Back 4 Blood im Test: Fast Left 4 Dead 3

Back 4 Blood is not for free of the spiritual successor of the Left 4 Dead series - and not only because the developer team of Turtle Rock Studios has already created the first L4D. The DNA of the Koop Zombie Shooter is noticeable when playing back 4 blood in each angle, even if there is also all kinds of innovations compared to L4D. However, the worrying for an unnecessarily complicated entry.

once zombieapocalypse and back

The story of Back 4 Blood is fast told: The zombieapokalypse came, saw and won, and now most people live in fortified bases, while outside the Ridden stated infected spread. As one of a total of eight playable cleaners, it is part of our tasks to secure areas, save survivors and collect resources.

The cleaners not only look different, but also have their own skills: the sporty Holly, for example, gets a little stamina per killed (and is perfect for melee-builds, as melee weapons consume stamina), while the sprouting leader Mom once per level A team member can be revived immediately.

Most of the playing time we spend in back 4 blood in the multi-part campaign that we traversed roguelite moderately and again. The campaign is divided into four file, which consists of ten missions with several stages. Although we also visit some of the areas several times, changed environmental conditions such as fog or darkness but at least cause a little change.

We have to leave us if we pull solo with three Ki-controlled bot companions or online with up to three other players. During the test we had much more fun when we were traveling together with other players. The cleaners also talk to each other, but usually knock only cool sayings. On top of that, the KI bots can not complete campaign targets or use objects such as dietary or created guns.

Solo Progression: At the time of publishing this test, solo players are disadvantaged in the progression system from Back 4 Blood. So you can not earn inventories that you can with new maps for online decks (with which the gaming experience can be customized) or unlock alternative skins for the cleaners and weapons. The trophies progression is also deactivated. Turtle Rock Studios has already announced that you want to work on the problem.

The zombies optical elevation is loosened by varied events, in which we need to secure approximately a shelter in an abandoned church while attacked by a Horde. Or we play bait for other survivors to escape. Of course we do that with the duly style by shooting in the game Black Betty on the Juke box and beat us through the hordes of infected ballers.

Stress with mutations

In addition to the normal infected infected, which we shoot in rows above the pile, we also get it with mutations and some minibuses to do more, which can do more and plug in. Left 4 Dead fans will recognize some skills here. For example, the reeker can spit bile on the cleaner and explode before her nose. On the other hand, the Stinger scores saliva projectiles that can set Cleaners.

The mutations can also be damn fies, because not infrequently we get it with several of them at once. Here Back 4 Blood shows great problems with balancing, because while we can go through in some passes, other unevenly heavier and we do not even do it beyond the first Horde. Even the simplest of the three levels of difficulty (the only without Friendly Fire) has occasionally extreme climbs in the difficulty.

Technical performance: When testing on the PS5, Back 4 Blood went smoothly with us and without crashes. However, we have already encountered numerous bugs. So bots glitter regularly on edges, infected fall through the map. In the final mission of the first act, the Horde is not spawned once and a boss has emerged outside the walk-in play area and stuck there. So far, these bugs have not hindered a run, but are striking in their frequency.

The heart of the cards

If we once made it into the next shelter (from which we can leave the current run and get back), we can increase our resources. With the copper found previously in the level, we buy bandage, Molotov cocktails or more health for the entire team. We can also play the cards from our pre-assembled deck here.

Speaking of cards: The card decks are probably the biggest difference in direct comparison with Left 4 Dead. The decks can be put together in the hub area of ​​the game before each pass. While some cards give simple buffs for accuracy, stamina or health, others are more affecting our style of play. For example, in the exchange for a fifth of our health, we can give the team an extra life. Or we align significantly more damage to weak points of our opponents, but have to do without our visor.

In Solom mode, all 156 cards are already unlocked from the beginning, in the online campaign, on the other hand, we only start with a small selection and must gradually unlock the inventory points deserved when playing. From this we can put together a deck with our 15 favorites. At the beginning of each chapter in the campaign, a few maps are then played, from whom we can choose one.

Back 4 Blood offers us a great way to customize our game style - at the same time this system is also one of the largest hurdles in the game entry. The use of the cards and compilation of the deck is only roughly explained in advance and actually becomes clear only when playing. In addition, the game pours us in solo mode with way too many cards at once. All that together can work more overwhelming. At least, BACK 4 Blood gives us a beginner deck at hand, with which we can start first, even if that consists of only a few cards.

But once we mastered the hurdle and understood the card system, it provides us a surprisingly profound system that can be experimented with us properly - at least for all zombie hunters inside the desire to optimize their game.

Swarm mode for entertaining PVP action

In addition to the campaign, of course, there is also a PVP mode, which allows us to compete in two teams from four people as Cleaners or Mutations. The principle is simple: the cleaner spawns in a closed area and briefly get time to collect resources and prepare them while the other team is waiting. As soon as the round starts, the mutation team can spawn and together with Ki-controlled infected attempts to put the cleaners as quickly as possible, while the playing field is steadily smaller. As soon as all cleaners are on the ground, the sides are changed. Which team in the end as a cleaner has survived the longest, the lap wins. And the team, which shows the winner in two of the three rounds, wins the match.

Due to the escalating game principle, where a round usually takes between four to eight minutes, the swarm mode remains fast-lived and is particularly suitable for all who do not want to play an act of campaign. However, the game principle has learned quickly and so there is a lack of variety away from the changing teams.

An Left 4 Dead 3 of the hearts

Does Back 4 Blood really feel like Left 4 Dead? Ultimately, the answer is yes . Despite all the innovations that make the game equally more complex and complicated, the well-known L4D feeling comes back when jumping into the campaign and the cheerful ballers with friends. Who spends some patience at first to familiarize yourself with the game, will be rewarded with co-op action that makes it easy to make mood. Here and there the game still needs some repair with bugs and in balancing, but otherwise the zombie slicing is nothing in the way.