With many FPS titles hearkening back to an era with fast movement and pixilated enemies that often explode, it would make perfect sense for a franchise known for a violent and grimdark setting to tackle this type of shooter.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgunis one such title adhering to a philosophy of calling back to the past while keeping the fluidity and pacing of newer shooters, but themed around purging heretics in the name of theImperium of Man.
Game Rant was given a hands-on preview ofWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun’s first four levels ahead of the game’s release later this year, showcasing several of the guns and abilities that will be on offer for the full release. The demo only lasted about an hour on a first playthrough but could be replayed, giving ample opportunity to get comfortable with all the available mechanics and learn the levels. Based on the brief time spent with the game,Warhammer 40,000: Boltgunlives up to its nostalgic aestheticsand understands why classic titles from decades passed work so well.
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The game begins with the player being sent to aid in an investigation into the growing influence of the Chaos faction found on the planet Graia, and after a landing gone wrong, the player is left as the sole Space Marine able to accomplish the mission. This is more or less the only story context in the preview, but given theWarhammer 40,000universe, it’s more than enough to justify why the player is zipping around levels, chewing through the forces of Chaos with a powerful arsenal.
Before starting the game, the player can choose 1 of 4 difficulties and some abilities including a charge that bursts past enemies or throwing grenades. It would be interesting to see what other options are available if the full release has multiple classes to choose from but both abilities in the demo are a blast to use.
A bulk ofBoltgun’s satisfaction is found in the visual and audio feedback. Guns sound like they can rip through enemies, and they do exactly that in combat. Explosives are much the same, sounding powerful while delivering on the impact. Basic opponents go down in a few shots depending on the weapon used, but everyone practically explodes on death, creating a visceral and satisfying experience. The toughest foes encountered were full-sized plague toads andChaos factionSpace Marines, and even they fell quickly with a couple of grenades and some shotgun blasts.
Alongside the titular boltgun, a shotgun and plasma rifle are available, and a chainsword was an effective option for melee combat. Each one is incredibly satisfying to use because of the excellent feedback, especially the shotgun and plasma rifle because of their effectiveness. The boltgun still stands out for the upgrades to ammo and damage that can be found throughout the levels, though. These upgrades only last for the duration of a level, or in the case of the Kraken ammo, until the magazine is emptied, but it encourages exploring the level. Even the chainsword is more than just a last resort since it can instantly kill or deal high damage at close range.
Despite how largeSpace Marines inWarhammer 40,000are, they are surprisingly nimble, and the player character is no exception, being able to move fast by default or sprint. The Space Marine can also quickly climb up most ledges, but there is no slide available. When it comes to traversal,Boltgunkeeps an excellent pace with movement, feeling incredibly smooth and perfect during the more intense combat sequences, but maintains the limitations that would apply to someone wearing a hefty suit of armor.
The movement matches with the level sizes perfectly. Although this is a very linear game, levels are expansive and cover huge areas that often have one or two secrets tucked away in them. With each level taking about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how fast players blazes through them, they mix a constant flow of action with moments to breathe.
Although this was a preview, there were still some issues. For whatever reason, on the demo’s last level, most of the audio gets cut, meaning that any sounds enemies make and even the player’s footsteps were in complete silence. Music still plays when fighting groups and the guns still fire but given the title’s reliance on audio cues for enemy placement, it was a hindrance.
Although this did not lead to any deaths, there were a few times when it came dangerously close to that point. It’s an issue that might have to do with the installation used or the demo itself because resetting the level, resetting the game, and even going through a second playthrough did not resolve the issue.
Audio issues in one specific level aside,Boltgunis shaping up to be a fun shooter with aWarhammer 40,000coat of paint. While it isn’t going to revolutionize the genre, the game has a clear grasp of why classicFPS games from the 90swork so well while updating some elements to feel more modern. The areas most important in any good shooter are present here, and if the game keeps the gameplay loop fresh with fun weapons and a trickle of new enemy types to lay waste to, then it will have done its job of being a joy for anyone looking for a retro vibe while still having modernized gameplay.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltguncomes out later this year for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided a PC code for this preview.
