[Classic] Left 4 Dead 2

Note:

Before you read this review be sure to check out my Left 4 Dead review. It will be a lot easier on me, so I don’t have to repeat myself. (http://www.europe-nintendo.com/forum...ft-4-dead.html) Thanks and enjoy the review…



Introduction:

Left 4 Dead was released in October 2008. Its sequel Left 4 Dead 2, was released just under a year afterwards. Considering that Valve still have to give us Half-Life 2: Episode 3 (HURRY IT UP ALREADY), this smells fishy. It’s very rare that Valve would give us a sequel so quickly. Has it been a rush job? Well, Zombie killing has never been this good.



Story/Design:

It’s the Zombie Apocalypse and as luck would have it, you are one of four survivors. There’s Coach (the football coach with a love for chocolate and a heart of gold), Rochelle (the low-level journalist trying to make it big), Nick (the ex-convict who wants to survive in style) and Ellis (the teenage redneck). You can control either of these characters but it doesn’t make a difference to gameplay. But their personalities shine through thanks to some clever story telling. Their dialogue to each other and events that happen around them sounds very natural and witty. But in the end, you’re just trying to get them from safehouse to safehouse and survive the zombie infestation. There are 5 campaigns (with more to be added through DLC in the future) which will take about an hour each to complete. But Left 4 Dead 2 is a game that meant to be played over and over again with friends. It sounds repetitive but the AI Director, which has been improved and made more diverse since the last game by incorporating branching paths, weather and a few other secrets, helps to ease the repetition. The new “special” zombies are also added to spice things up. The Spitter…wells spits. The Jockey rides the survivors and the Charger….charges…obviously. These help keep survivors on their toes and force them to change their strategies. These strategies have to be applied effectively in the new options, such as Scavenge (where you have to pick up gas canisters and take them to a specific location) and Realism (where there is no overhead displace and the difficulty has be ramped up to 11). Overall, there are more features then the original which is only to be expected and they should been you playing for quite a while. The co-op feature still works and works very well.



Gameplay:

Very little has changed in terms of gameplay since the first game. Its your standard FPS setup and I suppose if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. A few more weapons have been added, Grenade Launchers, Magnum Pistols and a larger variety of Rifles. Oh, and Melee weapons. This is one of the sequels most noticeable features. You get Melee weapons, such as Axe’s, Baseball Bat’s, Frying Pan’s Katana’s and of course Chainsaws. Most of these are a 1-Hit-KO for standard Zombies but of course, they have to be near you. This creates another layer of strategy and a nice risk/reward system. You can also add incendiary ammo for your guns, explosive bullets and laser sights. These additions help create a lot more variety which the first game was sorely lacking and while the Melee weapons pretty much work and feel the same no matter which one you use, it’s a welcome addition. The level design is as good as the last game and the set pieces at the end of each campaign is inventive and highly original. If you are after a complete reinvention then you are gonna be disappointed. But the rest of us will be please to find that very little has changed.



Graphics/Sound:

The game looks very similar to the original and the Source engine has aged pretty well after a year. The biggest visual difference is the increased amount of gore. Unless you live in Australia then this is one of the goriest games of the year. When you shoot of beat Zombies there is a lot of blood and organs. Be prepared to see what the inside of a Zombie looks like after a shotgun blast. Explosions look great and there are small story elements everywhere like the first game. The cheesy movie posters are back and better then ever and the frame-rate is still rock solid. Its not the best looking game when it comes to the Tech, but Left 4 Dead 2 is one of those games which proves that a great level design and attention to detail is most important.

Voice Acting is on par with the series and there is some great dialogue which delivers genuine laughs. More music cues have been added and you will still dread the music that plays when a Tank is nearby. Sound effects sound great, especially when you use Melee weapons and explosions still rock the speakers.

Overall though, not a lot has changed in terms of presentation but the additions are great and add a lot to the game.



Closing Comments:

Left 4 Dead 2 doesn’t add a lot in terms of gameplay, but the new Features, Zombies, Weapons, Campaigns and subtle details definitely make it a worthwhile purchase. Just be sure to have 3 friends along for the ride and get training for the (inevitable) Zombie apocalypse…now just get working on Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Valve!!!!

+ Great New Features
+ Fun Co-op
+ Better Variety
+ Fun Presentation
- Not a revolution

9.0/10

Played the demo of this when it came out.
Was impressed must buy either this or the original.

Originally Posted by Pepsi_Man

Played the demo of this when it came out.
Was impressed must buy either this or the original.

Well, its nearly Christmas. So i picked this up for £15. So i would recommend getting this one.

Sadly Tesco have taken down the £15 error on their website so I won't be able to buy it now.

Originally Posted by Pepsi_Man

Sadly Tesco have taken down the £15 error on their website so I won't be able to buy it now.

Its £15 on Amazon.co.uk: Low Prices in Electronics, Books, Sports Equipment & more

On PC yes, I forgot this was PC, for some reason I was thinking about the Xbox360 version.
For some reason valve games don't always agree with my PC.

I played it on my mates account and was just about to buy it from game, untill yellow mentioned Amazon's offer, i've just completed the order! :O

Thanks yellowhead, cant wait to play you

And a top review if i say so again, you have a certain way of explaining complicated terms in a metter of words, I look forward to your reviews to come.

Originally Posted by DuckMySick

I played it on my mates account and was just about to buy it from game, untill yellow mentioned Amazon's offer, i've just completed the order! :O

Thanks yellowhead, cant wait to play you

And a top review if i say so again, you have a certain way of explaining complicated terms in a metter of words, I look forward to your reviews to come.

Tbh, i thought this review was shit. Because it was 2 in the morning and i had nothing to do. Can you give me an example of the explaining thing? Haha

My Steam username is "Willaye". I'll see you online