this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2025
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I'm about to play Back 4 Blood, the "spiritual successor" to Left 4 Dead.

This game has mixed reviews. And based on comments, it looks like the online co-op and PvP is dead.

Now whenever I see blowback on games like this, I wonder if it's because Back 4 Blood is simply not exactly like Left 4 Dead even though it was made by the same developers. It's what I like to call the Yooka-Laylee Phenomenon.

Or is this more like the Mighty No. 9 Phenomenon where, it's not so much the spiritual successor isn't exactly like the original, but nowhere near as good as the original?

Hard to say without playing.

I do notice that, for whatever reason, Steam reviewers tend to privilege indie releases over AAA titles. So that might be something to do with it too.

I don't know. This is all conjecture from someone who's yet to play it yet. However, last Steam sale, I bought this for C$3.99 -- which was 95% off. So how bad can it really be?

Well, you know what they say -- YOLO!

@pcgaming@lemmy.ca

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[–] Wahots@pawb.social 3 points 21 hours ago

There was a less than flattering YouTube video comparing the two. Valve put a ton of engineering behind the game that was apparently quite difficult to emulate. The results appeared half-baked when compared side by side.

I would love a l4d3 though!

[–] inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I played it when it first came out and found it to be a solid, meh.

It was serviceable, enjoyable in short bursts with friends but the devs just keep nerfing everything, every weapon, every build that was good until it basically lost all the fun for me.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 1 points 22 hours ago

I got it for $5 on sale and refunded it after 30mins.

The movement felt awful and the colourful lighting effects were out of place. Not my cup of tea at all. I still like the first 2 and go back and play them.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

I've played it. It is fine. Graphically updated to L4D, some weird upgrade system, kinda forgettable story, less snappy movement and controls to L4D, but enjoyable in a party.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The first play through is fun. Everything after that just makes you wish it was Left 4 Dead 3

[–] CanadianCarl@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Yeah you know what. Notice it. The staleness of the environment. The shiny plastic textures that almost want to distract you from what's not there anymore. Environment complexity is forgone for a player card system. The Horde is ignored, it is now just treated as a generic hazard, in favor of league of legends champions basically. All for what? Monetization for the season pass. No wonder after the first play through I never came back. Yet, sometimes the boys still boot up L4D.

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I played it back when it came out and I didn't enjoy it at all. Game just felt flat and unsatisfying.

Maybe it's better after updates but I don't really see how they could fix the issues I had with the game without completely overhauling the game in major ways.

[–] SamuraiBeandog@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I had the same experience, "flat" is the right word for it. There's a lack of precision to it all, zombies just come from anywhere and the actual combat is somehow unsatisfying, something to do with the time to kill and weapon feel maybe? Kind of hard to pinpoint why but it just doesn't feel anything like L4D.

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah. It feels like you're playing a better game with saran wrap on your mouse or something. It just FEELS off.

I think for 10-15 bucks it would be fine but for 60 bucks it just wasn't worth it to me.

[–] conorab@lemmy.conorab.com 3 points 1 day ago

Played it during and just after the beta. Gun play felt a bit strange and felt like the game was a bit too punishing when you failed a stage; thing second level of Hard Rain on expert type thing. The game does have a cool aesthetic and some cool zombie ideas though and it looks really nice. I think they shot then selves in the foot a bit by comparing it so heavily to L4D instead of just letting people do that thenselves. The game also used Easy Anti-cheat if that’s a dealbreaker for you. But! For $20 AUD or less I’d say it’s worth it as long as you don’t expect to pour hours into it.

[–] mrfriki@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I played it on Game Pass, is short and fun but nothing to write home about. It doesn’t have the replayability of something like World War Z for instance.

[–] dan1101@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

There is fun to be had there. IIRC the gameplay and UI had some annoying parts. Like I don't think there was any way to keep a favorite weapon after a mission.

[–] agasramirez@freeradical.zone 3 points 1 day ago

@atomicpoet @pcgaming I'm a huge L4D franchise fan and I liked back 4 blood. it hits the right spots. usually played as holly or doc.