A new project from Turtle Rock Studios has pleased a considerable number of team shooter fans but even Left 4 Dead veterans have probably noticed that the gameplay here is different from the creation of Valve. We decided to collect 10 useful tips that will help you survive longer in Back 4 Blood gaming sessions and, accordingly, defeat bloodthirsty zombies more often.
What is Back 4 Blood
- Release Date: October 12, 2021
- Developer, Publisher: Turtle Rock Studios, Warner Bros. Games
- Genre: Action Shooter / First Person
- Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, X-One, Xbox X|S
Back 4 Blood is the most anticipated zombie shooter from the authors of Left 4 Dead, who again put the world under the threat of a global pandemic. A new generation of deadly parasite virus not only raises the dead but also turns them into biological mutants. There is no hope for perishing humanity, except for the pitiful attempt of a small number of daredevils to live at least until dawn.
Dynamic gameplay is calculated according to the classic four-player cooperative formula against AI that changes along the way. A group of players chooses characters from 8 cleaners, which can be dressed to their liking, equipped with unique weapons and items. Everything else is familiar to fans of Left 4 Dead, where players fight their way from one hideout to another, eventually reaching the final battle.
The time-honored route-by-route formula is a thing of the past, with Possessed and Purifiers fighting in a small battle royale-style arena. This arena is constantly shrinking under the influence of some stinging flies, bringing opponents to a small patch. Versus mode is designed for two teams of four players each, changing places as they win and lose.
A hallmark of Back 4 Blood is a card system that provides gameplay variety. Before leaving the hideout at the beginning of each round, players are optionally given one or more cards with random effects – increased damage, additional equipment slots, etc. Some cards can strengthen the infected, complicate paths, or weaken characters.
See your enemies from above
Let’s start with a relatively important piece of advice, which is far from obvious to all players. It is much easier to fend off opponents in this game, being on top. It could be the top of a truck, the top floor of a building, or the last rung on a ladder. No matter what map you are playing on, always try to look for the highest points, especially if you have a crowd of zombies running at you.
The environment in Back 4 Blood is essential for survival and, accordingly, victory. So, starting the next game session, try to cooperate with your teammates and occupy the highest points with the whole group. Then you will not be afraid of any skirmishes with mini-bosses or a whole horde of the living dead.
Stick together
Oddly enough, but in a team shooter you need to not only work side by side with your teammates, but also constantly move with them. In Back 4 Blood , you should not try to clear the map alone, because very quickly you will realize that this will not lead to anything good.
The fact is that if you run far from your partners, you will very soon go to the next world. Not only can you be “crushed” by a horde of ordinary opponents, so far from the team you are likely to become a tasty morsel for the Hawker. He will quickly knock you to your feet, and teammates may not have time to get to you to help. So stop being a hero, always stick together and then you can definitely defeat the zombies.
Test decks in solo mode
Bonus cards can be called the main feature of Back 4 Blood , but not everyone who starts playing understands how to use them effectively. You probably didn’t know, but in the single player campaign mode, absolutely all the cards are available to you, and this is the perfect way to test each bonus so that you can then understand which deck will be the most useful in online mode.
So first go into single player mode, test the cards, and only then break into the multiplayer slaughter. Otherwise, teammates are unlikely to appreciate your skill and a bunch of random useless cards.
Traps are everywhere
One of the main differences between Back 4 Blood and Left 4 Dead was the trap mechanic. As soon as one of your team members gets into it, they will immediately summon a whole horde of opponents, which will be very difficult to deal with. Traps include flocks of birds, security doors, automatic alarms and a special type of opponent – the Snitch. If you learn how to handle each of these types of traps properly, then it will become much easier to win.
The most common trap in the game is in the form of birds. If you start shooting or try to run next to them, then the birds will immediately rise into the air and thereby attract a horde. You can only neutralize a flock of birds with a grenade or a Molotov cocktail.
Security doors are always marked with a special sign, and when you try to pass through them, the alarm will turn on. This trap can only be neutralized in one way. Carefully start shooting at the zombies outside the door so that they start walking towards you. The alarm will immediately turn off as soon as at least one dead person touches the door.
As for the automatic alarm, then it will not work to neutralize it. The only way to avoid falling into this trap and not causing a horde is to try to bypass this place, and, of course, in no case should you shoot.
And finally, the Snitch– a special enemy that will call the horde if it sees you. Recognizing it is quite easy because this creature has several glowing lights on its head. To not provoke the appearance of a horde, you need to kill the Snitch with one shot. This will help powerful weapons, like a modified sniper rifle. Naturally, at first, each of these traps will be very difficult to bypass, but I hope our tips will help you learn how to avoid the sudden appearance of a horde over time.
Upgrade useful items, not weapons
Many players prefer to improve their own weapons in the early stages and do not think about the team at all. With this approach, you will very soon realize that you were wasting resources because one person cannot win games in Back 4 Blood. In the very beginning, when you still do not have enough experience, it is better to improve items such as first-aid kits and grenades or Molotov cocktails.
For example, pumped first-aid kits give many times more health than standard ones, which will help not only to return a partner from the other world, but to do it with a full supply of health. As for the same Molotov cocktail, after pumping this weapon will begin to hit a larger area, and this is a huge plus in battles with a horde or several mini-bosses at the same time. In general, follow this advice, and in the later acts of the campaign you will not have any problems with opponents, when there will be significantly fewer first aid points, and ammo will no longer roll around at every turn.
Don’t forget to bring your tools
One of the slots in your inventory is reserved for a random accessory. As a rule, players add some situational items to it, but this is wrong. The most useful thing that should be with you in every gaming session is a set of tools.
With such a set, you have the opportunity to open any doors, disarm alarms, and even complete certain types of tasks in the campaign faster. Only Carly has this item by default, but anyone can purchase it. So, before starting your crusade, make sure that at least one of the team members has a set of tools. With it, you will be much easier to overcome obstacles on your way, and by opening special boxes you will also open rare weapons, additional ammunition, and free first-aid kits for the whole team.
Melee while carrying items
As you progress through the campaign in Back 4 Blood, you will constantly have to complete various mini-quests. Most often, it is necessary to transfer some object from point “A” to point “B” and at the same time not die from a zombie attack. The problem is that when your hands are busy with an object, you suddenly cannot use a firearm. But there is a solution.
You can push opponents away from you with the “V” button on your keyboard or by pressing the right stick on the gamepad. The fact is that the presence of this action when your hands are busy with some carrying item is not very obvious. Many do not know that when you complete such tasks in the game, you can do at least something other than movement. So don’t forget to push when you’re being attacked by zombies while carrying cargo that your teammates couldn’t kill.
Save money on Veteran difficulty and above
The difficulty levels in Back 4 Blood change the gameplay drastically. If you play on the easiest, then you are unlikely to be able to enjoy all the delights of the project, and in general, it will seem wildly boring to you. That is why I advise you to transfer to the “Veteran” immediately and learn how to handle your finances competently at this level of complexity.
The fact is that when you get to the first aid points, then on the easiest difficulty level you can take healers for free, but on Veteran, they cost 400 copper coins each. Accordingly, it is better for you to always keep such an amount with you to take first-aid kits with you on the road. And yes, get treated at first aid stations for free with the help of special stations, and take the purchased items for restoring health on the road and do not waste them just like that.
The first card is the most important
And one more tip that concerns a deck of cards. Most likely, many did not immediately understand, but the first card in the deck always automatically becomes the starting card during the next game session. I don’t understand why they did it that way, but it makes you think about how best to build a deck and in what order to place the cards in it.
After the first hit in the safe zone, the cards can be changed, which is also worth doing if you understand that your initial choice turned out to be useless. The fact is that only after entering the game session the player understands which cards are used for the environment and enemies. So, as soon as you get to the first safe zone, it will be useful to change the starting card to one that neutralizes the enemy, even if only partially.
Put tags
And finally, let me remind you that Back 4 Blood has a fairly good marking system, which makes it possible to indicate where your teammates should go, where to expect attacks from, and mark specific monsters. Don’t forget to use it, especially if you notice a dangerous creature in the distance before the rest of the team.
If you want to bring maximum benefit to your team, then be vigilant and immediately put marks on mini-bosses and Hawkers. In the case of the former, your teammates will have more time to regroup and prepare for a tough battle, because absolutely everyone will see the red skull mark on the screen. And in the second case, this is generally necessary, because the Hawkers are knocked down and can single-handedly deal with any of the team members, so these creatures should be detected in the first place.
