They’re baaaacckk…..
WHAT YOU’LL LIKE:
Same Ol’ Gameplay, But Better
If you loved Left 4 Dead and couldn’t get enough, Left 4 Dead 2 is your answer. Not only did Valve manage to deliver a sequel to an amazing game in a quick turnaround, but it’s improved in many ways. L4D2 comes with a smarter Director, who changes up gameplay depending on your progress, and a new Realism mode for those really hardcore gamers. Basically the same stuff you loved (well, minus the original Survivors… at least until the DLC comes out in the spring) in the first one with more stuff in the second. There’s also new special infected and Witches that roam freely in the campaigns. FUN!
Different Flavor
L4D2 takes place in a realistic setting that creates a distinct atmosphere for each campaign. The different aspects of each campaign add to the difficulty or amusement of gameplay - from the dark, muggy swamps to honking infected clown noses at the Dark Circus. Along with this new location comes our four new survivors, whom we learn a bit about when we leave them to their idle chatter. (I like to daydream about Rochelle and Ellis going out on a date.) Along with these new scenes come uncommon infected that are related to the area - police officers, hazmat suits, etc. - that require a bit more work to exterminate, but adds to the fun.
New Toys!
New to the L4D series is the use of melee weapons, which take the place of your default pistol. I initially thought I would hate melee weapons but they are incredibly useful - especially when trying to fend off the swarms of infected at close range. While some are a bit ridiculous but when you get your hands on that delicious chainsaw, hacking zombies becomes your new favorite pasttime - even better than sleeping!
There’s also the addition of a vial of boomer bile, which you can use on an infected (we recommend using it on a Tank) and watch hordes of infected attack their own kind while you use the distraction to heal or get away. And there’s also the very useful adrenaline shot, which can boost your speed and also give you a swift kick in the bum when your health is low. A defibrillator can also replace your health pack to bring fallen survivors back to life.
WHAT YOU WON’T LIKE:
…not much.
Once again, it’s a great game with some touchups. I only have a few minor things I didn’t like about L4D2; so minor in fact that they don’t even deserve their own paragraph, so I’ve made a list for you:
- Why can’t the survivors shut that damn safe door themselves? I really hate it when they slack and let all those infected in!
- I really hate the Jockey. But I like playing as him in versus mode, so he’s not that bad.
- A frying pan is HARDLY a formidable weapon against monsters who only want to eat your flesh.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you’ve played the first one, you’ve already beaten this one by now. But if you haven’t even played the first one, don’t fret, these games are non-sequential, so playing them out of order won’t hurt. But by all means, play this one and L4D if you get the chance. Be aware, if you don’t already know, this game packs on the gore moreso than the first (Australia just couldn’t handle it) so this game is definitely not suited for the kiddies. Not a fan of zombie survival games? This one might convert you.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:02 am
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The characters appear shallow and uninteresting at first, especially compared to the iconic fab four of the original. However, the way that their layered personalities and the overall story are revealed like a blood-splattered onion actually make them quite likable.
Still, the AI needs work. They still don’t close the safehouse door when they’re the last ones in and that’s assuming they don’t just stand in front of it and shoot at one stray zombie for ten minutes.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:13 am
I loved the first L4D but because so other great games came out at around the same time I had to hold off on it for now. Though from everything I’ve gathered from the game, Coach is going to be my favorite character. Also if you have not seen the Left for Dead 2 parody called Left 4 Speed 2 then you HAVE to watch it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uVi41I1oc
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I wasn’t a big fan of the first one. I only played it for the banter with online friends. This one though has me playing it, even on single player. I love the melee weapons. I use them more than the guns. Great review!
January 2nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm
I don’t mind the safehouse door thing that much. If the AI does everything, what’s the player there for?
I skipped the first game, but I found the characters to be more interesting and “out of the mold” in this one, which is part of the reason I didn’t skip this one.
Levels are just a bit too long and convoluted, and not really freeform enough to make me want to replay them. All in all I feel like I just beat a really short single player game and don’t really have the urge to go back over and over like everyone did apparently on the first one.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I definitely don’t like the new cast- even after playing through many times, I don’t associate with any of them- or have anyone to have a crush on (*ahem* Zoey) because Rochelle is just angry and not appealing.
I love the gameplay changes, but I keep wondering about the whole “level changes” based on the director- so far I haven’t noticed different paths being opened or closed… perhaps I haven’t played enough. Or worse- perhaps it doesn’t happen in single player… which brings me to me biggest Left 4 Dead (1 and 2) pet peeve:
Some of us out here have to play solo because we have no friends, and when we randomly join a server we get people half our age spouting non-vulgarities every 70th word. Half the time I join a random server, I get voted out. Before being allowed to play. The other half, if you do ANYTHING that the 23 year old you’re playing with disagrees with, you get to listen to a never-ending tirade of how they did your mom and how much of a loser you are, and how you should kill yourself, etc. etc.
Since pretty much all online games break down this way, there are a large number of solo gamers- this is why gamers play WoW solo- we can’t find intelligent, fun and mature gamers through the horde of morons.
So, given a large chunk of gamers are going to play single-player only… Why don’t your companions shut the door (as mentioned), use defib packs on you (instead of game over if you fall), and for God’s sake- let them use grenades and bile and such!
Left 4 Dead is quite fun, but soloists get 1/4 the experience because Valve insists on punishing soloists for daring to go against the co-op theme of the game. If they feel this way- just eliminate single player, and let players know it’s an online computer game only!
I’ll definitely enjoy the game more when you can have the original survivors in this version, though. Also- the writing on the walls in the saferooms isn’t as funny or prevalent as the first game- that was a disappointment too.
The new critter types are kind of weaksauce- Charger is too easy (solo) to beat. Jockey is annoying, which means done well. Love the wandering witches, but they are kind of easy to kill now with the grenade launcher!
I do love my Katana, though. =)
January 14th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Jaym, I know what you mean about having to play solo. I almost always have at least one co-op partner and I rarely play alone. I do like what you said about having the other survivors use a defib instead of game over. Definitely some small improvements that maybe Valve will take for the next L4D… (crosses fingers)