“While the enemies of the Emperor still draw breath, there can be no peace.”
-Captain Gabriel Angelos from Dawn of War
About two years ago, I stopped by my sister’s house to drop a few things off and noticed a small figurine on the kitchen counter. I knew that her husband, Matt, was into tabletop games, but I didn’t know which ones. The small miniature was that of a bulky, futuristic warrior clad in dark armor with green flames coming out the sides of his helmet. It was very detailed and looked cool. I took it to Matt and asked him what it was, and he began to unveil a universe that I never knew existed. What blew my mind was that this fantastical sci-fi universe has been around for almost forty years!
Into the Grimdark
This was the universe of Warhammer 40,000, or as fans call it, the Grimdark. It is a look at where humanity might be in the very distant future. They will struggle for survival across the galaxy. Gone are the days of exploration and alien diplomacy, now is the time for war. Under the leadership of the God-Emperor of Mankind, humanity has become an Imperium that destroys everything that does not fall in line with his will, and the instruments of the Emperor’s wrath are the mighty Space Marines!
I was immediately hooked on the lore after Matt explained all of that to me. The story itself reminded me of Dune, a sci-fi masterpiece that inspired Games Workshop to create this universe in 1987. I’ve read several books and have even painted a few miniatures, but it’s the video games that pull me in. Though the 40K catalog of games is limited, it’s quickly growing as several new titles are on the horizon. I had the opportunity to play one of them, and it put me right into the bulky armor of a space marine. This is the boomer shooter, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun!
Hey kids! Let’s purge some heretics!
Looking at the Genre: Boomer Shooters
First Person Shooters, or FPSs, are some of the most popular games in the world right now. From the multiplayer mayhem of Call of Duty to the distant lands of Skyrim, the FPS genre is as nuanced as it is beloved. With that said, many players still seek after the original flavor of the genre to this day. I am of course talking about unbridled chaos and gore. We can blame Doom for that.
Doom wasn’t just one of the first FPS games created, it also became a genre in itself. The Doom Shooter, or Boomer Shooter as it is now called, is a type of FPS game that aspires to bring back the retro feel of early shooters. The developers purposely lower the framerate and realism of the graphics to provide that classic aesthetic. It is a style that has been gaining popularity in recent years as Millennials and Gen Xers long to scratch that itch for retro action.
In the case of 40K: Boltgun, it draws very heavy inspiration from titles that are a few years newer than Doom. Two games that come to mind are Quake and Unreal, both more graphically and mechanically polished than their predecessor. The framerate and sprite movements in Boltgun are near photocopies to that of Quake, and the gunplay is reminiscent of Unreal. Despite resembling those games, Boltgun offers an experience that is unique in its presentation.
It is as about as simple as point, click, and shoot!
The 8-Bit Review
Visuals: 8/10
When reviewing games that are purposely made to appear older, it is important to gauge how well that aesthetic is achieved. In the case of Boltgun, the pixelated 3D graphics hit almost every mark. The dark and dreary atmosphere is highlighted by the low resolution. Although the environment may be low-rez, the camera movements are crisp and clean.
Sometimes games lean a little too far into a style, and it shows. In the case of this title, the low-framerate aesthetic is used for enemy sprites, and the results are both really neat and janky at the same time. The sprites only have three to four different animation frames, and they are 2D models placed on a 3D surface. This was the same aesthetic used in Doom II, and though it is very much a throwback, the look of the enemies and their movements just feel a little “off.” This is an issue that games like this often run into when using old visuals on new graphics engines.
Audio: 9/10
What does the Grimdark sound like? Probably very close to what the action sounds like in Boltgun. The sound editors for this game did an incredible job of making the retro-shooter action sound punishingly real. The guns sound powerful and each enemy explodes with grotesque visceral squishing. The sound of the space marine clunking down corridors makes him feel heavy, like a walking tank. The dark synthwave OST adds more than a simple ambiance to the chaos, it captures the hopelessness of a future with advanced technology that has been corrupted by mysterious forces.
Gameplay: 7/10
Developers have gotten pretty creative when it comes to switching up the “aim and shoot” gameplay of FPS games. Some, on the other hand, refuse to make it anything other than that, and that is where Boltgun lands. Nothing is surprising about the gameplay of this shooter. It looks like it was made in the ’90s and plays like it was made this year. The controls are tight and work well on both the keyboard and controller.
One aspect of the gameplay is both intriguing and entertaining, and that is the “taunt” mechanic. One button on your control pad will allow your character to yell something at that enemy. There are many different audio tracks, many of which I probably haven’t heard yet. Our space marine says such zingers as “I’ll bathe in the blood of my enemies,” or “Glory to the Emperor!” There is no significance for this mechanic within the gameplay. It’s just plain and simple fun.
Enemies are made to look like their tabletop miniatures.
Narrative: 6/10
Many fans of the 40K franchise consider Boltgun to be a “soft” introduction to the franchise. Though the events of the game take place during a larger series of events that is canon within the 40K universe, the actions of one lone space marine do little to change the base narrative. For Boltgun, it’s basically “purge the heretic,” which is your basic 40K narrative, anyway.
Challenge: 7/10
Speaking of purging, did I mention that this game is all about slaughtering as many cultists and demons as possible? Staying true to its boomer shooter roots, Boltgun places wave after wave of enemies in the path of our hero. The space marine can mow through most of these with ease, but some larger enemies pose quite a threat. Chaos marines and other heavily armored baddies can easily lower the player’s health to nothing in a matter of seconds. Good thing there are plenty of places to move and find cover.
There are multiple challenging points within levels called “Purge Cycles.” These are large open areas in which enemies will spawn all over the map and zero in on the player. Ammo and health are scattered in various places, so the player must move quickly and make every shot count. Even on the easiest difficulty level, these events can present quite a challenge.
The action can get pretty intense.
Replayability: 6/10
Boltgun is a very fast-paced game by design. The player doesn’t have to do much thinking to get through the levels, so it makes for a pretty fun time killer. There are collectible “secrets” strewn throughout the levels which completionists might find fun to uncover. Some players may even try to challenge themselves by beating the game on the various difficulty settings. Beyond all of that though, nothing screams at the player to come back to this title after it is completed.
Uniqueness: 6/10
Since Boltgun is a game that purposely seeks to look and feel like old boomer shooters, it is hard to call it unique. With a market that has its fair share of retro-inspired shooters, Boltgun simply adds more big guns to the pile. With that said, being set in the 40K universe does give this title an endearing place amongst fans of the franchise. According to some online 40K forums, many players consider this to be their favorite 40K video game.
Personal: 8/10
As a fan of the 40K franchise myself, I can honestly say that Boltgun hit a sweet spot for me. It is a polished yet run-of-the-mill boomer shooter that puts players into the heart of what makes 40K so popular: battle. There are no moral dilemmas or heartstrings to tug at, just kill the heretic for the glory of the Emperor. To some that might seem mindless and a little barbaric, but to me that’s what makes the Grimdark so entertaining. It’s just action, pure and simple.
This is not to say that the larger 40K narrative doesn’t have its tales of intrigue, betrayal, friendship, and even romance. Yes, that’s all in there, but not in this game. Boltgun simply acts as a good primer for those who are interested in the 40K universe. To that end, this game does a good job of preparing players for the greater war ahead, the one that takes place on the tabletop.
For the Emperor!
Aggregated Score: 7.1
J.R. Sommerfeldt is a family man, licensed counselor, farmer, fiber artist, and indie game enthusiast living in the heartland of America. He has found solace living the simple life, and his preference for games centering around narratives, crafting, and exploration is a testament to this.
Great write up thank you