Editorials
‘Back 4 Blood’ Could More Than Fill the Shoes of ‘Left 4 Dead’ [Hands-On Preview]
It may be hard to believe that hit multiplayer games Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 originally took residence in the 2000s—released in 2008 and 2009 respectively. You can still anticipate finding other players online to join in on fighting hordes of zombies when you boot up each title till this day. The series’ enduring legacy is a testament to how well developer Valve had perfected the formula of chaotic, cooperative fun. Safe to say, its spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood, had huge shoes to fill—and I’m happy to report that it managed to achieve that, and more.
Turtle Rock Studios, formerly known as Valve South, has tapped into the winning formula of Left 4 Dead, offering cooperative four-player action with eight new characters (known as Cleaners), each with unique perks, as they face down the undead—now known as Ridden. Of the four characters available during the alpha, I mostly played as Evangelo—quirky and energetic as he promised not to shoot my fellow teammates in the back (again).
As I linked up with three other players to take on Evansburg, the first mission of the game, I was given the option to select one of three difficulties: Classic, Difficult, and Nightmare. Each setting toggles aspects such as how much damage friendly fire inflicts on teammates (with Classic mode nullifying all friendly fire), and the amount of continues available each time the entire team is wiped out. I opted in for Classic for a more relaxed feel as I tried out all gameplay elements.
Before jumping into the campaign, a new card-system presented itself, beckoning me to choose a “deck” and select which cards that I wanted to “play” in the match. Self-admittedly, I was a bit confused at first. The system seems a bit complicated at first glance; however, the tutorial had caught me up to speed of this new “roguelike” system that is implemented in Back 4 Blood. To spice up each campaign and make each playthrough unique, players are given the option to select specific cards with perks that they will carry with them into every campaign. Cards are organized into four categories: Reflex, Discipline, Brawn, and Fortune. Perks can be personal or for the entire team, and range from additional damage when striking weak-spots, to having more health and stamina.
That’s not all though—while players have perks, a new AI system known as the Game Director will also be playing its own “corruption cards” during the campaign, impacting each match based on the behavior of the players. These corruption cards can go as far as to spawn even larger hoards of enemies, to making ammo even more scarce.
As each of my teammates selected their cards, we spawned into the first safe room, as the rowdy Ridden growled and hissed at us from behind the door. This time around, players have the option to use in-game currency in the form of copper to purchase items like med-kits, ammo, upgrades, and more in supply bins of each safe room. I suited up with some bandages and grenades, and we quickly busted through the door, eager to knock the heads off of some Ridden.
The controls and feel of Back 4 Blood are almost completely identical to Left 4 Dead. It felt very easy to familiarize myself with the gameplay, and even if you haven’t played its predecessor, it is very user-intuitive (in addition to helpful hints when applicable). I toggled between Evangelo’s initial AK47 and machete with ease, taking down hordes of Ridden as I came across them. As to be expected, hybrid Ridden make appearances at times, with some having the ability to immobilize my character for brief periods of time, some shooting streams of vomit that impair vision, and now, some in the form of huge, formidable boss fights.
One thing that I immediately noticed as we made our way through each zone is that Back 4 Blood feels a bit more strategic and calculated than Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. The standard Ridden are a bit slower, perhaps a bit more predictable. This isn’t to say that the chaos isn’t still present—Ridden still appear from all angles at any given time, but I found it more beneficial to focus a bit more rather on specific actions than constantly keep moving; thinking back on when I played Left 4 Dead, it often felt like constant motion and spraying at zombies, but in Back 4 Blood, I feel more inclined to take my time in certain moments and focus a bit more on team synergy. Of course, I played on Classic mode, and I expect that the gameplay is probably much more chaotic on Difficult and Nightmare mode for more hardcore players.
The graphics are gorgeous and the Ridden are gore-incarnate. Myself and teammates were completely doused in the guts of the undead as we made our way through tunnels and backwoods. The Cleaners kick up funny banter amongst each other to fill in the quiet moments, and occasionally chastise each other for friendly fire. It completely captures the original charm of Left 4 Dead in every way that you would hope a modern edition would.
As to be expected with an alpha, a couple of bumps in the road presented themselves during my playthroughs. Even with my team of experienced players, we all couldn’t help but get wiped out frequently, specifically due to a reoccurring theme of very scarce ammo during each match. The final act of Evansburg was also a bit wonky, with a seemingly endless stream of Ridden preventing us from completing the final objectives of the mission. However, I was so satisfied with every other aspect of the alpha that these slight mishaps paled significantly in comparison to everything that Back 4 Blood does right.
Based on the alpha, I am convinced that Back 4 Blood will be a welcome addition to both Left 4 Dead veterans and those seeking chaotic, multiplayer fun. Where it could have corrupted an already effective formula established with Left 4 Dead, it instead innovated, and I’m very excited to get my hands on the final product when it’s released next summer.
Back 4 Blood preview code provided by the publisher.
Back 4 Blood will be released June 22, 2021, on PS4, PS5, Xbone One, Series X/S, and PC.
No conversation about cartoons based on live-action movies is ever complete without mentioning The Real Ghostbusters.
This animated continuation is, warts and all, a notable example of turning a hit movie into a hit series. And although the new target demographic skewed a little younger, even kids-at-heart could partake in the further adventures of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore and Egon Spengler.
For a good part of its run, the show required fans to wait at least a week for more Ghostbustin’. That’s torture for a kiddo. Luckily, though, the entire series, or at least most of it, is now available for streaming.
So, as you revisit The Real Ghostbusters on Tubi—for now it’s just the first five seasons there—use this guide to help prioritize some must-see episodes.
The Boogieman Cometh
“The Boogieman Cometh” (Season 1)
Season One’s “The Boogieman Cometh” is a classic episode featuring one of the show’s more iconic villains. It’s hard to forget the unique character design used for the Boogieman (whose creepy voice was provided by Ray and Slimer’s actor, Frank Welker). In this story, Egon is reunited with that bump-in-the-night entity who haunted his own childhood, all while trying to keep him away from his latest targets: the brother and sister claiming to have the Boogieman in their closet. Although the Ghostbusters do save the day here, the Boogieman eventually returns (“The Bogeyman Is Back“). That same episode also features the love-’em-or-hate-’em Junior Ghostbusters.
Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream
“Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” (Season 1)
You could say the namesake of “Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream” had good intentions for putting mankind to sleep for the next few centuries—he wanted to end war and keep everyone dreaming. Sounds nice until you remember that whole free will business. But when it seems like the Ghostbusters have lost to their latest foe, the last one standing, Winston, gains a sudden ally. Janine’s dream of becoming a Ghostbuster is manifested, and she helps put this rogue spirit to bed.
When Halloween Was Forever
“When Halloween Was Forever” (Season 1)
Before the show’s execs capitalized on Slimer’s popularity by making him the focus of later episodes, early stories like “When Halloween Was Forever” better utilized that gooey ghost. Here, the spirit of Halloween itself, Samhain, hopes to make the holiday a permanent thing by stopping time. And who does the embodiment of All Hallows’ Eve use in his nefarious plot? Slimer, of course. Thankfully, the lil’ green bud knows where he really belongs, and Samhain is banished (at least until Season 3’s “Halloween II 1/2“).
Night Game
“Night Game” (Season 2)
Because Season Two was rather long, in comparison to other seasons, it accumulated quite a few solid episodes. One of the most beloved, though, is that ultimate good-versus-evil story, “Night Game“. Winston gets to shine here as he participates in a battle that was 500 years in the making. Except this time, the fighting is done on the baseball field. The other-dimensional settings in The Real Ghostbusters are always great, but the one here is particularly memorable.
Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin
“Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” (Season 2)
Not all ghosts and whatnot were bad in The Real Ghostbusters. As “Drool, the Dog-Faced Goblin” showed, some were actually benevolent. Sadly, it took a lot of convincing, and one very heroic act, for Peter and the others to see past this goblin’s grotesque appearance. The heroes find more than one shapeshifter at a sideshow carnival in the Poconos; a sinister Class-4er called the Metamorph does a swell job of menacing the Ghostbusters before they finally realize Drool’s not their culprit. The good guys indeed win here, but that victory is a bittersweet one.
The Collect Call of Cathulhu
“The Collect Call of Cathulhu” (Season 2)
While “The Collect Call of Cathulhu” does misspell “Cthulhu” in the title (probably to avoid legal issues), it is clearly the Old One in this Lovecraft-inspired episode. The story kicks off with the Necronomicon being stolen by the deity’s modern-day cult, who then raise their ancient god at Coney Island. From there, the Ghostbusters’ typical methods don’t work on the big guy, so they seek advice from an old issue of Weird Tales (or “Wierd Tales”, as it’s spelled on screen). That build-up to the finale comes with a decent amount of dread before the Ghostbusters, as well as a scholar named Alice, face off with one of the show’s most powerful entities.
Knock, Knock
“Knock, Knock” (Season 2)
A number of Real Ghostbusters episodes could be reworked into big-screen features, but perhaps “Knock, Knock” is the most hopeful. It helps that this story feels in step with the first two movies. Here, some ignorant construction workers accidentally uncover and open an ancient door in the subway. What’s behind said door is none other than those unspeakable evils that only the Ghostbusters can quell. A good deal of the imagery here is prime for adaptation.
The Grundel
“The Grundel” (Season 3)
One of the darker episodes, which was written by the prominent J. Michael Straczynski, is “The Grundel“. Here, a boy is being influenced by the titular entity, a type of ghost who ultimately turns his targets into new Grundels. The episode does have something of an after-school special quality to it, but that doesn’t take away from the eerier moments. For more Grundel lore, be sure to check out the episode “Grundelesque” from the sequel series, Extreme Ghostbusters.
Standing Room Only
“Standing Room Only” (Season 4)
It’s no secret that The Real Ghostbusters experienced multiple changes after the second season. Out of all of them, though, retooling the show so that Slimer would get more of the spotlight is maybe the most egregious. Thankfully, Season Four (the first to be called Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters) didn’t completely obey that new directive; episodes like “Standing Room Only” felt more like the old days. The focus here was on the well-being of the city and its people, rather than on the series’ green mascot (or the Junior Ghostbusters). In the episode, Peter’s new ghost attractor isn’t to blame for the ensuing chaos; the ghost-eating Mee-Krah is what’s really imperiling everyone. And the Ghostbusters must dish out everything they have to avoid a doomsday situation.
The Halloween Door
“The Halloween Door” (Season 5)
While many fans will skip the later seasons in their rewatches, episodes like “The Halloween Door” are still worth checking out. This colorful helping of Halloween pandemonium premiered on primetime, so the animation is better than usual. And save for a random musical moment, it’s an enjoyable event. Here, a group of anti-Halloweeners tries to cancel the holiday, but they only end up making things worse by unleashing a baddie named Boogaloo.
The first five seasons of The Real Ghostbusters are available on Tubi, starting on July 15.
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