Back 4 Blood hits Xbox Game Pass day one!
Back 4 Blood hits Xbox Game Pass day one!
By: Ruin Hatter
WB Games recently announced Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead originally developed by Valve in
November of 2008. With a Sunday E3 time slot just around the corner seems someone over at WB may have inadvertently
dropped the ball. A video that has now been set to private, though not before a Redditor managed to grab a screenshot,
show’s the anticipated co-op title will be available day one for the Xbox Game Pass on both console and pc!
Since the video has been made private but the video was up the majority of the day this previous Friday and was seen
and later reported by a number of outlets.
Left 4 Dead set 4 players in a hardened survival mode. Where players need to make their way across a landscape
covered in zombies and mutated monsters. Back 4 Blood takes the baton from Left 4 Dead 2, the not as well received sequel
to Left 4 Dead, and turns up nearly every element!
Players now have double the choices of the previous games with a total of eight characters to choose from. Each
character will have their own unique abilities, encouraging players to work together and find combinations of abilities that will
be the most effective.
Unlike last time this infection isn’t a simple matter of a zombie virus running amuck but instead a parasite. Not only
infecting and changing humans into bloodthirsty creatures but also creating all sorts of different mutations. Many will see
these mutated monsters in a similar light of the mutated from Left 4 Dead. Each one will have a unique appearance and
specialized abilities like firing spikes at a player or smashing with inhuman force.
It was also leaked that a beta will be taking place on August 12 and the game is slated for release on October 12 of
this year!
Left 4 Dead was a game that was beautiful in simplicity. With a limited number of weapons to choose from and a
strong emphasis on survival at all costs. Left 4 Dead was an adrenalin fuel experience that kept you on your toes. The first
installment of Left 4 Dead had great voice acting and character voice lines that at times were quite clever. Sadly the second
game failed to capture the magic of the first and fell into a very predictable campy mess of a game.
Back 4 Blood looks to reclaim its former glory. Focusing on being a team called “Cleaners” the game seems to revolve
around a very similar mechanic. As of now, no official gameplay has been made available and only a trailer can be seen
on https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/back-4-blood. It’s uncertain if Back 4 Blood will go with the survival from point A to
point B formula with intense boss fights at the end of the level. Though it could do worse than to follow a tried and tested game
loop. Of course, players expect more nowadays than they did back in the Xbox 360 era and Back 4 Blood seems poised to
deliver. With a graphic detail that was pretty remarkable. The combat seemed tight and at times frantic which definitely held
that old feeling. How the game is going to do in game objectives as well as modifications to the old formula has yet to be
completely seen though I for one cannot wait.
The revelation that Back 4 Blood will be a Game Pass day one only adds to the excitement as this shined when
playing with three other people. Though Left 4 Dead, and likely Back 4 Blood, offered gameplay for less than a full team by
having bots take control. Left 4 Dead was a truly fantastic experience even with an open mic and a pickup group. Something
about the fast and relentless survival experience brought players together. Back 4 Blood certainly seems to have picked up on
that theme and ramped it up..something I cannot wait for!
Obviously, players want to know if leveling will occur, will our players even progress? Sadly we don’t have any details
on that yet but this is a game I’m keeping my eye on and likely will be streaming when it drops. Tomorrow I hope to learn a lot
more including weapons, items, progression, story, and much more! You can catch the E3 WB stream tomorrow at 5 p.m.
EDT/2 p.m. PDT on the Twitch E3 channel https://www.twitch.tv/e3
