Warhammer 40,000: Bolters is a fast-paced, retro-inspired FPS with plenty of pixelated gore. Taking on the role of a Space Marine, players have previously had the chance to battle their way through a variety of Warhammer 40,000-inspired environments, and now we’re excited to announce the next expansion in our boomer shooter saga!
Boltgun: Forges of Corruption offers more enemies, more levels and even more chaosSo, with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at everything that goes into creating the perfect outlet for your righteous anger… the enemies!
The best choice
The Warhammer 40,000 universe is full of incredible character art and the team here at Auroch were spoilt for choice when it came to making a selection of enemies. Starting with the initial design requirements, the first step was to gather as many references as possible. This helped to confirm things like size, colours, details and even what weapons or items to include. Shots of real miniatures made this task even easier and Games Workshop’s website proved extremely useful.
Shapes are important
Once a good reference library is built, the process of creating a retro enemy sprite can begin. It starts with a conventional method you would find in most other games, by modeling a 3D mesh. However, we pay special attention to the overall shapes of our characters, aiming for things like heroic proportions and creating silhouettes that players can easily identify. In Warhammer 40,000: BoltersEnemies are shown from the front most of the time, so we always make sure the frontal view captures them in the best light.
Exaggerated angles
Similar to character modeling, in animation we tend to focus on exaggerated poses and frame timing to really convey the intent of an animation. To capture that “retro” magic, we use minimal frames, so it’s important to pack all the visual information you want into a tiny, animated space. The point of impact of a devastating blow can be held a little longer, or the jolt of a weapon’s rapid fire can be sped up into a chaotic blur. This kind of frame-by-frame control is almost like working with stop motion.
Special effects
Once an enemy has been modeled, animated and rendered, we start working on the FX. This step adds dynamism and interactivity, and the way we use FX for enemy attacks is particularly important. Not only do they have to look amazing, but there are also a number of game mechanics that should be followed. Certain weapons fire at different speeds, projectiles have different trails, and explosions have different sizes. All enemy attacks in Bolton There are three different types: the magical Tzeentch, the organic Nurgle and the combustible Human. It is important for players to be able to visually distinguish them from one another using colors, shapes and various other artistic techniques.
Blood and guts
One of the cornerstones of Bolton is its stylistic bloodshed, and the most satisfying way to bring our enemies to life is to see the crimson mess that is created when they die. We’ve developed a bloodshed system that allows players to effectively “paint” sections of our levels with the red of previous battles, which is both awesome and can be useful as a pathfinding tool. Finally, each enemy comes with a set of custom body parts, or “Gibs” as we like to call them. These have a habit of bursting outwards when an enemy has been destroyed, providing just another layer of detail to the interactive package that is your typical Warhammer 40,000 : Bolton Enemy.
A place you can call home
And what would be the point of combining all the fantastical elements above without giving our enemies a proper place to live? We use visual themes to really set the scene. A sickly green haze suggests a Nurgle-infested area, while the chaotic purple of the Warp means Tzeentch is nearby. We also use decals to add extra detail to floors and walls, giving players the impression they are moving from one area to the next. And finally, a well-thought-out prop library can really support the narrative aspect of a map.
As the game progresses, players may notice evidence of previous conflicts such as fortifications, military supplies, corpses, sacrificial shrines, and more. Adding such things helps to enhance the experience of encountering enemies in Warhammer 40,000: Bolters Feel more alive and real.
Now you’ve had a glimpse into some of the tips and tricks the team here at Auroch uses to create AI that players can shoot at or run screaming from. We’ve worked hard to adapt the standard character graphics pipeline you see in most modern games and have achieved a result that we’re proud to say is one of the cornerstones of Warhammer 40,000: Bolters‘s unique retro aesthetic.
Unleash your mighty wrath in Warhammer 40,000: Bolters DLC: Forges of Corruption, now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC for $5.99! For newcomers, a special edition containing the base game and DLC is also available for $24.99. Enjoy Warhammer 40,000: Bolters on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Xbox Game Pass!
Warhammer 40,000: Bolters
Focus Entertainment
21,99 $
17,59 $
Load your boltgun and charge headfirst into battle! Experience a perfect blend of Warhammer 40,000, classic frenetic FPS gameplay and the stylish graphics of your favorite 90’s retro shooters. Play as a battle-hardened Space Marine on a dangerous mission across the galaxy as he battles the Chaos Space Marines and Daemons of Chaos. In glorious boomer shooter style, unleash your devastating Space Marine arsenal as you blast through an explosion of sprites, pixels and blood. Run, jump and charge through massive levels to shoot, rip and dismember the worst heretics in the galaxy! • Immerse yourself in an emotional combat experience, complete with brutally satisfying firefights, high mobility and buckets of blood to reward your skill • Dominate the battlefield with the incredible firepower and heavy metal of a Space Marine’s devastating arsenal • Experience the ultimate homage to retro shooters, combining stylish graphics with smooth, modern FPS gameplay
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