A unique first for Warhammer 40k games, Shootas, Blood & Teef’s latest demo proves to be a punchy dose of frenetic action. The Finger Guns Preview.
Since the very first entry all the way back in 1992, Warhammer 40K games have always embodied a particular art style. That combination of industrial decay meets gothic sci-fi has been prevalent in every game dating all the way back to Space Crusade. Whether it’s blasting gangs on Necromunda, battling Genestealers aboard a Space Hulk or commanding armies across the galaxy, the aesthetic has always been the same, influenced by the table top miniatures and portraying them how our imagination has always ventured towards.
That’s where Shootas, Blood & Teef [Steam] immediately differentiates itself from the pack. From the developers behind the excellent ‘Guns, Gore & Cannoli’ 2D shooter series, this game features a hand drawn art style that’s unlike any Warhammer 40k game to come before it. It’s refreshing, genuinely, and it feels like a style only the Orks of the far future could pull off within this universe.
I managed to get a preview of the new Shootas, Blood & Teef demo (playable from the 21st until the 28th of February as part of the Steam Next Fest 2022) and it demonstrates that the visuals aren’t the only unique aspect of this game.
The demo drops you into the big clumpy boots of an Ork protagonist. This fanged chap is on a revenge trip to retrieve his precious hair squig from the warboss Ogruk Gutrekka who has stole it from you. The hero of the piece is willing to krump his way through whatever stands in his way in order to achieve this, be it human, genestealer or Ork. The demo starts as you enter an Ork camp, ready to smoke the boss nob and take comband of the Waaagh! Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with Warhammer 40K terminology and that all sounded like gobbledygook. It’s a classic self-explanatory “bad guy steals something, protagonist kills everything to get it” arc.
The final version of Shootas, Blood & Teef is set to have 4 different playable classes of Ork, each with their own strengths. In this demo, you’ll be playing as a “Flash Git”, a class that comes complete with a fire bomb throwable and the “More Dakka” passive ability. Of all the classes, this one appears to be the most traditional for the 2D shooter genre and a good introduction.
The action with the demo is fast, frenetic and gory. As your Ork moves through the level, groups of Gretchin and Ork Boys will attack from every direction. Pointing your shoota in a 360 degree angle, you’ll be pumping these chumps with bolts. If they get in close, you can also take a swipe at them with a chainsword. You can certainly feel the Guns, Gore and Cannoli DNA here. The gameplay is challenging, even on the easy setting, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable test of your reaction speeds. Blasting the head and arms off of the incoming Orks, turning them into jibs in the process, is repeatedly entertaining.
When you reach the end of the Shootas, Blood & Teef demo, there’s a section of the game that feels thematically unique for the Warhammer 40K universe but still feels believably plausible for the Orks. I won’t spoil it because it’s worth experiencing first hand (seriously – play the demo) but you’ll know it when you reach it. It’s fantastic.
This half-hour vertical slice of Shootas, Blood & Teef replaced all of the apprehension I had about this game with excitement. I’ll be honest, when I first saw a trailer, I wasn’t convinced that its individual aesthetic would work. I certainly am now. It’s gorgeous in action. As the demo ended and reminded me to wishlist the game and to join the Discord, I thought about how unique this game is within the existing and upcoming 40K games. It’s totally unlike Space Marine 2, Darktide and Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters. It also means that Games Workshop/Warhammer are really willing to take some risks with their video games. For so long, you’ve always known a Warhammer 40K would look like. Shootas, Blood & Teef is the first sign of them branching out and trying something new. I’m all for it.
Make sure to check out the Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef demo between the 21st and 27th of February as part of the Steam Next Fest, 2022.
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