Boltgun is a retro-style "Boomer" first-person shooter in the style of the Doom 1993 game and other similar games.
It has deliberately outdated graphics and aesthetic and is very fast paced with high emphasis on mobility and gunplay.
Plot Summary[]
The player controls a Sternguard Veteran of the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines, named Malum Caedo.
Gameplay[]
The game, as a boomer shooter, is very fast paced. Malum Caedo plods along at a very high speed, which is further increased with a Sprint mechanic. Enemies are numerous, but almost exclusively attack with slow projectiles, incentivizing the player to keep moving, and allowing them to dodge incoming attacks relatively easily.
There is the ability to jump to traverse obstacles, as well as mantling to get up on ledges just outside of reach. There is also no fall damage, and indeed jumping from great height onto enemies can deal significant damage.
Also in reference to retro shooters, upon the start of each new chapter or upon replaying chapters, the player is stripped of all weapons sans their bolter, necessitating them to recollect all available weapons. While annoying, this is true to older games such as Doom and Duke Nukem 3D given technical limitations at the time.
Purge![]
Unlike classic shooters, the game has Purge sections, which is reminiscent of more modern shooters, notably Doom 2016, which will lock the player in a large arena until a certain set of enemies are killed. This is usually all the major threats, like Plague Toads and Chaos Terminators, and will often unlock the arena with lesser enemies still alive. A red filter is applied to the screen. There are usually crates full of large Health and Contempt drops, plentiful ammo pickups (some of which respawn) and occasionally powerups.
A good strategy with these, as with the game, is to keep moving. Standing still, except erratically, is a surefire way to take significant damage. There is often ways to break line of sight to recoup, and those caches will be invaluable when players are inevitably reduced to low health. Players should also take care not to move predictably, as many enemies will aggressively lead their aim, and constantly changing direction, as well as popping in and out of cover is a reliable tactic.
Grenades are also usually plentiful.