Compare Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 vs Ratatan

One PC and ROG Ally playthrough completed without crashes or other stability problems.

One Switch 2 account reports crashes back to the main menu that prevent finishing an ongoing run.

Players wanting to purge together are disappointed by the lack of co-op.

Coordinating several armies can be a blast with compatible players. The extra chants and movement can also make an already crowded battlefield overwhelming.

Cathartic combat, humor, and a powerful nostalgic pull can make the action absorbing and emotionally energizing.

The whimsical world is endearing, but its journey struggles to build emotional depth.

Planet hopping brings welcome visual variety, from corrupted jungles to industrial and frozen facilities. Changing scenery does not always disguise familiar objectives.

Many accounts find the same worlds, bosses, and command patterns wearing thin. Others get enough variety from different characters, equipment, and elemental combinations.

Several players find the sequel polished and well refined, though minor technical blemishes remain.

Launch polish receives conflicting assessments. Some find a finished package, while others report tiny text, glitches, stutters, and even progress-blocking faults after the Early Access period.

The sequel expands and refines its foundation rather than radically changing it. That safe approach leaves some wishing for a more adventurous follow-up.

Many assessments welcome the shift toward direct movement and roguelite progression as a meaningful evolution. One finds the actual upgrade formula too familiar to feel innovative.

Starting with melee before introducing the gun helps teach the combat tools naturally.

Basic commands are easier to grasp than the deeper card and ability systems. Too much useful explanation sits in help menus instead of being introduced naturally during play.

The opening gives the initial melee tools room to make sense before introducing shooting, helping the combat click into place.

The opening often introduces too many systems without enough explanation. Familiarity with Patapon helps, while deeper mechanics are too frequently left to separate help screens.

Removing visible strength and toughness numbers leaves some players missing useful combat information.

The command list and timing bar can be useful anchors in battle. The rhythm indicator is too small or too attention-demanding for some players.

Dry companion remarks and combat dialogue add levity and personality without slowing the action.

Cobun quips can add considerable charm. Story bubbles appearing during enemy encounters are much less welcome because reading competes with fighting.

Desktop and console reports often describe stable high frame rates. Steam Deck can dip into the 30–40 fps range during traversal or crowded fights.

Frame-rate reports vary by hardware and play mode. Smooth Switch 2 accounts sit alongside handheld slowdowns, battle hitches, and PS5 Pro dips that can interfere with timing.

Allied soldiers can provide breathing room and a sense of company, but their weak survival instincts sometimes turn them into accidental casualties.

The troops' dependence on constant orders can make managing both commander and army feel cumbersome; some automatic behavior would ease that burden.

Forces from all four Chaos gods broaden the bestiary and keep many fights fresh. Some feel the expanded roster still behaves too similarly.

Enemy variety divides opinion: one account praises the range, while another finds each world's opposition quickly becomes familiar and samey.

Single-run length estimates vary considerably with route and playstyle. Alternate paths and the second hero extend the package, though some still find the campaigns short.

A substantial campaign appeals to some, while others feel the same material overstays its welcome. Completion estimates vary widely, reflecting different progress through the repeated episodes.

Nyra’s slide and aerial movement are frequent highlights, while Malum delivers a heavier sense of momentum. Some find the speed slippery or difficult to control near hazards.

Free movement can add welcome tactical flexibility. Slow travel outside combat makes repeated trips through the hub and cleared rooms tedious.

Bugs range from minor visual and collision problems to stuck enemies and arena exits that fail to open. Some playthroughs are largely trouble-free.

Switch 2 reports include transition freezes, visual glitches, and runs cut short by technical faults. The most serious account describes rooms failing to clear and progress becoming blocked.

Weapons, faction designs, environmental scale, and small details convincingly translate the tabletop universe into a retro shooter.

The familiar rhythm-action spirit successfully recaptures much of Patapon's joy, even without being an official sequel.

Gunfire lands with exceptional weight, and the improved melee keeps fights visceral. A minority find the encounters too shallow or mindless despite that impact.

Timing attacks, shields, and rallies can produce a deeply satisfying tactical flow. Strict response windows, passive backline play, and repeated patterns prevent that flow from working equally well for everyone.

Brisk pacing keeps the action moving, yet relentless combat and occasional drawn-out stages can become exhausting. Others find the balance consistently engaging.

Early runs can feel slow before meaningful upgrades arrive, and repeated stages sometimes interrupt momentum. Other accounts praise the alternation between frantic battles and quieter intervals.

Difficulty draws sharply different reactions: Medium can feel too easy, while Hard can produce abrupt damage spikes. Adjustable settings help, and some find the challenge fair and rewarding.

Demanding multitasking and steep stat walls can create frustration, especially early on. Some enjoy the challenge, but others feel upgraded damage matters more than skill.

Invulnerability, ammo assists, visual comfort settings, and flexible controls make it easier to tailor the action to different needs.

Welcome Mode and simpler command options can make early failures less punishing. Tiny text and missing interface scaling remain accessibility drawbacks on Switch 2.

Skull-strewn industrial spaces, enormous structures, and detailed scenery convey the scale and oppressive character of the setting.

Detailed backgrounds, distinct world themes, and charming hubs make the setting rewarding to look at. The environments often contribute as much personality as the troops.

The setting offers dense franchise flavor, but little new lore. Heavy jargon can make the narrative harder to follow without background knowledge.

The repeated-run structure lacks the narrative depth that makes Hades' hub returns compelling.

Sharp pixel art, expressive enemies, and varied environments create striking visuals despite the deliberately old appearance.

Colorful artwork generally looks attractive, with especially crisp PS5 and docked Switch 2 impressions. Portable character resolution and rough edges on a television draw occasional criticism.

Most accounts describe cathartic, highly enjoyable shooting. Repetition limits that enjoyment for some despite the immediate thrill of combat.

Getting an army into rhythm can be infectiously enjoyable, with music and personality sustaining many sessions. Repetition and restrictive mechanics leave some players much less enthusiastic.

Steam Deck and ROG Ally play can work very well, but small text, occasional frame dips, and awkward weapon cycling introduce compromises.

The smaller screen can suit the bold artwork and simple mappings beautifully. Other Switch 2 impressions report pixelated characters or timing-disrupting slowdowns during busy portable battles.

The Servo-skull’s dry observations and the heroes’ taunts add genuine laughs without abandoning the grimdark tone.

Absurd side characters, strange quips, and unexpectedly dark battle cries give the cheerful world a memorable comic edge.

Ammo, health, and useful power-ups generally keep combat flowing. Small pickup radii, limited specialist ammo, and poorly timed discoveries can create friction.

Upgrade currency can be plentiful enough to avoid frustrating scarcity. Altar sacrifices sometimes offer weak returns, while abundant shop resources can make decisions too easy.

Simplified combat rules can make the action more intuitive, though the opening mechanics may take a little time to understand.

Simple-looking commands still demand memory, timing, and coordination with movement. Practice can turn that overload into a rewarding flow, although several accounts find the initial curve frustrating.

The lack of local co-op disappoints players who wanted to share the campaign with a friend.

The absence of local co-op disappoints players hoping to share its musical battles on one system.

Lighting, explosions, and meaty impact effects help sell the spectacle and weapon power.

One assessment praises attack effects for staying clear and avoiding excessive visual busyness.

A modern twist on nostalgic shooting gives the presentation a charming identity.

An eccentric blend of rhythm, strategy, and army action gives the game a distinctive identity. Its musical combat stands apart even when individual roguelite systems feel familiar.

Gothic scale, oppressive scenery, and energetic character barks create a convincing Warhammer atmosphere.

A colorful, whimsical tone makes the fantasy setting feel infectious and inviting.

Weapon blessings deliver enjoyable temporary boosts, including distinctive upgrades such as dual pistols. Some would prefer lasting upgrades between levels.

Permanent improvements and changing cards can make failures productive and offer rewarding goals. Other assessments find upgrades bland, mechanically inconsequential, or dominated by damage requirements.

Branching routes offer appealing location choices and replay opportunities, but have little effect on the story. Some find the lockouts restrictive or the choices superficial.

Random cards can create exciting combinations, but some rewards lack immediate value or undermine an established build. Opinions differ on whether these choices meaningfully shape each run.

Strong combat flow, evocative art, and detailed sound can draw players deeply into the grimdark setting.

Repeated command songs can draw players into an absorbing rhythm, creating a strong sense of being in the zone.

The second protagonist adds a meaningful alternative for many players, though others find the heroes too similar. Being unable to switch freely during a campaign is a recurring frustration.

Distinct commanders and troop affinities give players reasons to try different armies. Switching characters can substantially change positioning, attacks, and build priorities.

Most accounts see a confident, entertaining sequel with stronger variety and presentation. Its most skeptical critics find the expanded content too repetitive to feel like a major advance.

Overall assessments range from an enthusiastic game-of-the-year endorsement to disappointment with mediocre playability. The charming presentation is easier to agree on than the structure supporting it.

The thin story usually serves as a quick excuse for combat. Some welcome that restraint, while others miss context, character motivation, and a satisfying narrative payoff.

The story often works best as a light framework for the musical battles. Several accounts find it incoherent, unmemorable, or poorly delivered through combat-time text bubbles and grind-gated reveals.

Chunky sprites, gothic scale, and vivid palettes make the retro art direction a standout strength. The style captures grimdark excess with considerable personality.

Bright colors, eccentric creatures, and a playful cartoon style are among the most consistent strengths. The added detail sacrifices some of Patapon's restrained elegance.

Distinctive enemy gestures and violent animations add personality to the pixelated models.

Expressive troops, fluid enemies, and extravagant bosses give the battles a lively cartoon personality. One PS5 Pro assessment wanted smoother animation alongside a higher frame rate.

Grenade time slowing, charges, and sword attacks add satisfying ways to fight. Some miss the tactical detail removed from the original.

Direct movement, tactical commands, and rhythmic timing make an unusual and often rewarding combination. The many simultaneous demands can also feel restrictive or unnecessarily complicated.

For players wanting a solo power fantasy, the campaign delivers focused and satisfying combat.

Solo battles can be highly enjoyable and offer a calmer alternative to multiplayer overload. One assessment would only return after the first completion with other people to play alongside.

Crowded arenas, bright effects, poison attacks, and large flames can obscure threats. Some find the spectacle readable, but others find it exhausting or difficult to parse.

Crowded effects, overlapping units, and busy backgrounds frequently hide attacks or the player character. A few assessments found the same large battles surprisingly easy to read.

The shooting can sustain a satisfying flow state, but repeated key hunts and arena purges divide opinion. Longer sessions expose the routine for some players.

The mix of rhythmic commands and roguelite runs is deeply divisive. It can create a compelling one-more-run cycle or turn familiar battles into prolonged repetition.

New weapons and enemy introductions create a clear sense of progress. Persistent character growth remains a missed opportunity for players wanting deeper development.

Keeping rewards after defeat often makes another attempt feel worthwhile. For critics, small stat increases and equipment gates stretch that growth into a slow, unrewarding climb.

Guidance tools, an automap, clearer routes, and shortcuts reduce navigation frustration. Small interface complaints and occasional disorientation remain.

The hub can be awkward to navigate because of weak visual separation and slow travel between upgrade stations.

Distinctive locations, shortcuts, verticality, and environmental set pieces are widely praised improvements. Restrictive corridors and repeated layouts still disappoint some players.

Branching room rewards can keep an expedition moving with purpose. Repeated horizontal layouts and insufficient level variety make the structure feel constrained to others.

The absence of multiplayer feels like a missed opportunity for a game with two protagonists.

Coordinating rhythms creates rewarding teamwork, but adding several armies substantially increases the visual and vocal overload.

Distinctive Chaos designs and varied attacks are frequent highlights. Some critics find too many foes interchangeable, overly durable, or insufficiently demanding.

Distinctive, smoothly presented enemies have strong cartoon charm and stand apart visually.

Bosses divide opinion: elaborate multi-stage fights impress some players, while others find them conventional or underwhelming. The finale receives both praise and criticism.

Large, expressive bosses deliver memorable designs and satisfying defensive patterns. Not everyone enjoys their inflated health bars.

Heavy footsteps, crunchy impacts, and distinctive weapon reports make the sound design one of the game’s clearest strengths.

Call-and-response vocals and reactive effects often integrate wonderfully with the music. Dense chanting and competing effects sometimes overwhelm the soundtrack or become tiring.

Locations steeped in Warhammer history give the campaign a strong sense of place.

A vibrant hub, whimsical inhabitants, and playful detail make the world an inviting place to explore between battles.

Small dialogue and mission-briefing text is difficult to read on Steam Deck, with no font scaling to help.

Tiny text, inconsistent controls, and unclear information make several interfaces harder to use than expected. Monitoring the rhythm bar can also pull attention away from the battles.

Movement and shooting feel responsive on both mouse and controller. Remapping helps the default layout fit individual preferences.

Simpler commands and independent movement can improve tactical control. Several assessments nevertheless find defensive timing too restrictive or perfect inputs strangely offset from the beat.

The weapon wheel makes a large arsenal easier to manage. Cycling weapons with the D-pad can still feel awkward on Steam Deck.

Confirmation inputs change between screens, making menus less intuitive than they should be.

Nyra is an energetic, appealing addition for many, often becoming the preferred protagonist. Others remain unconvinced that she matches Malum’s appeal.

Expressive shapes, distinctive designs, and compelling personalities make the musical heroes appealing to spend time with.

Forceful taunts and committed lead performances earn substantial praise. A few dislike Nyra’s delivery, repeated lines, or the lack of voiced companion dialogue.

Distinctive voices and playful call-and-response exchanges give the army much of its personality. Repeating the same lines and high-pitched chants eventually irritates some listeners.

Most tested systems run the game smoothly. Steam Deck accounts report some traversal or heavy-combat slowdowns despite generally good performance.

Xbox Series X and some Switch 2 accounts describe smooth play. Other Switch 2 reports identify severe shop-transition stutters, freezes, or slowdowns in crowded handheld battles.

The metal and industrial score ranges from a major highlight to forgettable background music. The climactic guest-composed track attracts especially strong praise.

Catchy, upbeat tunes frequently linger long after play stops. The small selection and repeated vocal patterns become grating for others over the longer progression grind.

The roughly $25 asking price is generally considered good value, especially when alternate routes and a second hero encourage replay.

Two assessments consider the available playtime and replayability good value. Another finds the Australian asking price the game's biggest sticking point.

Two heroes, branching routes, hidden rewards, and difficulty options give the campaign substantial replay appeal. Some regard the shared missions and locked routes as padding or restrictions.

Commanders, gear, and permanent growth provide substantial replay appeal for many players. Others lose interest as familiar encounters return without enough meaningful changes.

Maintaining 60 fps can cost more battery in demanding Steam Deck areas, but the added smoothness is considered worthwhile.

Separate hero completions and accessible difficulty assists make the achievement list approachable while adding replay goals.

Simple behavior, idle enemies, and foes trapped in terrain undermine some fights. The AI is one of the more consistent technical complaints.

Precise aiming can take adjustment: default mouse sensitivity feels high to one player, while another struggles to connect shots while strafing.

Both protagonists lack the development and narrative presence some players hoped a two-hero sequel would provide.

Checkpoints generally limit lost progress and make retries feel fair rather than frustrating.

The heroes have distinct strengths, but opinions differ sharply on their balance. Nyra’s mobility and armor regeneration help some players, while others favor Malum’s weapons and durability.

Well-hidden seals and useful secret power-ups give careful searching a payoff, sometimes requiring keen observation or clever platforming.

One assessment calls the full release substantial and complete, while another finds its small content pool stretched too far. The amount of meaningful depth is more divisive than the basic presentation.

Boss-themed weapons can make crafting exciting and give future sessions a goal. Other accounts find the process shallow, low on meaningful choices, or tied to excessive material farming.

Keeping loot and learning from failed attempts makes losing feel productive. Automatically returning troops also reduces the risk of an abruptly failed expedition.

Later episodes and boss variants offer exciting possibilities for some players. Others find mostly more equipment grinding, and one Switch 2 account could not progress because of bugs.

Hidden power-ups and seals reward careful exploration. Some wish the larger-looking environments offered more open routes.

The relentless carnage makes this a poor fit for childhood play.

Adjustable presentation options let players tune the look from chunky retro pixels toward a cleaner appearance.

Repeated early levels and equipment farming are the most persistent complaints. Some players enjoy collecting upgrades enough that the same repetition remains rewarding rather than burdensome.

Controller vibration reinforces the weight and power of the protagonists.

Optional objective guidance provides a welcome way back to the action when a route becomes unclear.

Handling the growing collection of weapons can feel like a chore between runs.

Weapons with useful traits and rarity tiers make rewards worth examining. The prospect of finding stronger equipment helps sustain another run.

Trains, rising hazards, and other set pieces keep many missions distinctive. Several accounts still find too many objectives built around keys and locked doors.

Platforming is divisive, with some enjoying the air control and others finding precise jumps awkward or slippery.

Build and progression depth is a weak point for several assessments. Elementary upgrades, limited mechanical changes, and shallow systems leave the apparent complexity underdeveloped.

There is room to favor different weapons and approaches, but locking a campaign to one hero limits experimentation for some players.

The Servo-skull brings an irreverent personality and comic relief that make the companion more memorable.

Troop classes and weapon affinities give army composition useful variety. Commander restrictions can complicate using a favorite character with newly acquired equipment.

Exaggerated pixelated gore is enjoyed as part of the weapon feedback and cathartic combat spectacle.

The arsenal is widely praised for satisfying impact and varied roles. Nyra’s overlapping fire weapons, the crossbow, and the simplified damage system attract mixed reactions.

Breakable ice, collapsing structures, and exploitable hazards add tactical opportunities and make battlefields feel more active.

The irreverent Servo-skull writing adds personality and well-timed comic relief amid the carnage.

The carnage is considered too much for a young child by one account, reinforcing its mature appeal.

Troop weapons and cute accessories give army setup plenty of appeal. Customization focuses on the Cobun, which can leave the commander feeling less consequential.

Memorable set pieces and clearer objectives strengthen missions, though repetitive key hunts can make their underlying structure feel familiar.

Small puzzles and traversal challenges provide welcome reasons to think beyond shooting, including switches, environmental routes, and exploration rewards.

The lack of Xbox Play Anywhere support disappoints players hoping to carry the experience onto an Xbox handheld.