Turtle Rock Studios delivered a small masterpiece in 2008 with “Left 4 Dead”. The zombie shooter surprised all along the line and became a mega-success. Turtle Rock was then swallowed by Valve and entrusted as an internal studio with the development of the second part. This appeared a year later and sold even better than its predecessor. However, there was a crisis between the team and the top management. So Turtle Rock Studios went into business again, but Valve kept the rights to the “Left 4 Dead” brand.
The name has been dormant since then, while Turtle Rock last got into trouble with “Evolve”. The asynchronous multiplayer shooter flopped in spite of all advance praise. After that it was quiet about Turtle Rock – at least until the announcement of “Back 4 Blood”. Already the Alpha version examined by us brought up old memories of “Left 4 Dead”. The beta version deepens this, but also provides information on how “Back 4 Blood” wants to give the zombie shooter genre its own twist.
Playing cards, Fort Hope and the cleaners
Shortly after registering, we find ourselves in Fort Hope. This hub level acts as the fulcrum between the missions. Here we can invest reserve points or set off for the next mission. The second innovation is the deck builder. Because in “Back 4 Blood” you get perks in the form of playing cards that you can use in the story chapters, which are divided into files. A deck can currently hold up to 15 cards. You are only allowed to play one card per round, so that the game balance doesn’t get completely out of hand.
Since we like to look for the infight with the undead and mutations, we chose a map that gave us two points of life energy with every melee kill. So if we jumped into a mob of zombies with Evangelo and his machete, it was like a bloody medi-pack. But be careful: “Back 4 Blood” couples hits and sprints with endurance. If you run out of breath, you have a big problem and only escape at walking pace.
Five of the eight cleaners included in the full version could be selected this time. Noticeable: The different characters come with advantages for the troops, such as more ammunition capacity or higher speed. Accordingly, it is worth making agreements before the rounds. Important: Duplicate characters are not possible!
The pitfalls of the “Ridden” apocalypse
Before the start of the round or the act, you have the chance to draw a card from your deck. As in “Left 4 Dead”, an “AI Director” is used here, who decides, for example, on the positioning of weapons, medi-packs, copper coins and other objects. The latter also selects a modification card for the game. In our case, for example, almost all doors were linked to an alarm system and could only be silently cracked with a lockpick set. Here, too, the following applies: Thanks to the various specifications, the rounds should feel different and fresh even when played through several times.
In terms of gameplay, our impression of the alpha version is confirmed: “Back 4 Blood” is a wonderful affair, especially with friends. Okay, the enemy types come partly directly from the “Left 4 Dead” universe and therefore feel like copies. But at the latest when Tall Boys grab us and crush us or the ogre emerges from the ground as high as a tower, such criticisms are quickly forgotten. “Back 4 Blood” is a lot of fun and so we rush from one safe room to the next. In between, we fend off zombie hordes or have to hold positions, for example to plant bombs or trigger certain mechanisms. The cards are pleasantly varied and classics such as the opaque swamp are also returning.
Very important: You can use the captured copper coins to buy weapons and other equipment such as the aforementioned lockpick set within a single pass. You can also buy more ammunition or even attachments or magazines. Those who mean well to their own colleagues can even buy team upgrades.
More than just co-op
We tested the version for PlayStation 5 and can also give the all-clear from a technical point of view: “Back 4 Blood” ran excellently and did not bend its knees even with larger hordes in online operation. The “Ridden” design is also right and so the bodies literally pile up after battles have been fought. The only point of criticism: The blood splashing around also colors the player models. As a result, you can hardly tell the difference between players and ridden ones, especially in dark passages such as subway shafts or vaulted cellars. In case of doubt, this even leads to disputes due to “friendly fire”.
You can then carry out these in “swarm” PvP mode. This is quite simple: two teams of four compete against each other – one on the cleaner side, the other as ridden. Here it goes round by round to the point and after each round, sides are changed. As a cleaner, you have to hold out as long as possible, as zombies flatten people. Common: As the game progresses, the play area shrinks in the best battle royale style. This means that favorite points for entrenchment are lost and the defenders have to keep reorienting themselves.
More news about Back 4 Blood:
While the cleaner gameplay is very reminiscent of PvE, the Ridden ones are different. Particularly important: The upgrade functions, with which you can cause new mutations and thus, for example, send armored undead into battle. Otherwise, the Ridden gameplay offers a nice variety and, above all, a lot of malicious joy – for example when you as a tall boy whirl another player around. We doubt whether “swarm” will become a mass phenomenon. But it is definitely a useful addition to classic co-op.
More news on Back 4 Blood, Left 4 Dead, Preview, Preview.
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