and Quake, Boltgun holds up well in replicating the frenetic energy and straightforward gameplay that made these classics beloved. The weapon variety and level design in Warhammer Boltgun are reminiscent of these early pioneers of the genre, offering a similar sense of nostalgia. Ultimately, your enjoyment of Warhammer Boltgun will likely hinge on your appreciation for the Warhammer 40K lore and your tolerance for simpler, old-school shooter mechanics.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
I liked to see how dumb some demons were. You can snipe them with almost any gun from far away. And there is enough loot scattered around to either play it safe or go in guns blazing. But what held me back the most was that I had no idea what was going on storywise.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Warhammer Boltgun, I give it a personal rating of 5.
Last words
Pros
- The pixel graphics are well-executed and provide a nostalgic throwback to classic FPS games like DOOM and Quake.
- The game delivers on its promise of fast-paced, demon-slaying action
- The controls are smooth, allowing for fluid movement and combat
- The levels are well-designed with unique environments that keep the game visually interesting
- The music and sound effects are fitting for a fast-paced shooter
Cons
- The game heavily relies on Warhammer lore, which can be confusing for players unfamiliar with the franchise
- There is minimal character development, with the game focusing solely on combat
- Significant technical issues, including lag spikes, frame stutters, and crashes, detract from the overall experience
- The enemy AI lacks complexity, often making combat encounters less challenging
- The game includes more puzzles than expected for a fast-paced shooter, which can interrupt the flow
- Once the game is completed, there is little incentive to replay it
- The pacing can be inconsistent, with action sequences often interrupted by puzzles
- The core gameplay can become repetitive over time due to the lack of variety in objectives and enemy types
- Although there are a few weapons to find, the variety is limited compared to other shooters
- Enemies often spawn behind the player without warning, which can feel unfair and frustrating
- Some puzzles, particularly the warping portal puzzles, can be highly annoying and detract from the enjoyment of the game
- Boss battles, while present, are not particularly innovative or challenging. They feel like regular encounters with more health
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a fun little retro shooter with great pixel graphics and gameplay. Warhammer lore still weighs it down, while it also struggles with inconsistent technical performance and dumb enemy AI. Warhammer universe along with retro lovers, should give this a try, but for those new to the series, it is best to steer clear.
Final Rating
5.8
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