A horror movie directing legend teams up with developer Saber Interactive to bring us the co-op shooter, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando.
Apologies in advance: if you watch the trailer below, you’ll probably have Bon Jovi rattling around in your head for the rest of the day. It’s all part and parcel of John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, an upcoming co-op shooter with self-described “80s-vibes”.
In a cheesy, over-the-top sort of way, it looks like a riot, and appears to feature a vehicle mechanic that should help separate it from other horror shooters of its type. As well as running around on foot with up to four friends, you can also hop in a truck, splattering zombies left and right. It looks as though there’ll be multiple vehicles on offer, too, with the trailer showing off ambulances, lorries and armoured troop carriers. Is it the Mudrunner zombie slaughtering sim we never knew we wanted? Quite possibly.
“Look, I really like shooting zombies,” says John Carpenter, the legendary horror director who’s lent his name to the game’s title. “They keep telling me that they’re called ’the infected.’ Please. They’re ghouls, dude. They blow up real good and there are a ton of them. People are going to love this game.”
Let’s face it – he isn’t wrong. Carpenter’s had at least a modicum of creative input in the game itself, too, according to Saber Interactive’s Tim Willits.
“His unique vision, unparalleled expertise in storytelling, and ability to create immersive atmospheres have helped us to elevate this all-new, 80s-inspired experience to the next level,” the chief creative officer said in a press release. “His works have been an inspiration for years, and it’s an honor to work alongside him to deliver a truly unforgettable adventure.”
The horror maestro behind such classics as Halloween, The Thing and Escape From New York has long been an unabashed video game fan. In an interview with The AV Club last year, Carpenter revealed his addiction to such titles as Fallout 76, Borderlands and Horizon: Forbidden West. It’s fair to say he’s far from a casual gamer, then.
We’re intrigued to see whether Carpenter – who scored many of his own movies – will also be providing the music for Toxic Commando. Here’s hoping.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is due out in 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
