Sound design standards

[Lippeth]

I'm curious to read what the general consensus is about the sound design for weapons in Back 4 Blood. I hear both sides and wonder what you consider to be good or bad sound design for semi-realistic weapons in video games.

The sound design in this is what initially drew me in to the game, and has become one of my new standards for how guns based on real weapons in video games should sound. From the interesting layers and tones of the initial blast including the mechanical sounds that get louder as you get closer to depleting a magazine, to the decay tails after each shot and all the foley for each weapon. Everything sounds rich and complex to me, so finding that the common criticism is that the weapons sound bad, makes me question my own perception.

I'm an amateur sound designer who's made a few generally well received sound mods for Doom and Doom 3 and lately I've used Back 4 Blood as a reference to achieve certain characteristics, so it makes me question my own approach when a game I consider to have excellent sound design is criticized for having poor sound design.

What is it about Back 4 Blood that sounds good or bad to you? What games have your favorite weapon sound design and what do you like about them?

[Lippeth]

I can take a hint and realize no one cares about either the sound in the game or my presentation of the question, but I'm still curious about your thoughts on the topic so I'm bumping this.

[vishuspuss]

I really like Zelda, L4D, etc. sound design. I believe Disney does something similar? with sounds a subconscious 'mood setting'.

I'm not a sound engineer or anything but it really helps the immersion!

[2D > 3D WEEB 4 LIFE]

The explosions are alright but guns are very hit and miss with some of them sounding almost hollow. I also wish that the bullet impacts, especially on specials, had better feedback.

[† ROGUE †]

As an experienced fps gamer, I thik b4b has the best fps gunplay currently in the market .. tho many might argue but it's my opinion .. previously my opinion was battlefield v but after playing back 4 blood I changed it . Sound design in this game is also awesome and very accurate for weapons and it's the sound which gives u the feel of that weapon and gunplay which makes its complete . Weapon sounds also varies from place to place. It's an awesome modern zombie game but due to lack of contents it's facing criticism .

And tbh if u really want a proper discussion about ur topic post it on reddit /Quora . The steam forum contains some l4d2 fanboys. Who can't tolerate their beloved game getting changed from l4d to left for dead .

[† ROGUE †]

Originally posted by Dr. Sinister:

Originally posted by † ROGUE †:

And tbh if u really want a proper discussion about ur topic post it on reddit /Quora . The steam forum contains some l4d2 fanboys. Who can't tolerate their beloved game getting changed from l4d to left for dead .

A little ironic considering Left "4" Dead has more players than "Paid 2 Much"

L4f costs 1/2 the money I spend daily with my friends . And on sale that money becomes 1/4 . And the requirements r too old . Even an android phone can run l4d2 . It's the only reason behind PPL playing it . Some people got used to it cuz they r playing for like 10+ yrs , idk . Last week I burned some money and purchased l4d2 and played it on my 27" monitor and it was really looking bad . The picture quality is too old... There was a rainy map and the quality was so poor that it could damage my eyes . I'm not saying l4d2 is a bad game or a garbage like wwz . But l4d2 is old . Yes l4d2 does have better maps + zombie than back 4 blood but everything is old in that game .. too old for a 2021 gamer to enjoy .. a gamer who started playing l4d2 in its prime days might enjoy it today but not a 2021 modern gamer .

[† ROGUE †]

Originally posted by Dr. Sinister:

Originally posted by † ROGUE †:

L4f costs 1/2 the money I spend daily with my friends . And on sale that money becomes 1/4 . And the requirements r too old . Even an android phone can run l4d2 . It's the only reason behind PPL playing it . Some people got used to it cuz they r playing for like 10+ yrs , idk . Last week I burner some money and purchased l4d2 and played it on my 27" monitor and if was really looking bad . The picture quality is too old... There was a rainy map and the quality was so poor that it could damage my eyes . I'm not saying l4d2 is a bad game or a garbage like wwz . But l4d2 is old . Yes l4d2 does have better maps + zombie than back 4 blood but everything is old in that game .. too old for a 2021 gamer to enjoy .. a gamer who started playing l4d2 in its prime days might enjoy it today but not a 2021 modern gamer .

Oh, the gunplay in B4B is light years ahead of L4D but did you not watch the Crowbcat video? The software may be old but the source engine does things way better than what TRS did with the Unreal Engine

As I said l4d2 does have better zombies and killing zombies is really better as compared to b4b 1 hit kill zombies . Also the maps r better in l4d2 but as I also said about the age and 2021 gamer thingy . The game looks bad when played on a 27" monitor at 1440p /4k .and finally the sound is AWFUL in l4d2 holly Jesus..

[† ROGUE †]

Originally posted by Dr. Sinister:

Originally posted by † ROGUE †:

L4f costs 1/2 the money I spend daily with my friends . And on sale that money becomes 1/4 . And the requirements r too old . Even an android phone can run l4d2 . It's the only reason behind PPL playing it . Some people got used to it cuz they r playing for like 10+ yrs , idk . Last week I burner some money and purchased l4d2 and played it on my 27" monitor and if was really looking bad . The picture quality is too old... There was a rainy map and the quality was so poor that it could damage my eyes . I'm not saying l4d2 is a bad game or a garbage like wwz . But l4d2 is old . Yes l4d2 does have better maps + zombie than back 4 blood but everything is old in that game .. too old for a 2021 gamer to enjoy .. a gamer who started playing l4d2 in its prime days might enjoy it today but not a 2021 modern gamer .

Oh, the gunplay in B4B is light years ahead of L4D but did you not watch the Crowbcat video? The software may be old but the source engine does things way better than what TRS did with the Unreal Engine

Idk who's crowbcat but ya I've seen that video .it's kinda funny how that guy was comparing a games alpha gameplay (ya that gameplay was either the beta one or the alpha) with a 10 yr old game .

[Nexus]

Originally posted by Malty McFry:

What is it about Back 4 Blood that sounds good or bad to you? What games have your favorite weapon sound design and what do you like about them?

The sounds ok i guess, the sound of guns in tunnels and closed rooms is kinda like how it sounds in an indoor range but not as ear smashing

There is the clear issue of do you want guns to sound really real and have the players go deaf or do you want it to make them feeeeeel like they are shooting guns, in the same way that the sound of a punch in reality is just kinda simple "thack" but in movies and games its a meaty "thwunk" with reverb

So there's games like COD:MW with the super clearly recorded gunshots that hurt your ears just as much as real guns do, then there are games where every gun sounds like its a kids interpretation of comic book weapons. While i can admire the focus of detail of the earlier, and the latter can be really fun (or you can go ham like duty calls), the way most games pick the middle ground is probably for the best.

I should also mention i havent got the best audio sense, sound is there either to facilitate game mechanics, set the mood or enable immersion and i fall more into the game mechaics side of the triangle for most games.

If i had to give my favourite gun sounds game? Receiver 2 i think, but im not sure how much thats actually the sounds and how much its the way the sounds mesh with the things that you are doing that cause the sounds.