It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries The Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the Master of Mankind by the will of the gods, and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. For in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods
Warhammer Boltgun, from Focus Entertainment, is a modern-day homage to the classic first-person “boomer-shooters”of the 1990s. With its retro-inspired aesthetic and fast-paced gameplay, it’s a nostalgic trip back to the “golden age” of FPS gaming. The game’s visual style is a love letter to classic FPS titles like Doom, Rise of the Triads, Hexen, and Duke 3D. With its pixelated sprites, colourful environments, and chunky weapons, Warhammer Boltgun captures the essence of these iconic games. The retro aesthetic not only looks great but also enhances the overall gameplay experience.
A Tale of Blood and Steel
The game is set on the Forge World Graia several years after the events of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. Players take on the role of Malum Caedo, a Sternguard Veteran Space Marine of the Ultramarines Chapter sent by the Inquisition to Graia on a mission of great importance. Following the Ork and Chaos invasions from years past, the Inquisition has maintained a close watch on Graia for any potential threats. Your mission is simple: eliminate everything that stands between you and your objective. Don’t get bogged down in the details – this isn’t a complex story, just a straightforward run and gun game.
Throughout your missions, you are accompanied by a Servo-Skull Sidekick. A small, floaty companion. Unlike the typical annoying sidekick, this one offers dry, in-universe commentary on the world around you. It might point out how a nearby stack of boxes is organised in a heretical manner or, occasionally, indicate exits in confusing areas. (of which there are many)
A Symphony of Violence
There are around 40 stages in all, although as the campaign plays out it only takes you around eight to ten hours to finish it, with the majority of stages carried out back-to-back. The first act does drag a bit, but it quickly picks up momentum and around the midway point becomes something much stronger before the rapid fire conclusion, which has a few mediocre levels cushioned in the middle. There are a number of curveballs and playful moments in there that make it worthwhile.
And, as with most boomer-shooters, the game is best appreciated by those who are not afraid of a challenge. The run-and-gun combat and general movement mechanics can be difficult to master at first, as can the notion of planning ahead. And the balance between difficulty levels and lifebars means that if you’re not careful, a single error can quite easily lead to a premature end, and thus force you to repeat your efforts from the beginning. Each weapon has its own role and, while having access to a supply of ammunition means players can experiment with different weapons on different stages, sticking with the tried and tested inevitably produces better results.
Oh, and there are eight guns (plus your chainsword, which you can rev up in melee to make enemies explode in a gooey, strawberry-jam-like mess – yum). My favourite weapons were the sticky grenade-firing Vengeance Launcher, returning from Space Marine, and the aptly-named Heavy Bolter, which never needs reloading. The plasma gun has a long range, the melta-gun has that lovely cone of heat effect blasting.
Contempt for Heresy
Warhammer Boltgun doesn’t have armour – you have Contempt. This is a fitting touch for the fanatical Space Marines, echoing their infamous mantra. “My armour is contempt, my shield is disgust, my sword hatred. In the Emperor’s name, let none survive.”
And there are plenty of baddies to survive. Boltgun doesn’t shy away from throwing hordes of enemies at you, even in tight spaces. Several times per level, you’ll enter “Purge Mode,” a combat arena where the screen turns red. This is where Boltgun truly shines, challenging you to use your superhuman jumps, sprints, charges, and immunity to fall damage to outmanoeuvre and destroy overwhelming odds. Purge Mode enemies will keep spawning until you eliminate a few key targets. Often the toughest foes like Daemons, Chaos Terminators, and boss monsters.
The game’s levels are diverse and highly lore-accurate, featuring sprawling cathedral interiors, space defense cannons, forge complexes, and alien-dug caverns. I particularly enjoyed the massive cathedral-like space with smaller churches suspended within, accessible only by jump pads. The orbital Crown station’s massive elevator is a highlight, featuring a complex, multi-level arena where you can leap, climb, and fight. While I typically dislike levels that are entirely elevators, Boltgun’s execution makes this one an exception. There’s also a great level set in a huge foundry where you fight up one side of a river of molten goop, then down the other.
Inquisitorial Clouds
The standout feature of Warhammer Boltgun is its exceptional performance on cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now. Which is to be expected, given the retro aesthetic that Boltgun employs. I had no problem picking up from where I left off on either service. It was even more seamless now that GeForce Now has simplified the sign-in method for Xbox game pass.
A Worthy Sacrifice
Warhammer Boltgun is a solid retro-shooter that captures the essence of Warhammer 40,000. While the story is light, the action-packed gameplay and nods to the tabletop game are satisfying. The level design is enjoyable, with plenty of fast-paced arena fights. However, the momentum starts to slow down once the new weapons and enemies are introduced. Despite this, the overall quality is high, and fans of retro-shooters or Warhammer 40,000 will likely enjoy it. However, those who aren’t interested in either might find it underwhelming.
Warhammer Boltgun: A Retro FPS Blast from the Past
Summary
Warhammer Boltgun delivers a nostalgic blast from the past, capturing the essence of classic first-person shooters. With its retro aesthetic, fast-paced combat, and satisfying gunplay. The story is relatively simple, but this game is more run and gun than story time.
