Finally, a Worthy Successor to Left 4 Dead
For years, co-op zombie shooters have tried to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle formula that made Left 4 Dead legendary. Few have managed it.
Then along comes John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando from Saber Interactive, and surprisingly, it might be the closest we’ve gotten in a very long time.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to be this blown away. But after receiving my review code on Friday, it’s been almost impossible to stop talking about it. I haven’t had this much fun in a zombie game in years.
In many ways, this is the kind of chaotic co-op experience that modes like Call of Duty Zombies have been chasing for years.
Solo Play Is Surprisingly Solid
I started by playing the prologue and first mission solo with AI teammates.
To my surprise, the AI companions are very capable. They stay active in combat, revive when needed, and generally keep the action flowing smoothly.
My only complaint is that I wish there were command options. Being able to order them to mount turrets or hold certain positions would have added another tactical layer.
Still, for solo players, the AI does a great job keeping the experience enjoyable. The later missions may cause some difficulty.
Co-Op Is Where the Game Truly Shines
Things really came alive when I jumped into co-op with my Australian buddy Jayden.
We ran two full missions together and the result was pure chaotic fun. Massive zombie hordes, vehicles smashing through enemies, explosive weapons going off everywhere, it’s the kind of mayhem that feels perfectly designed for multiplayer.
This is a game built for playing with friends. Solo is indeed fun but my god, the fun factor goes up ten fold when playing with others.
Deep Progression and Satisfying Combat
Toxic Commando offers deeper progression systems than I expected. Weapons and classes can be upgraded over time, letting you build characters around different playstyles.
Combat feels punchy and rewarding, with a healthy variety of weapons to experiment with. The game also mixes in vehicles and environmental interactions that add extra layers to the action. Mud Runner mechanics shine through here.
The sound design deserves special praise. From the musical score to the terrifying howls of incoming enemies, everything sounds fantastic. Testing it on both my surround sound setup and my headset was a treat.
80’s Horror Cheese Atmosphere Done Right
As you’d expect from a game carrying the name of John Carpenter, the atmosphere leans heavily into classic 80’s horror vibes.
The environments are stunning at times. One mission in particular features a moonlit playground that genuinely made me stop for a moment just to take it in.
The lighting, enemy designs, and environmental detail create a strong sense of style that sets the game apart from many other zombie shooters.
Large Missions Full of Action
The campaign features nine missions, including a very fun prologue.
Each mission takes place on large maps with multiple objectives that you can approach in different ways. Missions can easily run up to 45 minutes, depending on how much exploration and side activity you tackle.
The structure feels like a blend of the swarm combat from World War Z mixed with the environmental traversal and vehicle chaos you’d expect from Saber’s other projects.
A Few Rough Edges
Not everything is perfect.
Loading screens can feel longer than expected, especially on console. The controls also felt a bit stiff initially, almost like the game was designed primarily with PC in mind.
Thankfully, after tweaking sensitivity settings for a few minutes, the controls felt much better.
Characters Leave Less of an Impact
The voice acting overall is solid, but the characters themselves feel somewhat forgettable.
Fans of Clive Standen will recognize him voicing Walter Irons, many players know him as Titus in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or as Rollo from Vikings. He does a good job here, but the writing doesn’t quite give the characters enough personality to truly stand out.
Final Verdict
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando surprised me in the best way possible. It delivers chaotic co-op gameplay, fantastic atmosphere, and the kind of horde shooter action that’s been missing for years.
It’s not perfect, loading times are painfully long. I found my controls to be a bit stiff, but a few minutes of tinkering with the settings and I was on my way. When the action starts and the hordes arrive, it’s an absolute blast.
And honestly? I’m already excited to see what future content brings.
9/10
