Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 Doesn't Mark End of Realistic Entries

Gearbox Software has repeatedly made the point Brothers in Arms is different than every war game because of how seriously it takes the source material. Each game in the series is meant to tell a true-to-life story of events during World War II. Brothers in Arms: Furious 4, a potent mixture of Left 4 Dead and Borderlands, looks ripped from Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards.

When I checked out a demo of Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 this morning, the developers made it clear this did not mark the end of what had come before. Rather, this was a "test bed" for a new take on the series. The story of staff sergeant Matthew Baker isn't over, Gearbox revealed.

When we might see the next "serious" Brothers in Arms entry, however, isn't clear. Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 is scheduled for some in 2012.

There's no good Goddamn reason that this should be called Brothers in Arms.  It should be a brand new IP.  If they want to use an existing IP, then just get the Inglorious Basterds license since that's what this game is.

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

Wow they have really shit all over the Brothers in Arms franchise with this. Fucking loved the first game and it never needed a sequel. 
 
Gearbox keep working on Borderlands 2 and don't drag the name of your old IPs through the dirt.

i fucking love casual portrayals of one of the worst things to happen in history ever. looooooooove it .

The feeling I get is less Inglorious Bastards and more this is the game they would've made if Borderlands had failed so they made a spiritual successor out of one of their other IP's... except Borderlands didn't fail.

God I'm so sick of the term IP. Can we stop using that? We the ones playing the games, not selling them.

It's "Inglorious Basterds" Giant Bomb, come on.

It's "Inglorious Basterds" Giant Bomb, come on.

Gearbox sure do like four player co-op games. Calling it Brothers in Arms is an odd move, should have called it Left 4 Deutschland.

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

@Abyssfull said:

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

No, it shouldn't because that would be fucking awful

Looking forward to "Furious 4: What really happened".

I'm pleased they said that, if they meant it. Essentially they are just talking about a divergance between 2 approaches, rather than hey, we goes where the monies is. Actually of course they do, and they hopfully will use that to support the game that everyone honors yet not enough may play.

This looks truly terrible. 

Everyone's already hated on the name so I'll comment for it. Brothers in arms is a well established IP that WILL sell. Even though they made the wrong move they chose financial probability over past beliefs.

Well.. At least I can just forget this happened and wait for BiA: Battle of the Bulge.

A lot of righteous indignation in these comments.  If going by contents of the game versus past entries, I don't think this should go by 'Brothers in Arms.'  But if it's a creative, fun new game that a lot of people worked hard on to support their families and visions, then if it takes slapping the Brothers in Arms name on it to help it succeed then I'm all for it.  These guys want to make cool games and have them sell, to keep their jobs.  I'm not going to get all upset about a title when there's other, much bigger issues in gaming, and the world, to focus my ire at.

Its times like these that I feel X-Com fan's pain.

@nayte23 said:

@Abyssfull said:

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

No, it shouldn't because that would be fucking awful

Awesome first post. Care to notice the sarcasm? It was just a reference to Inglourious Basterds (because of the obvious similarities) and how the Basterds always scalped the Nazis they killed.

@Abyssfull said:

@nayte23 said:

@Abyssfull said:

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

No, it shouldn't because that would be fucking awful

Awesome first post. Care to notice the sarcasm? It was just a reference to Inglourious Basterds (because of the obvious similarities) and how the Basterds always scalped the Nazis they killed.

He was probably just calling you on your bad joke. No big deal.

I almost feel like they had this idea for a game and then slapped the BiA title in front because it's a known franchise name just so it would make it past the 2K producers.  Chances are this would have been a fine one off title or new IP by itself but would have never been greenlit by the money people.   Seems like a sign of the times for new IPs especially after the dismal showing at E3 press conferences bloating with reboots and sequels.

I think the decision to give this game a Brothers in Arms title is one of worst in recent gaming history. How much weight does that title even have? This is completely illogical for so many reasons.

@Astrofunk said:

@Abyssfull said:

@nayte23 said:

@Abyssfull said:

Should of been called Left 4 Scalped.

No, it shouldn't because that would be fucking awful

Awesome first post. Care to notice the sarcasm? It was just a reference to Inglourious Basterds (because of the obvious similarities) and how the Basterds always scalped the Nazis they killed.

He was probably just calling you on your bad joke. No big deal.

Awesome first alt.

I really hope one of those guys yells "I'VE GOT BALLS OF STEEL" at one point during the game.

Song is "Infinity Guitars" by Sleigh Bells if anyone is wondering. They're wayyyy legit. 
 
As far as the trailer goes, it looks fun, but obviously can't reflect the game. Let's see some gameplay! Could be pretty funny/rad.

@MadLaughter: Thank You.

after the dismal performance of the last BIA, they had to do something to revitalize the.. franchise. BIA:HH suppress&flank mechanics was cool, but i guess the general market didn't really want a FPS game where your shooting is kinda gimped.

I'm also curious on how many teams there are in Gearbox?!

Surely there are some people working on Borderlands 2!

Say auf wiedersehen to your Nazi balls.

I agree that they shouldn't use the Brothers In Arms name but I suspect that was Ubisoft's decision more than Gearbox's. No doubt this is basically Inglorious Basterds: The Game though. That said, I really didn't like the Brothers In Arms games (too much rinse and repeat gameplay, aggravating squadmates and over the top pretentious storytelling) and this sort of campy, cynical humour based type of shooter could be very interesting. It's definitely needed in this sea of samey modern combat games that practically play themselves. I like shooters a lot but it's time for a different spin and this could provide that. I think some time off from "real" Brothers In Arms titles i a good thing and will maybe provide Gearbox a fresh perspective to approach this from. I'm hoping this game is cool.

wow talk about left turn

Not sure about the game, but Infinity Guitars = hell yes.

You know what Gearbox should make? Borderlands 2. I don't care about Duke, and I certainly don't care about Brothers in Arms.

I agree that they shouldn't use the Brothers In Arms name but I suspect that was Ubisoft's decision more than Gearbox's. No doubt this is basically Inglorious Basterds: The Game though. That said, I really didn't like the Brothers In Arms games (too much rinse and repeat gameplay, aggravating squadmates and over the top pretentious storytelling) and this sort of campy, cynical humour based type of shooter could be very interesting. It's definitely needed in this sea of samey modern combat games that practically play themselves. I like shooters a lot but it's time for a different spin and this could provide that. I think some time off from "real" Brothers In Arms titles i a good thing and will maybe provide Gearbox a fresh perspective to approach this from. I'm hoping this game is cool.

Nobody got mad when Team Fortress changed to cartoon violence.

Nobody got mad when Team Fortress changed to cartoon violence.

As a huge fan of the first two games (still need to play the third) I am really bummed that this is how they plan to take the series. It just seems totally batshit crazy to use the Brothers in Arms name for this game. It just seems really contrived and un needed, I would be much more interested if this game was under a completely different name not just trying to use an old franchise brand name.

This is just not needed, the trailer looked kinda cool but like why they need to use the name of a franchise that is known for highly tactical and strategical gameplay for a game that looks really arcade focused.

Sorry for ranting this is just irking me alot.

@MadLaughter: Does the BiA name carry that much market potential though? That's my big confusion. 

Brothers In Arms: Fast Five

FUCK YEAH SLEIGH BELLS

Thank god. they need to continue that series (and drop the UE3 in the process)

Like others have said, just call it The Furious 4 without the Brothers in Arms title. Hell, slap "from the makers of Brothers in Arms" on the cover if it helps. Just don't call it a new Brothers in Arms game.

Sounds a good idea, I've gotten bored of playing the same WWII battles all the time. I'd rather play a game based on WWII but based on a story like Inglorious Bastards or maybe The Guns of Navarrone 

@YukoAsho said:

@Able said:

Nobody got mad when Team Fortress changed to cartoon violence.

TF was never anything other than a team-based multiplayer shooter. BiA is about riveting, soulful stories, with some of the most well-realized characters in gaming. This is a disgrace on the franchise.

Yeaaah...I think you're giving BiA a bit too much credit there. The games are great, but I wouldn't exactly call them the pinacle of story telling within gaming.

And how do you know it's going to be a disgrace? Were you in the development team or something? Because all I've seen is one trailer...

Yeah it shouldn't be part of the BiA series at all because it's nothing to do with it. Glad they're going to continue Baker's story at some point but that could (and probably will) be aaaaaaaagggeeessssss away and it's annoying that they seemed about to announce a new BiA after teasing it for three years and then didn't, meaning I'll have to wait a LONG time for a new one. (If I make sure my PC's good enough to play today's newfangled lots-o-graphical-detail games) I'll just ged Red Orchestra 2 in the meantime, because although that also seems to be taking forever it's the closest upcoming WW2 game I can think of.

They better continue the REAL BIA series... cause I sure hell don't care for this.