Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef | Switch Review

WAAAGH!! Idiocy, mayhem, and “More dakka!!” abound in Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef. I’ve been a closet 40k fan for most of my adult life, marveling at the grim world, numerous factions, and the stories told throughout. The comedic side of this dark world has always lain with the Ork race, and now Rogueside has given us an experience that captures that amusing angle in a co-op adventure.

WAAAGH!!!

You play the role of Gargaz the Ork trying to claim your hair squig back after Warmaster Gutrekka betrayed you and took it for his own. To get it back, you traverse the planet that Gutrekka is waging war upon, engaging in glorious combat with “da humies” and opposing ork brethren.

Shootas, Blood & Teef’s story is entertaining, taking the full brunt of the Ork’s comedic dialogue on a joyride. I found the zany action and interactions very enjoyable, physically laughing out loud on numerous occasions. I wish there were more to enjoy though, as the entire experience was rather short.

Simple Controls, Fun Gameplay

Shootas, Blood & Teef is a twin-stick platformer with simple controls. You maneuver your character with the left analog stick, while aiming with the right one. Your attack field is an entire 360॰, allowing you to aim at literally any enemy on the screen. Actions such as shooting and jumping utilize the trigger buttons, and melee attacks are performed with a button.

The class you choose, however, makes it a bit more complicated. Each one has its own special melee ability as well as a special “Waaagh” gauge which drastically increases their fire rate when used. The different classes include classic 40k Ork loadouts: the Stormboy, the Flash Git, the Weirdboy, and the Beast Snagga Boy. The latter throws a spear that explodes when something gets in its proximity. At each checkpoint, you can buy guns and change your loadout.

The levels in Shootas, Blood & Teef get progressively more challenging, but never reach a level of difficulty that isn’t manageable. My only real gripe with the gameplay is a somewhat minor one. Since it uses twin-stick shooter mechanics, the left trigger acts as your jump button. This takes a tad bit of getting used to.

Crazy Music and Visuals, Literally

Shootas, Blood & Teef is possibly one of the wildest games I’ve ever played, and that can be both good and bad. Almost every second of gameplay bombards you with rock music in the background, no matter the situation. Whether you’re fighting a boss, or just killing “humies,” there are always high-energy tunes at play. If you’re a fan of heavy rock and roll, your ears will enjoy their experience here.

On a negative note, the visual noise is messier than the soundtrack. Much of the time there’s so much going on on the screen that it’s easy to lose track of where you are.

Final Verdict

Overall, Shootas, Blood & Teef is a fun game to enjoy with family and friends. While there are a few bugs here and there, it’s a platformer that packs a lot of wild and loud fun. If you’re a Warhammer 40k fan and you like the orks, or if you just like blowing stuff up and killing “humies,” I definitely recommend it. So grab one to three of your friends and “WAAAGH!!!” 

To hear me talk more about Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef be sure to listen to Episode 420 of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:03:20 time stamp.

This review is based on a Switch copy of Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef provided by PR Hound for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.