John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando mixes co-op shooter, Mudrunner, and huge waves of zombies in the style of World War Z – we played the demo at Steam Next Fest.
John Carpenter. That name stands for legendary 80s horror, booming synthesizers, and unforgettable film classics like Halloween and The Thing. Now the cult director is lending his dark vision to a brand-new co-op shooter.
Developer Saber Interactive is pooling its studio’s expertise from various genres for this project. The gigantic swarms of enemies from World War Z collide with the relentless mud and vehicle physics of Snowrunner – and the result is John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando.
Even though the full release is just around the corner in March, you can try out an extensive demo at the current Steam Next Fest. We’ve already blasted our way through the first huge map of the zombie apocalypse for you.
Co-op action meets road trip
The basic principle of Toxic Commando combines classic first-person shooter mechanics with a strong focus on exploration. Up to four players can team up online, but you can also play with bots. Before each mission, you choose one of four character classes with individual abilities and then enter the expansive areas.
The missions follow a clear structure: you head for various targets on the map, complete main and side tasks, and collect valuable resources. You plan the routes and order yourself.
Movement is particularly important due to the huge map: Ideally, your squad will traverse the apocalyptic world in vehicles that can be found on the map. The fleet ranges from average cars to beefy military trucks that plow through enemy lines with a massive battering ram and fire on the hordes with a mounted flamethrower.
But: The vehicles need to be maintained. You refuel regularly, repair dented chassis with scrap metal you find, and curse quietly under your breath when the developers unleash their mud physics from Mudrunner. The vehicles quickly sink into the toxic mud up to their axles – and then the only thing that helps is the winch… if your car has one, that is. border-left: gray 1px solid” height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/I4Ea7bMBNGQ” frameborder=”0″ width=”560″ allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>
There are also class abilities that are particularly useful when a huge wave of zombies is rolling towards you. The Striker class, for example, can detonate a large-scale EMP explosion that stuns enemies and gives your team some much-needed breathing space.
Between missions, you return to a safe hub: There, you can tinker with your equipment, try out new guns at the shooting range, and build your setup to suit the next mission.
Modifications range from enlarged magazines to better sights. None of this is revolutionary, but it still feels motivating enough to complete the side quests for more experience.
The highlights of the missions are large-scale defense sequences, such as the one at the end of the demo. Your team secures strategically important areas against advancing waves of zombies. Saber Interactive takes these intense passages almost 1:1 from its own co-op hit World War Z. The huge hordes literally pile up on fences and obstacles, forming living undead ladders.
To prepare for these massive swarms, you build various defensive structures: You place barbed wire, set up automatic turrets, install electric fences, and position mortars for area damage—all exactly as in the spiritual predecessor.
Who should download the demo?
Toxic Commando already presents itself as a successful shooter in the demo. The pure gunplay and powerful hit feedback are in no way inferior to its direct competitors from the same company, World War Z or Space Marine 2. The gameplay loop of driving, looting, and shooting easily keeps you entertained for one or two rounds at a time.
The gameplay loop of driving, looting, and shooting easily keeps you entertained for one or two rounds at a time.
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However, building a long-term motivated and loyal community for the release depends largely on the final content. The developers need to score points here with varied maps and deep upgrade options.
The current demo limits game progress to level 5, so you only collect a few skill points and barely scratch the surface of character development. But if you’re in the mood for straightforward co-op action with large zombie hordes, you can try out the title without hesitation at the current Steam Next Fest.
