PC Critic Reviews

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando surprised me. I expected it to be an enjoyable co-op shooter based on my previous experiences with it, but it ended up becoming my go-to game to play with friends. The gunplay is tight and extremely satisfying, and the decision to use contained maps with easy-to-find points of interest means there's action around almost every corner. There's also so much to upgrade, with gun customization being a very high point, and skill trees for the four character classes improving our abilities further. Even though there could be a little more variety, especially with character skins, John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is one of the best co-op experiences I have had the pleasure of enjoying.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a solid fun time. It isn't a revolutionary game in the four-player co-op genre, but all of the changes it makes have a positive impact on the experience. The performance is very good all around, and despite having a linear storyline to follow, it's replayable thanks to the classes, skill trees, and number of things to level up. For those looking for a return to a co-op experience that's about more shooting and less thinking, Toxic Commando is it.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a cooperative first-person shooter for four players in which the main objective is to survive gigantic waves of zombies. Each character follows classic RPG archetypes—support, tank, operator, and striker—and can upgrade their skills and powers through a skill tree tied to the Sludge God's toxin. Missions involve traversing large maps following waypoints until the final showdown, but exploration is essential to recover heavy weapons, ammunition, and medkits. The pace is almost musou-like: endless hordes of undead to be mowed down amid blood, dismemberment, and constant chaos, with the option of running them over even while driving heavy vehicles. Even solo, thanks to well-managed bots, the action remains frenetic and fun.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a satisfying spiritual successor to World War Z and a moreish co-op zombie shooter with enough new mechanics to stand out. The shift towards larger, more open maps and the addition of vehicles are both enjoyable twists that add more gameplay possibilities than ever and, although the campaign is a little brief, there’s plenty of room for the game to grow like the studio’s previous effort.

In its best moments, John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is an unbelievably good time. Even in its worst moments, it's still a pretty solid zombie shooter with some great set pieces. That being said, any problems with the game can and probably will be fixed in time. The janky bots and frustrating solo player experience definitely make things a little rough around the edges, but underneath that is a fantastic game that will absolutely exceed your expectations if you give it a chance.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando focuses on delivering a very specific pleasure. Four buddies, a towering horde of undead, and a soundtrack that sounds like it escaped from something covered in dust in your basement. It identifies that particular itch perfectly, and it leans into it with a sense of gleeful, gory enthusiasm.

Toxic Commando is an interesting mix with the core of good old cooperative zombie action, on which it layers excellently crafted vehicle movement in difficult terrain. The random layout of the maps helps the replayability, although it would have deserved a little more variety. John Carpenter's name is not in the title for nothing, and the epic visuals combined with the bombastic soundtrack do not disgrace the name of the horror master at all.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando offers a solid experience. It doesn't do anything particularly new and focuses on just a few elements, but it handles them well with care and obvious devotion to the source material. The missions aren't too varied at first, but the frequent occurrence of grotesque, unexpected, or crazy situations makes every game enjoyable. The bots also work well.

There are nits to pick with Toxic Commando​​​​​, but how egregious they are will ultimately come down to player preference. Some may find its accessibility a win for the multiplayer experience, while some may find it too easy. Some will appreciate its lack of bloat, while others will want deeper skill trees and more customization. All in all, though, fans of cheesy horror and zombie co-op shooters will find plenty to love in it. John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is not a game-changer, but it doesn't pretend to be, and it's all the better for it.

In short, it's a game you'll enjoy if you like this type of title, but it falls short in aspects like the plot (which is very circumstantial), although John Carpenter's signature style is prominent and creates a fairly immersive atmosphere.