AND.. It would seem that there could be something wrong with Back 4 Blood that, even before release, it managed to divide gamers into two sides.
When some people praise the game, mentioning dynamic gameplay, good graphics and an interesting approach to character leveling.
Others foreshadow another failure, talking about the rather poor state of the servers (due to which, with 100 online.000 people, Bots are still often included in the session), about the inflated price for the “standard package” (For a minute, 2000!), and also managed to scold the developers for changing the PvP mode, claiming that with this “the developers are burying their game”.
Hmmm yeah. quite contradictory statements. So let’s figure it out: What’s wrong with the new game from the creators of Left 4 Dead? What makes Blood different from other co-op games?? And finally, let’s think about whether He is worth the money?
The main covenants of the cooperative
And so, you all probably know what is at the core of any self-respecting cooperative shooter for 4 players.
These are 3 simple points that are found in almost all representatives of the genre, such as Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Payday 2 and the same Left 4 Dead.
Namely:
1. A huge, almost continuous wave of weak opponents.
2. Periodically appearing “Special” opponents that players should pay attention to.
3. Randomized dispatcher that will provide obstacles to players at their discretion.
Let’s go through all the points in order.
There are many infected, they are a rather dull mass to be destroyed. As in many cases, dangerous only in situations 1 player VS 1.000.000 bobbleheads.
There are not very many special opponents; I noticed only 7 types of monsters in the game, not counting the huge boss. Some of them are divided into subtypes, but at the same time belong to the same class, however, this does not really help diversify the gameplay.
The dispatcher is also on site, noidverificationcasinos.co.uk at the beginning of each match he throws you some tests in the form of additional. quests, changing weather conditions or a constantly arriving horde. According to the developers, he is guided by the choice of “corruption cards” according to your playing style, and somehow selects the situation to make the game not boring and at the same time, evenly difficult. In short, they didn’t explain anything to us, but from what I saw, I can assume that it was a simple accident.
Bloodbath
When they say “Zombie Shooter,” they always imagine a crowd of brainless corpses running to their death, right under the player’s machine gun fire. And what can I say? The game copes quite well with the tasks of meat "trash". Indeed, there is a lot of blood, explosions and subsequent “meat” in the game. Opponents quickly run after the sounds of homemade explosives, after which they fly to pieces, while the rest turn into mush under a hail of bullets from players.
And it seems cool on paper, but in reality. not so much anymore.
Yes, of course, in the first minutes of the game, after you have broken through the wall, not quite alive, of the horde, all covered in blood, guts and other ungodliness, you really are overcome by a feeling of your own coolness! But, like many things, you get used to this feeling over time, and then you generally start to get bored.
Even when it comes to dismemberment, one cannot say that the game succeeded in this. Even a direct shot to the head will not always make it fall at your feet, or (which would be even cooler) turn into mincemeat. No, as a rule, all parts of our dead comrades remain with them. (Compared with the same L4D, it’s somehow. not even decent)
Don’t bite! I have a card!
Finally let’s move on to the gameplay!
So here’s the breaking news! In Back 4 Blood, as it turned out, the gameplay… Um. no different from what was in Left 4 Dead?
Seriously, this is the most ordinary shooter, with unremarkable shooting and without any features noticeable at first glance. JUST A SHOOTER. Pew-pew, BA-Bang and so on, present. And everything in moderation.
The only thing I can name from the features is the mechanics of “quality” of the weapon.
Simply put, this is the division of weapons into classes, depending on their characteristics. And then, as usual, everything that is most useful and deadly is pathetically called Epic or Legendary.
What about. ordinary, called, oddly enough, ordinary/simple.
But, there is something that should somehow distinguish Back 4 Blood from its peers in the genre?
Well. yes indeed?! Should?!
*What? Hero leveling system using a compiled deck of cards? God, how original…*
Okay, let’s look at this in more detail.
Remember, I mentioned the dispatcher, who, using the magic of randomness, thrusts various kinds of obstacles into your session? So, you can give him an answer by choosing several random cards from your deck, previously compiled in the “Hub”. (3)
And after passing the company (Important! Without leaving the current session!) you can supplement this assembly. The cards themselves represent some kind of buffs for your character. From fast reload, increased magazine, or health restoration when killing an enemy in melee.
And so, in fact, you can create a quite interesting and effective build, coupled with your character’s passive abilities.
You can purchase new cards for your deck using copper, the local currency in the form of coins, which are scattered throughout the level. Sometimes cards can be hidden in the level.
This is the trunk!
There are a lot of weapons in the game, there is something to shoot with for those who like sniper rifles and shotguns, and even take a machete and go cut up the evil spirits. With certain perks, it even gives more profit.
There are also quite a few body kits for this whole thing. They, like the weapons themselves, are divided by “quality”, from simple to legendary.
The body kits themselves can be installed in Safe Houses for copper, found while wandering around the level, or received along with the weapons found. (Attachments on such weapons may have a negative effect, for example: reduced ammunition)
In addition to regular guns, survivors have access to: grenades, first aid kits, and, most interestingly, utilities. They may turn out to be such useful things as a defibrillator that quickly raises a wounded ally, barbed wire that causes damage to the enemy and a set of tools necessary to open some boxes and perform certain actions without unnecessary noise.
For example: in one of the tasks, you and your group had to move to a nearby building using a descending bridge. And if you carry out this action without dialing, then the noise from the alarm will rise, which in turn will attract the Horde!
Zombie?
– No, possessed!
From the local lore, you can find out that an unknown parasite has swept through the world of the game. Which, in fact, is to blame for the apocalypse that happened. And we, in the role of survival veterans, popularly called cleaners, volunteered to CLEANSE the world from this infection.
Each character has his own small biography, as well as a couple of lines connecting him with other cleaners.
During the battle, you can constantly hear how our players communicate, discuss what just happened and joke about the situations they sometimes find themselves in.
So I had a case when my character, going into the water, which was a little flooded in the basement, began to say that something touched his leg.
Or during the battle with the boss: at the moment when he turned his attention to me, and was already swinging for a blow, I heard everyone in the squad shouting to my hero, saying: Beware! Carefully! Get away from there!
Such moments, to some extent, give insight into what is happening.
But let’s not delude ourselves! We came here to destroy zombies!
As one of the developers said:
– “You are a zombie crusher, you kill zombies,
it’s your job and you do it well.»
And know? Probably these words describe the whole game. You just come here to kill the crowds of pure evil in the form of a running and stupid herd.
Well. the game gives you this opportunity. The opportunity to feel like a real tough guy from the movies, shoot zombies with a shotgun, and even get out of the crowd of opponents – alive and well, even in high spirits.
Well, speaking of the results: personally, I would not give a final rating to the game, because now it is only a closed beta, and a lot can change.
But it’s still worth highlighting the pros and cons.
Pros: good graphics, audio component, simple shooter without too many tricky mechanics, for a group of friends.
Cons: unreasonable price
(no, but, what did you expect? That I will somehow begin to justify such, I don’t understand why, an inflated price?!)
a fairly small amount of content, opponents, and also a rather poor player selection system (yes, with 100 online.000 souls, and bots managed to drop in to me, and more than once, and a full group at that).
In general, one can say more simply about the game: the idea is good, but the execution is a little damp. A lot needs to be improved and a lot needs to be added. According to the developers, they will listen very closely to the community and its ideas. So we hope for a good future for this project.