Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki
Advertisement
Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki


Back 4 Blood is a 2021 first-person shooter game developed by Turtle Rock Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It was released on October 12, 2021, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

The game was advertised as a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead series, as it was created by some members of the team that developed the original game and carries over several key gameplay pillars, such as a strong emphasis on cooperative teamwork, and an AI system called the "Game Director", which dynamically modifies the environment, placement of enemies, items, and obstacles in response to players' progression and behavior.

Upon release, the game received generally favorable reviews. Upon launch, it was a commercial success and went on to become one of the best-selling new intellectual properties (IP) released in 2021.

gameplay[]

In the game's primary player versus environment game modes, players join a four-person team of post-apocalypse survivors called Cleaners, who must fight their way through levels populated by zombie-like monsters called The Ridden. Teammates are either controlled by other players or AI bots depending on matchmaking preferences and player availability. A new feature of Back 4 Blood is cards. At the start of each level, players need to build their deck with cards that adjust various elements of gameplay, such as modifying the player's health, damage, and stamina. Along with player cards, the AI Director will also use Corruption cards against the player to hinder their progress. The AI can spawn extra enemies, activate a fog effect, and increase the size of the horde. The game features pre-defined hero characters who have preset attributes and abilities, and players can purchase upgrades and items with an in-game currency called Copper.

The game also has an eight-person player versus player mode called Swarm, where a team of four players assumes the role of Cleaners, and the other team of four control mutated Ridden. The teams are tasked with eliminating one another within a closed area.

plot[]

overview[]

A parasite called "the Devil Worm" (implied to be of extraterrestrial origin) infects most of humanity, turning them into vicious undead mutants called the "Ridden". One year after the beginning of the outbreak, pockets of humanity attempt to survive in the post-apocalyptic world. A group of veteran survivors called the "Cleaners" fight the Ridden and defend Fort Hope, a settlement within fictional Finleyville, Pennsylvania, United States.

characters[]

In the primary game modes, the player can control one of 8 Cleaners: Walker, an Army Ranger veteran and de facto leader of the Cleaners; Chris, the eldest Cleaner nicknamed "Mom" because of her maternal attitude; Holly, a brash fighter who wields a baseball bat named Dotty; Evangelo, an optimistic recruit and lover of cheesesteaks; Hoffman, a socially awkward survivalist, and conspiracy theorist; Sue, who is nicknamed "Doc" for being the group's medic and scientific expert; Jim, an experienced hunter, and marksman; and Karlee, a cynical lone wolf.

Each character has unique perks and attributes which can favor certain strategies and roles within a four-person team. For example, Doc can restore more health when healing herself or other players, and gives the team a passive bonus against damage, while Karlee automatically highlights mutants in her immediate proximity, and can use or activate environmental features faster.

During a mission, characters in a party will comment on their immediate situation and banter with one another, revealing insights into their backstory and personality.

story[]

The game's campaign begins with Walker, "Mom", Evangelo, and Holly, arriving at a settlement in Evansburg to trade supplies. A horde of mutated Ridden suddenly swarm and overrun Evansberg. As the team retreats to Fort Hope, their commander, General Phillips, has them demolish the Washington Crossing Bridge to delay the Riddens' advance.

At Fort Hope, the team finds more Ridden attacking their stronghold and overrunning the town outside its walls. With the help of Hoffman, Karlee, Doc, and Jim, they successfully defend the fort and rescue survivors. The Cleaners are sent to a mine where the Ridden hordes have been emerging from. After sealing the mine, the Cleaners raid a police station and crashed a military cargo plane to secure more armaments.

Phillips sends the Cleaners to another location to extract Doctor Rogers, a scientist who has developed a chemical weapon called T-5 that is significantly effective against the Ridden. After successfully extracting Rogers and his research materials, the Cleaners travel to an abandoned research and quarantine center to collect materials to produce T-5. There, the Cleaners discover a mass grave, which has become a breeding ground for the Ridden and their new mutant variants.

After securing the T-5 compounds, the Cleaners fly back to Fort Hope in a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by Rogers, and see Fort Hope being attacked by a massive burrowing Ridden called "the Abomination". The Cleaners weaken the Abomination with a T-5 payload before their helicopter crashes, killing Rogers. On the ground, the Cleaners neutralize the Abomination together. With Fort Hope saved, Walker rallies the Cleaners to hunt down more Abominations and turn the tide against the Ridden.

development[]

The game was developed by Turtle Rock Studios, including seven of the developers who created the first Left 4 Dead game. According to the development team, the game features a more expanded story than the Left 4 Dead games, and has a more uplifting tone than other zombie games in the market. Phil Robb, the game's creative director, added that the Cleaners are more confident and capable, unlike the everymen from Left 4 Dead. He added that the players are not merely surviving and finding safe places. They are fighting zombies to create safe spaces. This is reflected in the dialogue between the Cleaners, who no longer sound like they were afraid of their enemies. The team included the card systems in the game because they felt that it can keep the game dynamic and challenging for veteran players, though Turtle Rock also added a Classic mode, a more accessible experience that removes all the cards, for new players.

The game was officially announced in March 2019 by Turtle Rock and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game was officially unveiled during The Game Awards 2020, with the closed alpha releasing December 17, 2020. Initially set to be released on June 22, 2021, the game was delayed to October 12, 2021 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S. An open beta was released in mid-August 2021. The first phase began with an early access from August 5 to August 9 for players who have pre-ordered the game. The second phase began and was available for all players from August 12 to August 16.

In January 2022, Turtle Rock Studios confirmed in a Reddit AMA (Ask me Anything) plans for future paid DLCs, to which new characters will be tied to. The first expansion, titled Tunnels of Terror, is scheduled to be released on April 12, 2022. The expansion will introduce two new playable charactes and a player-versus-environment mode named Ridden Hives.

Advertisement