With Call of Duty Zombies fast approaching its 20th anniversary, it’s no surprise that “Zombies-like” games have started popping up. The horde-shooter mode has inspired multiple generations of players — so much so that some fans who grew up with it have decided to develop their own interpretations. I was impressed by Sker Ritual’s attempt a few years ago, and now Australian developer Hell Byte Studios steps forward with its own incarnation: Blood Reaver, a dark-fantasy, round-based FPS for one to four players.
It’s always difficult covering projects like Blood Reaver because it’s nigh impossible for a small studio to compete with the gunplay of a series as gargantuan as Call of Duty. I’d like to think most fans seeking out alternatives understand the difference between a multi-studio production and a passionate indie house of ten to twelve people, but it’s worth repeating.
That said, Blood Reaver has solid fundamentals. Gunplay is reminiscent of Quake or Doom (appropriate, since Blood Reaver tasks players with fighting against waves of demonic entities). All the genre hallmarks you’d expect appear with their own flair: perks are tarot cards, pack-a-punch becomes a blood infuser, and the mystery box is a nest. The game also has a decent mix of pistols, assault rifles, shotguns and otherworldly weaponry, though the count is understandably lower than its peers.
It doesn’t take long to work out which era of COD Zombies most inspired Blood Reaver. Upon spawning in, I quickly recognised its minimalistic UI and movement mechanics. While I’m still engaged in Zombies experiences beyond Aether’s ending, there’s a chunk of Zombies players who aren’t as fond of Call of Duty’s recent attempts. They’ll feel right at home here. I found myself wiping several times before initially reaching the blood infuser — a welcome surprise that made me nostalgic for Zombies’ early years, back when opening all the doors was an achievement in itself.
Most progression and loadout decisions are made in-game, but several abilities can be chosen in the pre-game lobby, ranging from a double points buff to a get-out-of-jail melee swipe. Each ability is tied to a relic, all of which are splendidly designed to fit within Blood Reaver’s gory hellscape.
With only one map at launch (Final Stand), Blood Reaver is more of an investment than a content-packed video game at present, which is exactly why Hell Byte opted for Early Access. The studio hopes to attract a healthy community of players who can offer feedback to help shape the game for years to come through its “community-driven development strategy”. There’s already plenty to look forward to as the game builds up to its 1.0 launch: a main quest for Final Stand and two new maps are backed by an array of features, including challenges, talismans, a lore codex, and additional enemy types.
If you’re a fan of the genre, Blood Reaver is well worth a look. It’s a game I’ll certainly be checking in on as it continues to grow. For those interested in getting in at the ground level, Early Access offers a unique opportunity to help Hell Byte Studios construct its very own piece of hell. Every journey begins with a single step, after all.
Blood Reaver is out now via Steam (Early Access): £12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99
