Back 4 Blood may have a sequel in the works, if a recent rumor is to be believed. Thanks to an eagle-eyed reporter at MP1st, possible evidence of a new Back 4 Blood game has ignited discussion of what a sequel would entail. Despite its mixed reviews, there is still room for a fun zombie-killing franchise to blossom.
Former Left 4 Dead developer Turtle Rock Studios created Back 4 Blood as a way to breathe new life into some of L4D's best qualities. Back 4 Blood embraces many of its inspiration's key gameplay elements, especially its multiplayer focus. Four-person teams are tasked with clearing out zombies in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. While the continuation of four-person teams should be an exciting feature for Left 4 Dead fans, solo players have to deal with the game's AI teammates. If the rumored second Back 4 Blood game is actually happening, then Turtle Rock Studios will want to focus on more solo accessibility.
The Rumored Back 4 Blood 2 Needs to Address Its Poorly Executed AI Teammates
A Huge Source of Frustration For Solo Players
Back 4 Blood is often at its most enjoyable when played with a group. However, sometimes it's not possible to squad up with friends, leaving players to face zombie hordes alone. AI teammates are meant to balance out a solo experience, but they can also get in the way; one of the biggest criticisms of Back 4 Blood is its frustrating AI teammates. From wandering around aimlessly to simply not helping, the AI can sometimes feel just as brain-dead as zombies. Back 4 Blood offers an exciting co-op experience, but its solo accessibility is in need of serious work.
The source of these rumors is the resume of actor and stuntman Jesse Hutch. Having worked on the first game, his resume lists a project titled "Gobi 2." Since the original Back 4 Blood's codename was "Gobi", this has led some to believe that this resume listing confirms a sequel.
Striking a Balance Between Co-Op and Solo
Level design also holds back the singleplayer experience in the first game. Back 4 Blood is intended to be a team effort, making it understandable why levels are designed to suit four players. However, if the other three teammates are bad AI, then it quickly kills the mood. If Back 4 Blood 2 gets confirmed, focusing on a multiplayer experience is a given, but a little bit more consideration will hopefully be given to solo gameplay, too.
One avenue could be to craft a new game mode specifically designed with solo players in mind. The zombie-killing genre resonates with many gamers, but some of the best titles in the genre happen to be co-op. Playing with a group is great, but sometimes one is looking for a moment alone to enjoy a game for a few hours. Whether it be through stronger AI or solo-specific options, Turtle Rock Studios must consider how to make a possible sequel more satisfying for this branch of the player-base. Granted, Back 4 Blood made improvements for solo players with its offline campaign progression, but it's merely scratching the surface.
Rumors About Back 4 Blood 2 Hold Weight
Further Proof Of a Back 4 Blood Sequel
While the newest rumors from MP1st are exciting, they aren't the first pieces to the puzzle. Last year, a Turtle Rock Studios job listing ignited speculation that a sequel was in the works. This, combined with the impressive findings at MP1st, could truly be onto something.
The web domain “back4blood2.com” is registered and active.
Of course, nothing is official until Turtle Rock Studios says so, but the evidence that has been collected so far is compelling. Back 4 Blood offers a sweat-inducing challenge, and solo players should be able to experience just as much of that fun. As time passes, it will be interesting to see if these rumors are proven true. If so, Back 4 Blood 2 hopefully handles solo gameplay more thoughtfully.
Back 4 Blood
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 12, 2021
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Turtle Rock Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S and PS4 & Xbox One
WHERE TO PLAY
Back 4 Blood is a thrilling cooperative first-person shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise. You are at the center of a war against the Ridden. These once-human hosts of a deadly parasite have turned into terrifying creatures bent on devouring what remains of civilization. With humanity's extinction on the line, it's up to you and your friends to take the fight to the enemy, eradicate the Ridden, and reclaim the world.
Cooperative Campaign: Fight your way through a dynamic, perilous world in a 4-player co-op story campaign where you must work together to survive increasingly challenging missions. Play with up to 3 of your friends online or go solo and lead your team in battle.
Choose from 8 customizable Cleaners, one of the immune survivors, and a range of lethal weapons and items. Strategise against an ever-evolving enemy bent on your total destruction.
Competitive Multiplayer: Play with or against friends in PVP. Switch between playing as a Cleaner with special perks and the horrific Ridden. Both sides come with unique weapons, abilities, and specialties.
Extreme Replayability: A new "rogue-lite" Card System creates different experiences each and every time, putting you in control to craft custom decks, roll different builds and undertake more demanding fights.
The Game Director is constantly adjusting to player actions, ensuring exciting fights, extreme gameplay diversity, and tougher legions of Ridden - including mutated boss types up to 20 feet tall.
