Back 4 Blood perfectly scratches that Left 4 Dead itch
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Turtle Rock Studios released their 4-player co-op zombie shooter Back 4 Blood last week and I’ve been spending hours collecting cards and simply having fun with the game with friends and random players. I’ve heard the chatter on the pros and cons with this Left 4 Dead spiritual successor and while many have valid points, the overall experience so far after 20 hours is just more than stellar. This game has a solid foundation that shows why this type of gameplay works if executed properly.
The gameplay loop in Back 4 Blood is simply Left 4 Dead. It plays the same beat without even trying to change it - the mission objectives, map structure, the special infected ruining your day - every piece of DNA that made Left 4 Dead’s gameplay a hit to fans can be found in Turtle Rock Studios’ latest title. They simply added more layers to add to the appeal.
The most significant addition is the card system as it greatly complements the Left 4 Dead formula. It provides various twists in playstyles that experimenting with different card combinations adds to the fun. Most builds can work as I’ve made hip-fire only decks to decks that make sure I can do the most damage on a special Ridden’s weak spot. I even went in with cards that simply increase the total amount of ammo the team can carry.
Then, you add the game’s AI director mixed in with Corruption cards, slightly altering each run you play, switching the items you can find and the types of Ridden you’ll face. Replayability stays strong well past the 20-hour mark and the higher difficulties can be a challenge if you’re looking for some pain.
I’m still going through the game, trying the different difficulties in each Act and really pushing how crazy you can go with the card system. But so far, Back 4 Blood already surpasses my expectation. The campaign has a good mix of long to bite-sized missions with the option to drop in and out with ease as I felt no pressure when committing to a lengthy run. Guns feel great and the special Ridden can really ruin your group’s day. Wait until you encounter the Hag.
Swarm isn’t cutting it
The only thing missing right now is a competitive game mode that delivers the same fun as the campaign as Back 4 Blood’s Swarm mode is simply not a good alternative when you want to change things up after playing hours on the campaign.
I’ll spend more time with the competitive mode but when you sense the urge to stop playing mid-match simply because you’re not having fun, that’s a bad first impression. It currently feels way behind in fun factor if you compare it to Left 4 Dead’s Campaign Versus.
Here’s how it plays: short rounds of teams taking turns of being in the role of either the Cleaners or the Infected. The team who plays as the Cleaners are tasked to last as long as they can during the round while the team playing the Infected are tasked to take them down as fast as possible. The team that can last the longest as the Cleaners wins the round.
It’s slow, uneventful, and rather forgettable.
Campaign Versus is a completely different beast and I would take it rather than Swarm any day. It’s a game mode beloved by the Left 4 Dead community and is a major contributor as to why Left 4 Dead 2 is still being played by many to this day. According to SteamDB, Left 4 Dead 2 can still easily peak over 20,000 players playing in 2021, which is why i’m baffled as to why they didn’t go to such an obvious route in Back 4 Blood.
The lack of a solid competitive game mode will likely turn off hardcore Left 4 Dead Fans, but aside from this, everything feels right at home. I’m seeing a few issues about the game, which I’ll go into more detail about in my full review, but the good heavily outweighs the bad at the moment, making it an easy recommendation if you’re looking for a solid co-op survival shooter.
