The final version of the shooter from the renowned filmmaker will surprise everyone.
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A few months ago, we had the chance to try out a beta version of Toxic Commando on PC, but now it’s time for the official release of the game, and we get to enjoy this cooperative shooter on Xbox. I’m happy to report that it’s just as enjoyable, if not more so, than the Steam version.
For those who missed my beta analysis (and are too lazy to click on the link above), let me tell you a bit about this game that bears the signature of the great filmmaker known for his contributions to the horror genre, specifically, and which was conceived by Saber Interactive. Toxic Commando tells the story of four mercenaries, two men and two women, who were hired by a millionaire to retrieve an object from a remote location where an experiment went horribly wrong.
The adventure begins with the soldiers being overwhelmed by monsters and barely escaping with their lives, sacrificing the object they were supposed to retrieve and getting infected with a virus that also gives them special abilities in the process.
The next objective is to work with the mysterious millionaire again to put an end to the evil that has taken over the location and cure the mysterious disease that affects them, which, until the beginning of the game, had only been delayed by the use of special vests.
Load up your arsenal and get ready for a thrilling ride, as we head into a zombie-infested land, accompanied by our teammates. Follow me.
Technical Aspect
Graphically, the game excels, reaching a truly impressive level of detail. Every explosion, gunshot, and zombie dismemberment is meticulously crafted, and even the vehicles get dirty with dirt, mud, and blood, keeping the immersion at its peak throughout the game.
The soundtrack is reminiscent of 80s movies, with synthesizers taking center stage and melodies featuring guitars and other instruments worthy of an indie garage band that focuses on hard rock as its main inspiration. It’s truly an ode to action and horror movies of the past that should never be forgotten.
The voices are only in English, and each line of dialogue showcases the character’s personality, with a great sense of humor that will make you smile at various points in the campaign. The on-screen text and subtitles are localized in Spanish, although only in the European variant.
I conducted this analysis on my powerful Xbox Series S, and I was impressed by the game’s excellent performance, even during intense battles with hordes of enemies, where I didn’t notice any frame rate drops or slowdowns.
Gameplay
When starting the game, the player must choose between Walter Irons, Ruby Pelicano, Cato Arman, and Astrid Xu, each representing the classic character classes found in various genres: assault, healer, engineer, and defender, which defines the special abilities of the protagonists.
The game can be enjoyed in cooperative play with up to four players, but if you don’t have that many friends or prefer to play alone, the AI will take control of the other three teammates without any issues. Since the game wasn’t on sale during the analysis, the servers weren’t full, and it took me a while to find other players for a cooperative match; although the times I did manage to play with others, I had a blast, and playing solo wasn’t bad either.
The shooting mechanics are excellent, not only due to the vast array of weapons available but also because each one feels different when used. Even when using them, you gain experience levels that allow for aesthetic and operational upgrades, such as expanding magazines, adding new scopes, and other gadgets.
Some players might notice a resemblance to Left 4 Dead due to the team-based gameplay and zombie-infested setting, but Carpenter’s game adds a unique aspect that was never present in the Valve South saga: the ability to operate a vehicle. This mechanic is not just a simple accessory; certain vehicles allow you to open doors with a hook and traverse the map (which is quite large) more effectively, as well as approach action sequences differently, running over enemies without mercy. Vehicles also take damage and need to be repaired and refueled frequently. The player doesn’t have to be the one driving the vehicle (which can be an ambulance, a 4×4, a humvee, a sedan, or a police car); any seat can be a good spot to shoot from during the trip, and it’s even possible to occupy the turret seat if the vehicle has one.
Like the weapons, vehicles can also be customized in the garage, a hub area between missions where you can personalize your avatars, vehicles, and weapons. The items needed for customization can be purchased using crystals collected during the game, while “seeds of God” are required to upgrade special abilities.
In most levels, it’s necessary to fortify certain positions and resist waves of enemies. For this, it’s essential to have mechanical parts that can be used to repair mounted machine guns, electrify fences, set up mortars, and create decoys to divide the zombie hordes. While this mechanic can become a bit repetitive, I consider it a great addition.
Duration
Each of the game’s maps is long and features various points to collect items, special weapons, and complete side missions in addition to the main objectives. Additionally, replaying the same mission multiple times has the particularity of making the player start from a different point each time, forcing them to rethink their strategy constantly.
Conclusion
Maybe it was the hordes of enemies, perhaps it was the experience of driving through these zombie-infested lands, or maybe it was the vastness of the maps. Whatever the reason, I believe that Toxic Commando is one of the big names that will make a splash in 2026, and that’s saying a lot considering the calendar still ahead of us.
A great proposal for fans of shooters and a must-buy for those who still crave the thrill of Left 4 Dead.
We thank Plaion for providing the material needed to conduct this analysis.
Translator and video game localiser with a passion for retro titles and simulators. He has never let go of a controller since he was given an Atari 2600. He collaborates with different developers in the localisation of their titles into Spanish through Camelot Translations.
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