Do you know the Sludge God?
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando immediately earns the ability to have the master of horror’s name attached. The musical score alone feels like classic ‘Carpenter’ and the opening cutscene sets the stage; in the near feature human scientist decided to tap the Earth’s core for energy, because why not. Well of course the accidently release the Sludge God who causes soil to turn into slimy scum and humans into mindless monsters. Now a lone scientist has a plan to put everything right and he hires the players group of Toxic Commando’s to bring him a fuel source. Well things end up FUBAR; it explodes, they get infected and the scientist fits them with a vest to stop the spread and now they are all working together to put right the world by killing hordes of monsters and fueling up loads of vehicles; no, really.
Developer Saber Interactive clearly understood the assignment; this is the studio that has already carved out a name in the horde space and Toxic Commando feels like a natural evolution. Players familiar with World War Z will feel right at home with TC, just as in that game players will be able to choose between classes and as they progress will level them as well as level any weapons that are used. Co-Op is available but unlike WWZ there is no PvP component in Toxic Commando at the time of this review.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed)< PlayStation, PC
Price I'd Pay: $39.99
The overall structure of the game keeps everything moving at a brisk pace. Players will choose their mission and be queued up but can choose to start alone with AI companions. This is where TC starts to show some cracks, the loading times; at least on Xbox with this game are long, like long, long. And I kind of get it when it comes to the maps because they are quite large and all the enemies and loot locations are randomized, but chat, I’m telling you this game takes at least 3 minutes just to load you into the mission selection area, and it just feels like ‘tew much’. I digress though, once players are in game their map will have points-of-interest that will have icons to show the loot type that can be found there. One of the most important, outside of ammo I guess; is going to be the gears. These allow players to open weapon boxes and utilize the various traps and gadgets around the world like electrifying pads, and machine gun emplacements.
As I said above the maps are on the large size and that is where the vehicles come into play. Each of them comes equipped with a different gimmick, the ambience can emit a huge healing AoE while army hummer has a giant electro blast that will destroy enemies around the vehicles. The most useful of vehicle tools though has to be the winch. Not only will these help players make it up muddy hills in the game and make taking hard turns a breeze; it also will be needed to open hidden containers around the map that will yield the player and their team much needed gear. Each of the vehicles felt fun and easy to drive, there were times when playing in co-op that I would get stuck in the gunner spot or the rear of the ambulance. I would have to open the map and close it and then I could press the button to exit the vehicle. It didn’t happen often but it was weird enough I figured I should mention it here.
The combat is what you’d expect from the team who delivered WWZ and Space Marine 2; solid gunplay, big explosions and special abilities. Each of the classes has an active ability, from the Medic’s healing field to unleashing the unbridled fury of the Operator’s drone and each of should be used and abused; not held onto like a precious gem. To compliment those powers though Toxic Commando has a much deep armory of guns that one would usually find in a Call of Duty game. Each of them can be upgraded and outfitted with scopes, silencers and bigger magazines to eradicate the hordes. The progression system adds in the replayability for those that want to max out weapons and each of the skill trees.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is my type of game, a horde shooter that I can play co-op with my wife and friends. But look; Toxic Commando isn’t the second coming of Left 4 Dead and honestly, we have got to stop thinking that every game in this genre has to be. L4D came out at a special time and introduced us to something that has persevered over the years, those memories and experiences will never be taken away. We do not need to retread those games but instead forge new paths from the undead roots that they laid before. I think John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando does just that through its absurdly 80’s story to its explosive gunplay and addition of vehicles. It takes the zombie/horde baton and treads its own path, one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
