The final version of the shooter of the renowned filmmaker will surprise everyone.
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A few months ago, we had the chance to test a beta version of Toxic Commando on PC, but now it’s time for the official launch of the game, and we get to enjoy this cooperative shooter on Xbox, a task that, I must say, has given me as much or even more pleasure than its Steam edition.
For those who missed my analysis of the beta (and are too lazy to click on the link above), let me tell you a bit about this game that bears the seal of the great filmmaker known for his contributions to the seventh art, specifically in the horror genre, 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 terribly wrong.
The adventure begins with the soldiers being overrun by monsters and having to escape by the skin of their teeth, sacrificing the object they were supposed to bring back and becoming infected with the virus spawned by the disaster, which also gives them special abilities.
The next objective is to work with the mysterious millionaire again to put an end to the evil in that place and cure the mysterious disease that affects them, which, until the beginning of the game, had only been delayed with the use of special vests.
Load up your arsenal of bullets and guns, because this time we’re heading into a land dominated by zombies and other unfriendly mutants. At least this time, we’re not alone. Follow me.
Technical Section
Graphically, the game excels and reaches a truly stunning level of detail. Every explosion, shot, zombie dismemberment, and other details are appreciated in an amazing way, even the vehicles get dirty with the dirt, mud, and blood of the place to maintain immersion throughout the game.
The soundtrack seems to be taken from an 80s movie, with synthesizers stealing the show at all times and melodies with guitars and other instruments worthy of some indie garage band that focuses on hard rock as its main inspiration. Truly, a tribute in every sense to the action and horror movies of other times that should never be forgotten.
The voices are only in English, and each line of dialogue is a showcase of character from a script that bets on the clichés of action genre characters with a great deal of humor that will bring a smile to your face at various points in the campaign. The on-screen texts and subtitles are localized in Spanish, although only in the Iberian variant.
I conducted this analysis on my powerful Xbox Series S, and I was impressed by the game’s excellent performance, even during confrontations with hordes of enemies that appear in different points, where I didn’t observe 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 of the characters representing the already well-known formula of character classes in different genres within the world of video games: assaulter, healer, engineer, and defender, something that defines, basically, what the special abilities of the protagonists have to offer.
The game can be enjoyed in cooperative play for up to four people, but if you don’t have that many friends or simply prefer to shoot in total human solitude, the AI will take control of your other three companions without any issues. Since the game is not yet on sale during the analysis, the servers are not full, and it took me a while to find other people to face a cooperative match; although the times I could do it, I enjoyed the experience immensely, and I must say that playing alone was not bad either.
The shooting mechanics are excellent, not only because of the vast arsenal of weapons of all kinds available to the player but also because of how different each one feels when handling them. Even when using them, experience levels are gained, allowing for aesthetic and operational improvements in each one, such as expanding magazines, adding new sights, and other gadgets.
Some players may play a few sections of Toxic Commando and feel a certain similarity to Left 4 Dead due to the team-based theme and the zombie scenario, but Carpenter’s game adds a very particular aspect that was never in the Valve South saga, which is the possibility of operating a vehicle. This mechanic is not just a simple accessory; certain vehicles allow opening doors with a hook and traversing the map (which is not small) in a more effective way, in addition to facing action in a different way, mercilessly crushing enemies. Vehicles also take damage and must be repaired and even 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 four-door car, or a patrol car); any seat can be a good spot to shoot left and right during the trip; it’s even possible to occupy the turret seat if the vehicle has that weapon.
Like the weapons, vehicles can also be customized in the garage, a place that functions as a hub between missions and is the main site for customizations. The elements to customize avatars, vehicles, and weapons can be purchased using crystals that are collected during the game, while to improve special abilities, the so-called “seeds of God” will be needed, which appear in different points on the map to collect.
In most levels, it will be necessary to fortify some positions and resist the attack of wave after wave of enemies. For this, it’s vital to have mechanical pieces that are used to repair posted machine guns, electrify fences, arm mortars, and create decoys that divide the number of zombies. While this mechanic can become a bit repetitive, I consider it a great addition.
Duration
Each of the game’s maps are long and have different points to collect items, collect special weapons, and complete secondary missions in addition to the main objectives. Additionally, facing the same mission several times has the particularity that the system takes you to start from a different point each time, making the player have to rethink their strategy over and over again, constantly.
Conclusion
Maybe it was the hordes of enemies, perhaps it was the experience I had driving through these zombie-infested lands, or maybe it was the vastness of its maps. Whatever the reason, I think this Toxic Commando is one of the big names that will come this 2026, and that’s saying a lot considering the calendar that still lies ahead.
A very good proposal for fans of shooters and an essential purchase for all those who still have a craving for Left 4 Dead.
We thank Plaion for the material provided to carry out 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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