Left 4 Dead quickly cemented itself as one of the most compelling team based games around, combining an excellent four player campaign with an addictive versus mode. The game, although a big hit, did have somewhat of a cult following and this cult following was split with the announcement of L4D2.
People complained that Valve had let them down by not supporting the original and – what they thought – rushing out the follow-up, but what they did not know is just how much work Valve had put into this sequel. It really is an inspiring feat that Valve have crafted such a complete, versatile game in just a year. Other reviewers have complained that more options does not equate to more fun but in a game like L4D, where you are often repeating the same sequence over and over, then variety is a must.
Now there is more zombies, more levels, more modes and most importantly, more weapons. Take your pick from chrome shotguns to silenced SMG’s all the way through to a rather gratuitous grenade launcher. Add some melee weapons into the mix and you have a deadly zombie killing cocktail. The melee weapons were a hotly debated item as people worried they would be over powerful and ruin the balance, but personally they seem to fit really well within the games existing mechanics. It makes more sense in the dynamic of the story, if there was an impending zombie apocalypse then damn right I would grab every cricket bat, frying pan and meaty machete at my disposal. Even the most negative minded player will quickly drop that frown when he first comes across the chainsaw.
Valve have done away with Zoe, Louis, Bill and Francis and replaced them with Coach, Nick, Ellis and Rochelle. Although strange at first, these characters quickly become a suitable and possibly better replacement for the originals. From the off they feel more complete, well-rounded, each with their own personality; Coach, a highschool basketball coach, is the father figure of the group; Nick is the grumpy loner who seems to be looking out for number one; Rochelle, a local reporter who got her big break covering the outbreak; Ellis (my personal favourite) is the innocent hick who will often regale you with tales of his idiotic friends; all of them seem to fit together well and create a tight-knit group. The dialogue between these characters is really impressive and even now, after many an hour with the game, I’m still hearing things for the first time.
Maybe it’s not the characters alone that are so complete but the addition of a story. The original had 4 campaigns with no real structure, where as L2D2′s five campaigns run along in a continuing story. The key to the story is the fact that you – like your companions – have no real clue about what is going on. From the first mission onwards you piece things together by listening to the dialogue between the characters and reading the graffiti that adorns the saferooms. When you start the first campaign (Dead Centre) your survivors are poorly armed, with only pistols and melee weapons, and have no real knowledge of the infected calling them the ‘fat one’ or ‘big-arm’. All these little touches help create more of a dynamic story, something that the original did lack. By then end of the last campaign you feel like you have been on a journey of discovery, like you are one of the party.
The levels themselves are very impressive, taking you through burning apartment blocks, a shopping mall, a carnival, swamps, flooded suburbia and eventually the bustling French quarter. Each environment is beautifully crafted and filled with detail from Mardi Gras floats to creepy swamp shacks. The newly upgraded A.I. Director uses these levels to perfection adding in some nice new touches. Depending on how well you are doing in a campaign the Director will change the level design – collapsing walkways, making maze like routes through the cemetery – making each play through a little tricky. The Carnival is probably the standout map for most players as it is filled with so many amazing moments. I wont go into too many details but lets just say that zombies plus fairground equals a lot of fun to play.
One thing that does feature in the Carnival is clown zombies; they can lead small hordes of zombies with their squeaky shoes and when you melee them you get a satisfying honk. On other levels you will be greeted with fireproof HAZMAT zombies, bulletproof SWAT zombies, swamp loving mud men, the list goes on. The normal infected are scary enough thanks to the improved damage models. If you shoot a zombie now, then prepare to see limbs get blown off, holes appear and maybe even a torso or two get opened up. Don’t even get me started on the melee weapons, certain moments in this game have made me look away in horror (I was still smiling though). Changes have also been made to the existing special infected with the addition of female zombies and the new wandering witch. It’s a special moment when you first turn a corner to see a witch stumbling towards you as all previous experience goes out the window.
Valve have also added three new special infected to the mix – Charger, Spitter and Jockey – each one intimidating in their own way. The Charger, although looking like a character from ‘Wrong Turn’, literally does what his name says. He can smash into your group picking one survivor up with him and scattering the rest. The Spitter looks hideous and is perfect at splitting up parties that camp in rooms as her noxious acid burns away at your health the longer you stand in it. Finally the Jockey, a little swine that jumps onto your characters shoulders and careers you off towards anything, whether it be acid, fire, witches or maybe just a ledge.
The real fun comes in Versus mode where you get to play with Valve’s evil creations and boy do they work well. I would go as far to say that the added special infected and some aspects of the level design have been created purely with this in mind. The jockey will bring a smile to anyones face as you grab the unlucky opponent and run him off toward some flames or down some stairs, all the while giggling like a maniac. Thats what Valve have managed to add, this element of fun. Sure, the original had it as well but not in as much abundance as this game. If you lose as humans then you really should not care too much because then you get to get your revenge by going the infected. It is the one game I can play and lose, and not care about it, because it is such a fun game.
Besides Versus and Survival, Valve have added two new game modes for you to try: Realism mode and Scavenge. Scavenge combines the multiplayer element of Versus mode with elements of the Dead Centre Campaign. In this mode the survivors take turns – over five rounds – to keep a generator running by collecting fuel cans that are scattered throughout the level. All the while the Infected players will be doing everything in their disposal to stop them. Realism mode is so very, very cruel as Valve have turned off all your helpful outlines on both team mates and items. So if you get hit by a smoker you better be able to describe where you are. If this was not bad enough common infected now take headshots to kill. This mode is for the seasoned player, a good addition as over time I can imagine a lot of players moving to this mode for a new challenge.
With all the added variety I can really imagine a long lifespan for Left 4 Dead 2. Even if some do see it as more of an expansion pack you still are going to get a lot for your money. I can still see people – myself included – playing the original, but the experience you will have with this game is so refined I can see it bringing new players into the franchise. Well done Valve in crafting such a brilliant little game. Now go away, I’ve got some zombies to kill.
VideogameUK verdict: 9.5/10
