Back 4 Blood Open Beta
(Image credit: Turtle Rock Studios)
Do you want to assess the new zombie bullet hell in Back 4 Blood but do not want to jump through all the hoops for the Early Access Beta? Turtle Rock Studios has a four-day open Beta from August 12 to 16, with no Twitch stream watching required. While the gameplay might change when the title finally releases, The Load Screen covers how this Beta is an excellent opportunity to play the game, especially for anyone unsure of this title. Fans will like the new game for how close it feels to Left 4 Dead, but it may also carry similar weaknesses.
For anyone who enjoyed the Left 4 Dead series, the Beta for Back 4 Blood is a must-play. It shows off the gameplay with expanded guns, more zombies and even brings in a new card system. The FPS action stays true to the series, but the new competitive game mode is an upgrade from the Versus mode found in Left 4 Dead 2. The card system allows for player bonuses that benefit the whole group or the individual, but it made little difference on medium difficulty. Other than a handful of stand-out cards, most only offer a slight aid in combat.
The eight-section campaign and competitive mode demonstrate the feel of the new game well, including existing flaws with online play. Like the previous games in the franchise, the campaign has periodic pacing issues, especially for those unfamiliar with the gameplay mechanics of a particular section. Sometimes the zombie horde has no end, and holding ground equals a quick party wipe. At times it was not clear where to go for progress, and there was little pressure from any ridden to move on.
The overall length of the campaign section is daunting for a game meant for online play. Players may drop since it can take over an hour to complete the Beta, especially for groups with newer teammates unfamiliar with the path. The only way to avoid this issue is with an entire four-person crew of friends and at least an hour set aside for gaming.
The issue with player-dropping also shows up in the quicker competitive mode because there is no penalty for withdrawal. Often players only want to play as ridden or human, so sometimes the competition quits early. Matches that stayed full throughout were rare during Early Access but represented engaging battles distinctly different from the campaign.
Back 4 Blood brings the Left 4 Dead series into Next-Gen graphics with updated gameplay, and the August 12 to 16 Open Beta is a fantastic way to experience the action for yourself. The Beta includes five new heroes in a long campaign series and a competitive multiplayer mode that offers what to expect in the full release. The intensely gory FPS action may not be for everyone, and the Open Beta will help any gamer find out if this is a game for them. Check out the Back 4 Blood Open Beta page for the latest information. The full game releases on October 12, 2021, and it comes day one to Xbox Game Pass.
