John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando evaluate — ‘enjoyable in bursts’

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Horror legend John Carpenter has lengthy declared his love for video video games, however by no means fairly received round to creating one. He’s dabbled — composing the rating for 1998’s Sentinel Returns and consulting on 2011’s F.E.A.R. 3 — however this squad shooter from Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 studio Saber Interactive sees him placing his greatest stamp on the medium but.

Well, placing his identify on it, at the least — John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando sees the person himself as soon as once more composing, however the credited writers are Oliver Hollis-Leick and Matthew Garcia-Dunn. Exactly what, if any, narrative involvement Carpenter had is unclear. Either means, the premise — an eldritch Sludge God has been unearthed, with solely the titular Toxic Commandos capable of stand in the best way of its zombie hordes — bears extra similarity to the over-the-top schlock of Lloyd Kaufman’s Toxic Avenger than the tense, creeping horror of Carpenter’s The Thing.

Toxic Commando hews intently to the Left 4 Dead mannequin, with gamers controlling one of many 4 group members — Walter, Astrid, Ruby, and Cato; all snarky, jaded mercenary bad-asses who hardly ever cease quipping — as they wade via the ravenous undead. Thankfully, shooter mechanics have developed since L4D, with every of the weapons right here dealing with brilliantly, with distinct heft and really feel as you pop the contaminated like meat balloons.

Thanks to a gap mission gone horribly flawed, partially infecting them with the Sludge God’s malign affect, the group can be mildly superpowered, conveniently forming the premise for the sport’s class system. The Strike throws explosive vitality bombs, the Defender shields the group, Operator unleashes drones, and Medic heals — all acquainted roles, however carried out effectively, though the cooldowns between utilizing particular talents really feel too lengthy.

There’s technically a fifth member — your automobile. Whether offered by the plot or discovered across the open world maps of every mission, you’ll have to restore or refuel rides to maintain them within the battle, however they will make a serious distinction — some pack highly effective mounted weaponry, others heal the group when on board, and all can be utilized as battering rams via swarms of zombies. Overall, enemies are a bit too acquainted — this one’s on fireplace, that one grabs you; been there, finished that — however the sheer variety of them on display screen at any time is spectacular, continuously maintaining you in your toes.

However, with solely 9 missions within the marketing campaign, the components Toxic Commando does effectively are quickly over, and even replaying on harder difficulties to grind out talent or weapon proficiency feels repetitive. Fun in bursts, then, however this a zombie outing sadly missing in brains.