Recent reviews by teh_inquirerer

If I had to pick my favorite ice-hockey game, it would be a tie between NHL Hitz 2002 and Tape to Tape... If I had to pick my favorite ice-hockey game on Steam... Tape to Tape wins, no contest.

As someone who isn't deeply entrenched in the Warhammer 40,000 universe but has explored several of its games in the past, I approached Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Boasting a new developer, I hoped this title would leave a more lasting impression than its predecessors. Upon launching the game, I was immediately drawn in by the captivating ambiance. The options menu was just enough to affirm that I’ve purchased a solid game. Customizeable controls, FPS and FOV sliders, it was all looking great! I started a new game and the impressive opening cutscene, which featured excellent voice acting and a promising introduction to the 40k lore, drew me in even more. Unfortunately, as I delved deeper into the actual game-play, my initial excitement quickly waned.

In general, I admire the artistry, extensive lore, and the passionate community surrounding the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. However, I often find myself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content, which makes it challenging for me to fully immerse myself in it and sustain my interest.

While the opening cutscene did a fantastic job of building anticipation, the game itself failed to maintain that level of quality. Given its nature as a boomer shooter, the lack of subsequent cutscenes was understandable, but it would have been delightful to see more of the quality storytelling presented initially. Unfortunately, this absence of cutscenes is not the sole factor contributing to my negative impression of the game, as there were several other areas that left me dissatisfied.

While the artwork generally impressed me and aligned well with the lore and genre, certain sections of the game felt uninspired and lacked the visual impact I had anticipated. On the other hand, the enemy design provided some engaging and varied encounters, with multiple ways to confront and dispatch foes.

In terms of game-play, the firearms in Boltgun were a notable highlight. The satisfaction of wielding a variety of powerful weapons and unleashing devastating firepower upon the enemies was undeniable. Each firearm had a distinct feel and impact, making the act of combat engaging and enjoyable. The developers clearly put effort into designing weapons that were not only visually impressive but also satisfying to use, amplifying the adrenaline rush of battling against hordes of foes. On the negative side of this, the shotgun and the plasmagun were basically pointless. The plasmagun can hit hard, but it also overheats and hurts you, and switching away from the plasmagun was unresponsive at times. Otherwise, the controls and well-implemented shooting mechanics further contributed to the overall sense of empowerment and satisfaction during combat encounters.

However, the most significant aspect hindering my enjoyment of Boltgun was its level design. Despite being an inherently linear game, the levels felt strangely open and disorienting, making it all too easy to get lost. Perhaps this confusion arose from the aforementioned lackluster design in certain areas. Regrettably, a noteworthy portion of my playtime was spent figuring out where to go next, which detracted from the overall experience.

There's a red door and a purple door, I just picked up the red key, after making my way back to the locked door area, I happen upon the purple door first. But that’s too bad, you picked up the red key, so go find the red door. Then after you clear that area and find the purple key, wonder around a bit more to try and find your way back to where you were before to find that purple door. I’m no fan of games holding your hand and giving you tons of glowing waypoints or trails on the ground in order to find your way around, but this was almost painful trying to navigate these levels. Not to mention the level where you go through the same portals over and over as if you’re suddenly playing a puzzle platformer. It certainly felt out of place in a boomer shooter.

Numerous modern boomer shooters have successfully tackled this issue by designing levels that naturally guide players forward while allowing for exploration. It is puzzling why Boltgun chose to adopt a maze-like approach in a game with such linear progression. An easy way to address this could have been the inclusion of a mini-map, a common feature in many retro FPS or boomer shooter games. Minimaps serve as valuable tools, displaying discovered areas and helping players keep their bearings in complex environments. They could have been extremely helpful in Boltgun, highlighting locations that have already been explored and providing a visual guide to prevent getting lost in the labyrinthine corridors of the game. Regrettably, the absence of this useful feature further compounded the frustration of navigating Boltgun's perplexing levels.

Another disappointment in Boltgun was its handling of secret items and areas. Typically, in boomer shooters, uncovering secrets adds an extra layer of enjoyment, encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, in this case, many of the supposedly hidden secrets were blatantly visible and easily accessible while playing through the levels at a normal pace. This rendered the subsequent exploration for secrets during additional playthroughs redundant, as most had already been found inadvertently while collecting common pickups like ammo and health.

On the other hand, one curious feature that stood out in Boltgun was the taunt mechanic. While it provided a momentary chuckle and added a touch of humor to the gameplay, its inclusion in a PvE game without multiplayer functionality felt somewhat perplexing. The absence of multiplayer rendered the taunt feature relatively meaningless beyond its fleeting comedic value. While it may provide a brief amusement during solo play, its overall impact and purpose within the game felt somewhat diminished. Though, part of me wonders if it was placed in the game to distract you while you’re running around completely lost wondering where the hell to go next.

Lastly, I found the enemies in Boltgun to be middling. While they displayed diverse attack patterns and art styles, they lacked a sense of genuine threat. It was far too simple to exploit the predictable behavior of adversaries by taking cover and dispatching them one by one. Rarely did they actively pursue the player or attempt to reposition themselves strategically. Instead, they often stood out in the open, waiting to be picked off.

Ultimately, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun successfully created a captivating atmosphere that immersed players in the dark and war-torn world of the 40k universe. The satisfying firearms and engaging combat mechanics added depth to the game-play, enhancing the overall experience. However, certain features falls short as a boomer shooter within the renowned 40k universe. Despite the game's mostly impressive artwork, the underwhelming level design, misplaced puzzle elements, and unthreatening enemies hinder its overall enjoyment. I don’t want to end by saying “don’t buy this game,” because I did genuinely enjoy it and might even play it a second time, but it’s fair to say that in the end I wasn’t as impressed as I had hoped to be.

Looked interesting. Quickly lost interest. At first I thought it was just confusing, so I open a guide and there's definitely stuff in the game that just doesn't work. The first SMG wasn't there, the second SMG wasn't there. After trying to go back by reloading a save file, the items I moved before reloading were still moved scatter across the floor.

Needs work. Not recommended.

yes

Took nearly 30 min to spam A trying to skip all the banter and cut scenes. No thanks. Not for me.

Awful camera angles with forced perspective. No controller support.

Really simple combat, possibly broken. Boss fights aren't any more interesting. One of them just stood in the same position spinning his arms around. Very Boring.

Too many bugs.

Steam Input is really great. The gyro has a bit of learning curve but even if you don't use it, everything else on the controller works great. I've had the same controller for 6 years. No issues. My only complaint is the lack of a second thumb stick.

2nd best VR game after BONEWORKS. Hopefully other VR devs can match quality.