More than a decade ago, Left 4 Dead scratched an itch that a lot of fans didn't even know they had. Its four-person multiplayer pitting a charming cast against overwhelming hordes of zombies clicked for a lot of players. Lately, some developers have been trying to capture that concept; Turtle Rock Studios just came forward with Back 4 Blood for instance, telling a similar zombie-driven narrative in a new setting. The Anacrusis, an upcoming title from Stray Bombay that releases next year, also falls under the umbrella of Left 4 Dead successors.
Stray Bombay is a new studio founded in-part by Chet Faliszek, a Valve veteran who wrote for both installations in the Left 4 Dead series, as well as Portal and Half-Life. It's clear Faliszek hasn't forgotten his time working on Left 4 Dead because The Anacrusis appears to borrow its core concept, although it's full of original ideas. Set in the distant future, four humans aboard a huge spaceship with a retro aesthetic have to fight off waves of alien invaders as they navigate the vessel. While the co-op FPS coming to Xbox Game Pass looks like it has a lot of the Left 4 Dead spirit, it could be the successor that truly captures the hearts of fans.
The Anacrusis' Selling Points
There's a lot of reasons Left 4 Dead fans should keep an eye on The Anacrusis. Faliszek's involvement is one of the most obvious, as Left 4 Dead's acclaim comes partially from its entertaining dialogue and compelling character design. With Faliszek heading The Anacrusis, fans can be optimistic that it may capture the same kind of magic, creating a setting worth exploring and characters whose relationships shine through. Early looks at the spaceship and the protagonists' interactions inspire some hope.
The Anacrusis also looks strong thanks to its innovations. Back 4 Blood aimed to replicate Valve's game closely, but The Anacrusis focuses on advancements. For instance, the AI Driver in The Anacrusis increases its replay value by adjusting the game on the fly. What's more, The Anacrusis has elaborate sci-fi weapons and perks to offer players that will mix up the gameplay. Between the AI Driver organizing enemies differently and a plethora of weapons, The Anacrusis looks like it'll offer refreshing combat.
The Next Left 4 Dead Heir
Fans of Left 4 Dead will also appreciate Stray Bombay's stance on modding The Anacrusis. It proclaims a love of mods on The Anacrusis' Steam page and encourages fans to join the game's community Discord. What's more, The Anacrusis will launch with support for certain community created mods. Anyone interested in tweaking and customizing games should give The Anacrusis a try considering how eager Stray Bombay is to apparently collaborate with players.
Overall, The Anacrusis looks like it has a lot to offer. While it's clearly a love letter to Left 4 Dead in the same vein as Back 4 Blood, it's aiming to be something unique with a colorful sci-fi setting. Stray Bombay's long-term plan is to make more cooperative games like The Anacrusis, and while it's unlikely all of them will borrow the Left 4 Dead gameplay loop, doing so for Stray Bombay's first game is a perfect way to draw in players. Hopefully The Anacrusis manages to deliver Left 4 Dead nostalgia and compelling innovations.
The Anacrusis releases January 13, 2022 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.