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Boltgun 2 Review: Pure Chaos

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, developed by Auroch Digital, builds directly upon its 2023 retro "boomer shooter" predecessor. The sequel accelerates the pacing with boosted enemy counts, heightened pixelated gore, and demanding level objectives. The campaign centers on a relentless interstellar journey to stop Vashtorr the Arkifane, a powerful Chaos daemon demigod and Soul Forge King threatening the Imperium with a planet-destroying construct.

The overarching consensus confirms that this sequel improves upon the original formula in almost every meaningful way. Through the addition of character variety, refined combat balance, and dynamic level design, Boltgun 2 mitigates the progression fatigue and repetitive corridor-slogging of the original's late-game arenas. In doing so, it cements its place alongside modern retro FPS standouts.

Two Purging Heroes

Returning protagonist Ultramarine Malum Caedo, voiced by Rahul Kohli, retains his hulking, tank-like presence. He possesses a higher health pool and deliberate movement suited for soaking up heavy enemy fire. His active combat repertoire features an Obliterating Charge to crush crowds and a decisive Chainsword Lunge, complemented by traditional heavy Space Marine armaments such as the devastating Astartes Shotgun, the crowd-shredding Red-Mist Shotgun, and the boss-melting grav cannon.

Joining the crusade is newcomer Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath, voiced by Alanah Pearce. Nyra brings a highly nimble, high-mobility playstyle that echoes the fluid aerial pacing of Doom Eternal. Her maneuverability relies on a swift power-sword slide attack that, when immediately followed by a jump, triggers a mid-air time-dilation effect to dodge incoming projectiles. Her specialized kit includes handheld firearms like the bolt pistol, Storm Bolter, Ministorum Flamer, long-range Condemnor Stakethrower crossbow, and scorching Melta bombs.

Malum Caedo: Heavy durability, melee charge, frag grenades, traditional Space Marine firepower.
Nyra Veyrath: High agility, sliding power-sword attacks into mid-air time-dilation, melta explosives.

Dynamic Level Design

Level structure receives a major upgrade via a branching campaign framework containing over 30 locations. At multiple split paths, players choose specific battle locations—such as a blight-overrun rainforest or a fortified beachhead—which permanently locks off the unselected route for that run. This choice mechanic drastically elevates replayability across each protagonist's 8 to 12 hour campaign.

Environments transition away from basic repetitive corridors toward semi-open biomes and intricate set-pieces recalling the design philosophy of Dark Forces and Quake II. Players navigate industrial train yards featuring fast-moving automated hazards that crush heretics into mist, climb sprawling sea-rigs that detonate and collapse under fire, manipulate rotating puzzle structures, overlook tank production lines, and escape mineshafts flooding with toxic Chaos liquid. Encounters are further heightened by dynamic environmental hazards like blinding fog, flaming pools, and rising magma.

Branching Choices: Selectable mission paths and optional side missions.
Navigation Assistance: Tapable satnav route overlay provided by the Servo Skull companion.
Interactive Environments: Moving machinery, destructible traps, and hazard pools.

Carnage & Arsenal

Combat balance undergoes significant refinements, as Auroch Digital softened and removed the rigid Strength versus Toughness stat mechanics from the original game. Weapon damage output is now scaled so that every armament remains viable in combat, while melee strikes deal far higher damage to encourage aggressive, in-your-face engagements. Fast weapon swapping is made seamless thanks to a new radial weapon wheel, allowing players to instantly transition between Caedo's heavy ordnance and Nyra's pyrotechnic tools.

The expanded enemy roster incorporates over three dozen threat types spanning all four Chaos God factions (Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh). Standouts include leaping Slaaneshi Daemonettes, Khorne Berserkers, Occult Terminators, and mounted Bloodcrushers riding armored Juggernauts. During large-scale firefights, players receive combat assistance from allied Death Korps of Krieg NPC soldiers who fight alongside them. Visually, the 90s-era PS1 aesthetic delivers showers of pixelated blood, accompanied by punchy gun sound design, a dedicated taunt button, and an intense boss battle theme for Vashtorr composed by guest musician Mick Gordon.

Retro Visuals: Pixelated sprite-work and 90s-era PS1 aesthetic with visceral gore tech and squelching viscera.
Heavy Audio: Punchy gun sound design, voice lines (taunt button), and guest track composition by Mick Gordon.

Minor Tech Hiccups

Despite its mechanical polish, Boltgun 2 suffers from a handful of technical flaws. Enemy AI occasionally breaks down, causing foes to stand around idly or get stuck on level geometry. Periodic purge lock-ins sometimes fail to open after clearing all heretics, causing rare progression soft-locks, while late-game precision platforming sequences can feel overly slippery under the momentum-heavy movement controls.

Design-wise, the narrative takes a back seat to constant shooting, which may leave lore purists wanting more deep storytelling. Additional criticisms point to the absence of co-op or multiplayer features, the inability to switch characters mid-campaign, and tight central character pickup hitboxes that require players to precisely align their center point over health and armor items during chaotic firefights.

AI & Bugs: Idle/stuck enemies and rare progression soft-locks during purges.
Platforming: Controls can feel overly slippery on precise jumping sections.
Feature Gaps: Absence of co-op play and inability to swap characters mid-campaign.

Bottom Line

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 elevates its predecessor across virtually every metric. By delivering superior level design, crunchy gunplay, and dual protagonists with genuinely distinct playstyles, Auroch Digital has crafted a thunderously entertaining boomer shooter. It stands as an essential purchase for retro FPS enthusiasts and Warhammer fans alike.

Which purging warrior did you enjoy playing more—the heavy tank Malum Caedo or the nimble Sister Nyra Veyrath? Leave a comment below with your favorite hero and share this review with fellow gamers on social media!

About the Writer

Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.

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[REVIEW] Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2