A 1930s hunt through cursed ruins
Strange Brigade is a third-person shooter set in Egypt in the 1930s. Seteki the Witch Queen has risen after 4,000 years buried in a nameless tomb, and she has brought an army of mummified monsters with her. You play as one of four agents trained to deal with the supernatural, hunting her through dig sites, pyramids and caves. Along the way you blast undead enemies, look for clues and secret entrances, and work through ancient contraptions that need re-awakening. The tone mixes action and horror with comedy, so the danger is played up with a wink rather than played straight.
Playing together online
The campaign can be played alone or with a group of 2-4 players in online co-op. Each of the four agents brings their own magical power, and the group has access to prototype weapons such as the fire-spitting Krakatoa, the ice cold Chill Burster and the Blunderbuss. Splitting up to check side passages works well, since puzzles and hidden treasure are scattered through the levels. Traps in the environment are usable against the enemy: spinning blades, fire traps and boulders can all be triggered to thin out a crowd. Keep track of where your teammates are standing before you set one off.
Traps, puzzles and extra modes
Puzzles sit between the firefights, so expect stretches where you are reading the room for suspicious clues rather than shooting. The enemy roster runs from moaning mummies and fire-breathing assassins to armour-plated minotaurs and giant scorpions, which keeps the shooting from settling into one rhythm. Beyond the campaign there are two extra modes for 1-4 players: Score Attack, where speed and style both count, and Horde mode, which throws wave after wave of foes at you. Both are good options when the group wants a shorter session than a full campaign mission.