Back 4 Blood was released last October, to the delight of fans of the Left 4 Dead franchise getting a close-as-can-be spiritual successor from the original devs. While the lasting power of this game is certainly in question (with about 3k concurrent players), I found it fun enough as I got to experience it with fellow writer David, which you can watch here. In addition, Marcus awarded it a 7.5/10 in his review. Now that its first bit of DLC has arrived, how does Tunnels of Terror fare?

First, it should be noted that Tunnels of Terror is not a campaign DLC. That doesn’t mean there isn’t additional gameplay, though. These aforementioned “tunnels” are completely optional, but hold a reward that will be worth it for some players. It will likely offer a breath of fresh air in terrain to others. Back 4 Blood‘s campaign is lengthy enough and is full of replayability, so that doesn’t completely invalidate what Tunnels of Terror has to offer.

Enter an optional Ridden hive, and you’ll have a chance at some legendary-tier loot if you’re willing to share with your fellow cleaners. The objective once inside these hives is to track down some special skulls. These skulls can be spent back at camp for some exclusive cosmetics, letting you deck out your cleaners in a rotating-daily shop. If that isn’t your endgame, then at least take solace in the fact that these hives could save your run as they’re full of resources and strong loot.

Alongside the hives comes two new cleaners: Sharice and Heng. I spent some time with the former and found the armor plates to be a saving grace in some tough situations, alongside her +25% trauma resistance/bolstered health and starting flashbang. Heng comes with a hatchet and the ability to sense attachments, stashes, and new hives. Sharice’s teamplay additions make her the more viable choice, one that I’m sure my squad appreciated in my run.

More than half a year removed from launch, it took a few minutes to find real people, even with crossplay enabled. However, during the 2 hours I spent with the team, the gameplay was more gripping and immersive than a team of 3 bots. The new enemies were a welcome addition, too. I liked the versatility of the Ripper, as getting thrown into the air while on a moving boat had me on the edge of my seat. There’s not much else that is new, aside from a few new cards and weapons you’ll have to grind to access.

Touted as the first of several expansions, Tunnels of Terror is a bit on the skimpy side as far as content goes. Considering its main draw is completely optional, I have to wonder if even diehards will get exhausted when they walk up to a hive for the umpteenth time knowing exactly what they’ll be up against. While Back 4 Blood got the polish it needed since beta/launch, it may not be worth reinstalling if you weren’t previously invested, as we may need another expansion or two before things get interesting again.

A PC Review Copy of Tunnels of Terror was provided by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for this review.

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Back 4 Blood: Tunnels of Terror

$14.99

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Rewarding Diversion
• More Cards = More Playstyles

Cons

• Seriously Lacking in Content
• Heng isn't very useful
• Matchmaking is difficult