Auroch Digital's upcoming FPS, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, features a unique and challenging level dubbed "Vicious Circles," which principal designer Matt Bone described as a "Puzzle Box" that significantly tested the development team.
This level is comprised of interconnected, rotating ring sections and a large, slowly spinning cog that forms the finale. Players must manipulate these rings to unlock new areas, access secrets, and progress through the map. The complexity arises from enemies and pickups being present on these dynamic, moving platforms, a design choice that Bone admitted made navigation and combat difficult to implement reliably for the coding team.
Beyond the technical hurdles for coders, the "Vicious Circles" level also presented significant challenges for the art team. Set within the spaceship of the primary antagonist Vashtorr, the environment embraces a disturbing "fleshmetal" aesthetic. This meant that intricate level art, featuring elements like wriggling fleshy tendrils, had to be designed to function correctly across multiple configurations as the level rotated, preventing clipping issues and maintaining visual integrity.
Despite these difficulties, Bone stated that he believes the effort was worthwhile, hoping that the memorable nature of the "Vicious Circles" level will resonate with players. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is set to launch next week. The first Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun was praised for its fast-paced action and faithful recreation of the Warhammer 40,000 setting.