More recently, the revival of classic shooters has resulted in some compelling games, such as the excellent Prodeus. But it takes a hook to stand out in this new age of his DOOM-esque blow-up game. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun definitely has it thanks to the unmistakable Warhammer 40k aesthetic.
You play as a big, bulky Space Marine whose controller vibrates every time you walk. Armed with a chainsword and, eventually, a plethora of oversized guns, you are tasked with purging the heretics, which are essentially scrap planets. Progress from level to level, slaughtering anything that gets in your way. This campaign is dense and highly iterative.
The core gameplay of Boltgun is a lot of fun. Each weapon has a satisfying feel, and while you may need to tweak sensitivity settings a bit, the controls are tight and the action rarely slacks off. However, as the game progresses, the final point begins to weigh heavily on the game. The lack of enemy diversity becomes a problem later on, and large-scale battles with wavy mavericks start to feel overwhelming. While surprisingly long campaigns aren’t entirely unwelcome, they can definitely drag on at times.
Some brutal difficulty spikes only add to the frustration. Even on the standard difficulty setting, Boltgun delivers an easy death, whether it’s due to its pinpoint enemy accuracy when turning corners or its tendency to spawn bullet-sponge enemies one after another.the bolt gun meaning It needs to be played at a fast, breakneck pace, but these moments are often guilty of killing momentum.
If you can get past the repetitions and obstacles, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a mostly solid shooter. The visuals are perfect, the feel of the guns is great overall, and the sound design is appropriately punchy, but don’t expect it to go beyond these basics.
