There are many coop-centric games out there but Left 4 Dead has been one of the most influential, with its characters still appearing in other games today. Now Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead franchise, brings back the cooperative, zombie shooting fun of the original series and stars a brand new cast of zombie slayers. With a focus on online co-op, Back 4 Blood will let players become a Cleaner and fight against hordes of infected undead with their friends.
As if handpicked for the end of days, the Cleaners are a team of individuals who are skilled at fighting the Ridden and immune to the Devil Worm parasite that caused Back 4 Blood‘s apocalypse. There are eight playable Cleaners, and each of them comes with unique strengths and perks. With characters ranging from a crack shot sniper to a college kid wielding a baseball bat, there is something for everyone who wants to get their hands bloody.
Walker
Elijah Walker is a former Army Ranger and war-torn veteran. He has a Glock 23 Pistol and wears a backward-facing baseball cap, sand-colored gear, a military shawl, dog tags, a blue long-sleeved shirt and cargo pants with knee pads. Walker is loyal and dependable, with experience in front-line combat that comes in handy when facing the Ridden. Although he is a man of few words, he commands respect as the team leader. His traits grant him +20% Accuracy for 5 Seconds for killing Ridden with deadly precision, so it pays to make the most of every bullet Walker has. He also receives a 10% Damage buff and +10 Team Health, showing he is a team player and a stand-out leader.
Doc
Pragmatic with a no-nonsense attitude, Doc is fiercely independent. Her bob haircut and glasses reflect this personality, and her white medical lab coat, purple surgical gloves, and knee brace support help her stand out from her fellow Cleaners. When she came to America, she sacrificed her social life to further her medical career. Since then, however, she has found a kindred spirit in Mom and has become an integral member of Fort Hope. As her name implies, Doc excels at keeping her team healthy, as she can heal low-health teammates even without items. She also has increased healing efficiency and provides her squad resistance to the effects of Trauma, which lowers survivors max hp when sustaining hits from enemies.
Karlee
Viewed as everything from a nuisance to a looter, Karlee is mostly an enigma to her teammates. She sports a purple undercut, piercings and multiple tattoos, dons a leather jacket with a hoodie underneath, and wears leather boots and pants. After the Collapse, Karlee lived on the outskirts of Fort Hope, fighting to survive and trusting no one but herself. However, since allying with the Cleaners, she has proven to be a reliable ally. Her keen senses grant her the unique ability to detect environmental hazards. She also has an extra slot in her Quick Inventory, so she’s prepared for whatever the Ridden throws at her. Despite not coming across as a team player, Karlee supports allies by providing a Team Use Speed Bonus.
Jim
Described as the eye-in-the-sky, Jim is a skilled marksman and deadly from 500 yards with his sniper rifle. Identifiable by his distinct beard and a wound on his right cheek, he also wears a baseball cap, a heavy orange jacket with a t-shirt underneath and a unique necklace with an arrowhead. Jim spent his early years in the countryside learning hunting and trapping from his father. After joining the military, he returned home and found the Collapse had left his home in ruins, leading to him joining the Cleaners. A crack shot, Jim’s Precision Kills increase his damage output, making him deadliest when not missing his targets. He also has enhanced ADS speed, allowing him to aim down sights quickly, and increases Team Weakspot Damage.
Hoffman
Hoffman was always a prepper and conspiracy theorist, and he is potentially the only one excited about the apocalypse. Hoffman carries an M1911 Pistol and wears glasses and a cargo vest with a red button-up shirt underneath. He and his mother survived by hiding in their underground bunker, sheltered from the world. Once supplies ran out and his mother passed away, he had to face the world. Luckily for his team, Hoffman has the skills and heart to help them through the end of the world. Despite the circumstances, he views the Cleaners as the family he always wanted. Thanks to his unique traits, he has an extra offensive item slot, increases his team’s ammo capacity and his kills spawn ammo.
Evangelo
The newest and youngest member of the team, Evangelo, is equipped with a machete, a proven quick study and eager to show he has what it takes to be a Cleaner. His curly hair and the goggles he wears on his head make him stand out from the crowd, along with his yellow backpack, blue leather jacket with a grey hoodie underneath, and the cross he wears on the chain around his neck. He is loyal and reliable but tends to be chatty when he’s nervous. A natural-born survivor, Evangelo can break out of grabs once every 60 Seconds. He also has +75% Breakout Speed, +25% Stamina Regeneration and provides a +5% Team Movement Speed Bonus.
Mom
Mom is one of the most formidable members of the Cleaners. She has grey braids that fall from the red bandana on her head and wears a green coat with various pins on the pockets. As her name implies, she puts the needs of others before her own, provides a lot of support and is lethal with her shotgun. Her son’s death has made her apprehensive, and she has questioned the team’s leadership more than once, but she still believes in her team’s ability to get the job done. Mom can instantly revive an incapacitated teammate once per level, always carrying responsibility for her team, making her invaluable in a pinch. She also has an extra slot for support items in her inventory and gives her team an extra life.
Holly
Holly, armed with “Dottie,” her nail spiked baseball bat, is not your average college kid. She is the resilient glue that holds the team together and will never give up without a fight, inspiring her allies. Holly wears a red flannel shirt tied around her waist, a yellow sports shirt and jean shorts. She dons a blue baseball cap that contrasts with her red hair and elbow pads for protection, along with various pins on her blue backpack. Holly lost her family to the Devil Worm parasite but learned to be a Cleaner to fight back against the Ridden instead of giving into tragedy. Holly recovers 10 Stamina per Ridden she kills, has +10% Damage Resistance and provides +25 Team Stamina.
Back 4 Blood releases October 12, 2021, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam and the Epic Store.
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