Left 4 Dead 2 demo performance analysis

By Richard Leadbetter Published 29 October, 2009

Digital Foundry tests the end of the world.

Alongside the new Assassin's Creed and Modern Warfare sequels, Valve's Left 4 Dead 2 must surely rank as one of the most highly anticipated games of the year for Xbox 360 users. Currently only available as a bonus to US customers who pre-ordered the game, we've managed to procure the Xbox 360 demo and subjected it to the usual battery of performance tests. This is the first time the Digital Foundry channel has seen the game running, and overall impressions are very positive indeed.

The demo itself is a decently-sized sampling of what is to come. Weighing in at a hefty 1.6GB, the download offers up two levels of The Parish to work through along with online and single-player gameplay. Similar to the first game, the CPU takes control of your three companions in the absence of any human companions. You get to sample a range of firearms, incendiaries like Molotov cocktails and pipebombs, plus the much-vaunted melee weapons. Realistically there's between 20 to 30 minutes play-time, which we've edited down a bit for this six minutes of frame-rate analysis.

Frame-rate analysis of the Xbox 360 demo of Left 4 Dead 2. By and large, the performance level is a match for the first game.

From a technical perspective, frame-rate is essentially fairly solid (30FPS with a few caveats), and, similar to previous games running on the Source engine, we're looking at a v-synced 720p with no anti-aliasing. To smooth off edges a touch, a subtle blur filter has been added. These post-processing effects rarely look that great but here it works in concert with a well-implemented camera motion blur and isn't so distracting. On the plus side, texture filtering is a decent combination of trilinear with a good level of anisotropic filtering.

Where performance is impacted, it looks as though it's down to fill-rate. The biggest dips in the frame-rate graph are where many transparency effects are in play. While the Source engine's setup is seemingly designed for maximum fill-rate, the use of smoke and fog needs to be deployed carefully - geometry that clips through the transparency essentially ruins the effect of it, so the engine continually runs checks to make sure it never happens.

It also looks as though some alpha effects are generated at lower resolutions before being scaled up, most noticeable on the fulsome flame effects seen in the demo (and captured in the video thumbnail above). It's a common technique most often deployed in PS3 titles where GPU bandwidth is at a premium, but it's a good trick that can be used on any platform and it's rare that the user picks up on it.

Overall then, few surprises here: the Source engine on 360 looks to be more than up to the task of powering the sequel. If you fancy a bit of additional information on how Valve transitioned from PC to cross-format development, this GDC 2008 presentation is absolutely fascinating, and worth a look not just for the valuable info, but also for its strategic use of oddly appropriate comedy photography.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (34) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Ryuken #1 2 years ago

    Doing a tech article on a Source game in 2009? On a Xbox360 version? I mean...;)

  • Geordiemp #2 2 years ago

    Well, its no different than the HALO ODST analysis....Next Unreal engine LOL

    Not knocking the game, looks good, but cant see need for a tech analysis....
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 18:43

  • UberFrog #3 2 years ago

    Dissapointing with no versus or scavenge mode... :(

  • Eraysor #4 2 years ago

    The flames look really delicious in the demo.

  • patchbox360 #5 2 years ago

    tech analysis????

    i want to see a tech analysis of Uncharted 2 vs Crysis though
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 19:00

  • xAx #6 2 years ago

    You guys realise they have upgraded the source engine several times since HL2 right?

  • davisorle #7 2 years ago

    @ N@

    I think saying in a straight out statement that :they dont wanna deal with PS3" was quiet clear for the deaf too lol. I dont see why even wonder such thing. Apparently the reason is cause they arent willing to work out of the Source engine which is optimised for APIs specified for PC similar to 360's cause they apparently are not gonna waste time and effort. Thats their choice and as long as they see fit and money making as is I guess we would all do the same. Crysis uses the old CryEngine. If you want to compare wait for Crysis 2 which is almost there and the engine is ready but you will see that PCs are already a few steps ahead already since the engine stresses out too much even of the best set of hardware on PCs up to date. Wont be fair comparison for Uncharted technically.

    For those asking why analysis on the source engine. Well its like you dont see differences in each game made on the UE3... Yes you do and thats why the analysis. I do wish though they had been improving it a bit more over the past years and I have been actually wondering how come and no step as the least Source engine 2 or even a 1,5 with something refreshing if not brilliant for the engine. For us the enthusiasts at least a lil something :)

    @semitope

    Dont be such a fool and tell us that Valve isnt capable to work on a PS3 and why they avoid it. Do yourself a favor and have some respect for ppl that have earned it when you are the insignificant and making a fool of yourself bring such arrogant for the shake of your console.. Its sad really.

    BTW I have to admit that before L4D I hadnt enjoyed zombie slaughter ever since Dead Rising.
    P.S. A comparison with the PC version would be good cause those are the only version tha 360's look worse and i wasnna see by how far even though i know ill be getting it on Steam :)
    P.S.2 Seriously, new source engine and a new HL EVEN if as an episode of HL2 i wouldnt mind. just something that looks fully different graphically to kick in and spend some time onto!

  • septimus #8 2 years ago

    Will get the PC version instead anyway.

  • butler` #9 2 years ago

    surprised this only runs at 30 fps (i haven't played l4d), isn't it just the hl2 engine? 200fps like 5 years ago on pc:\

  • womble #10 2 years ago

    Wow. Check out all the PC zealots and PS3 fanboys go to work.

  • GamerG #11 2 years ago

    wow trolls are out in force tonight! what got their goat?

  • Collymilad #12 2 years ago

    "Wow. Check out all the PC zealots and PS3 fanboys go to work.

    wow trolls are out in force tonight! what got their goat?"

    Haha, yeah totally. Idiots. Game looks just as awesome as the first one. Glad I'll actually be getting to play it.

    Really, who gives a crap if the 360 version looks worse? The point is it looks good enough. It always makes me laugh when PS3 fanboys go on about graphics. What happened to the last-gen attitude of gameplay trumphs graphics? Aaah sorry I forgot that was only to suit your fanboy agenda.
    Edited by 2 at 29/10/09 @ 23:06

  • womble #13 2 years ago

    semi, what are you even doing in this thread? You're a PS3 fanboy, not a 360 player, and you probably don't even own or play Left 4 Dead.

    Your only motivation here is to sling mud at the 360 and 360 owners.

  • Dizzy #14 2 years ago

    Looks like a lot of whiners are having their period.

  • Nephirion #15 2 years ago

    L4D2 feels much smoother and the AI is fairer even on expert mode, it feels more considered rather than just sending a tank and a few waves of zombies against you. Melee weapons are fun but not super powerful so to dilute the ranged combat, the new weapons are perfectly balanced while remaining fun and the fire is fluid and realistic. While I played the demo I saw an infected climb to the top of a lampost, wait for me to pass under then leap onto my shoulders, unscripted and totally funny to see XD

  • davisorle #16 2 years ago

    @semitope
    Apparently they do make L4D for idiots like me and leave retards like you bitching and crying all over the net when they keep trying to convince themselves they dont care about it. For all i care I didnt even read half your post cause didnt take more to realise you are dumber than you try to hide behind your comment and I dont wanna waste more time. Think whatever you want. It cant be worth my time nor you are capable to say something to convince me otherwise nor enough to bother me just cause you are bitching out of subject whatso ever. Change your nickname like te other tards. One of them in here is named "360_RROD ", just leave empty comments and we dont spend more than 5 words to see that you are here to talk shit about what you dont have.At least i had the balls to say Uncharted looks great and i know id buy it if i had a PS3 andif I end up getting the console ill get it for sure. Yet you keep on bitching and bitching and spending your days on forrums hating what? a console and ppl that own a different console? lol when you get a life lets talk cause you have been gaming way too long and its obvious you dont know jack shit about it if you are telling me that Valve makes crappy games lol.

    @Dr_Strange
    Ofc and I know the PC version will be better and why im getting it for my PC. Where did I impy that the 360 will be even similar? But instead of seeing each and every time how much better or not a 360's version is from the PS3's I would like to see what they sucrificed on the 360 version to make it run at 30FPS compaired to a maxed out PC version. I love playing on my 360 ( convinient etc... ) but my PC is honored on games of this kind by m and all the ppl that know about gaming out of consoles.

  • PlugMonkey #17 2 years ago

    but see it as pointless as i actually want to sit down and play game with a pad and put a disk in.

    That's actually really quite funny. Why do you want to put a disk in? Is that the main advantage of console gaming?

  • Douche #18 2 years ago

    Comment's section well and truly hijacked by fanboys.

    PS3 fanobys - get to fuck.
    Enjoy Uncharted 2, i'll enjoy L4D2.

    @ semitope

    You're a fucking clown. If you played L4D online and didn't have a blast then there is something very wrong with you. Graphics aren't everything. And if you haven't played it keep your stupid comments to yourself.
    Edited by 1 at 30/10/09 @ 09:00

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #19 2 years ago

    The Left 4 Dead 2 demo runs adequately on my three year old laptop at 720*480, so I'm happy with it. I'm sure it'll look very nice when I get round to trying it on my vaguely 360-spec desktop PC.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #20 2 years ago

    Your really struggling to name one bringing up a warhammer game as the only big pc exclusive this year

    I notice this article is filed in the MMO section. Perhaps you ought to check the percentage of their coverage of PC vs Console MMOs...

  • sargulesh #21 2 years ago

    PCs shrink your balls, though, so there is that

  • PlugMonkey #22 2 years ago

    semitope: Just as a matter of interest, what skill level did you play it on?

  • charming_fox #23 2 years ago

    it doesn't matter what skill level he played it on, he clearly played it wrong. L4D is one of the most intelligently crafted game sof this generation and a truly unique experience, anyone who thinks it's 'STUPID' is obviously a nonce and should fuck off.

  • BBIAJ #24 2 years ago

    @DF:

    The demo's been available to UK pre-orders from GAME since the 27th.

  • PlugMonkey #25 2 years ago

    it doesn't matter what skill level he played it on, he clearly played it wrong.

    In my opinion, the most 'wrong' thing you can do in L4D is play it on too easy a skill level. If you keep breezing through the levels then it will, indeed, play out virtually the same every single time.

    Crank it up so you're dying as often as living and the depth and variety jumps through. I can't count the number of hilarious demises I've witnessed, or the variety of unlikely heroics that have rescued an apparently doomed situation.

    That seems to have been the common theme with all the people I've spoken to who didn't 'get it'. Play it on too easy a level and it becomes a horror film in which no-one dies...

  • EvilBob_leeds #26 2 years ago

    In fairness I think the source engine is starting to show its age across the Xbox and PC (and PS3, but EA did a shit job on that to start with). I've recently given Episode Two and Portal another run through on my (reasonably beefy) PC and even with all the settings turned up it still looks... kinda old. A bit too.. clean. Especially next to the likes of Far Cry 2. Still great games though, as I'm sure this will be.

    Updates to Source aside (which have helped) I think that, at 5 years old, Valve will probably be thinking of a new engine before too long. Source was excellent in its day but that day has definately passed.

    For anyone getting this on Steam, they've got an offer on STALKER at the moment - £3.50. If you missed stalker the first time round and the idea of a Sandbox FPS appeals to you, I heartily recommend getting it, it's a really awesome game.
    Edited by 2 at 30/10/09 @ 13:05

  • Caimbeul #27 2 years ago

    I am actually very surprised at how poor the console versions of L4D 1&2 are graphically. Whilst yes they are significantly behind the PC versions (i know that here is generally a huge hardware advantage on PC's) the 360 is more capable than this, we all know it.

  • BillyBrush #28 2 years ago

    i think you're forgetting that moving about a hundred things about on screen, with no lag, on 1 meg connections

    is some kind of voodoo magic

    ...you don't push graphical boundaries with a 4 player online co op game, with hundreds of AI zombies running at you

    It's just not the place for prettyness. It is highly impressive in my opinion, mainly for working so well on my below average broadband setup.

    I think HL Ep 3 would probably be the title to show off pretty looks with source engine

  • Caimbeul #29 2 years ago

    @ donnie080208

    ""Away and buy all 3 systems you cheap wanker! " I own both consoles and could afford a gaming p.c. but see it as pointless as i actually want to sit down and play game with a pad and just put a disk in without needing to fiddle about with drivers,overclocking,installs buggy games etc, etc...Plus there is NO pc exclusives to play anymore except the low tech stuff like eve,wow etc so why bother? go on name one from this year"

    Your comments are fundamentally flawed...

    1) If you build your PC well enough you will very rarely ever have to fiddle with drivers.
    2) You do not have to overclock if you do not want to.
    3) "Installs"? you say you own both consoles but are installs not mandatory on some PS3 games? Does forza3 not require you to install additional content from the 2nd disc?
    4) "No exclusives except low tech stuff"? - I agree WoW is indeed low tech (graphically) by todays standards but Eve is not. Also lets take a look at PC exclusives...Anno 1404, Napoleon Total War, Crysis Warhead, Sims 3. There are other that i am sure othe people can mention but i cannot be bothered to continue listing them. Also, exclusive are not a good thing in my opinion as it can stifle entertainment and developer profit.
    5) Strange, you mention popping in a disc and sitting back and playing a game with a pad...funny, i actually do just that when i play through many games on my PC. I am currently doing just that at present with Batman: Arkham Asylum...on a Xbox 360 pad no less.

    Before you reply: I have 4 PC's, X360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP and older gen consoles too and am therefore not biassed toward any system.

  • metalmike25 #30 2 years ago

    This seems a bit pointless. Couldn't it be summed up as: 'Mostly runs at 30fps and the graphics are ok.'

  • IronCladChicken #31 2 years ago

    @donnie080208
    Actually my laptop can match PS3/XBox graphics (though I generally play at 1080p without upscalling) - it has an HDMI port so I can just plug and play into my TV & since I have a 360 controller for the console style games (racers, platform games & suchlike)

    It did cost me £500 but since I also use it for work (programming), web browsing,'file' transfers, word processing, watching movies, music, web development, etc.. I figure it's worth the extra cost - Also since it's a laptop I get to play PS3/XBox quality games portably too (I was recently abroad for work, when visting parents etc...) - Also It also comes with it's own 1080p monitor just in case ;)

    I have a Wii & XBox 360 as well - I think they are both great machines.

    Mid-range PC's have been technically superior to consoles for a good while now (1-2+ years?) - But that happens every gen & is nothing to get your knickers in a twist about - Surely as a gamer it's all about the games rather than all this cosole vs console vs PC dick comparison bullshit?

  • bad09 #32 2 years ago

    Ah, from the sounds of it SHARXTREME has no PC or 360. Bless, don't worry plenty to enjoy on PS3 while the rest of us enjoy L4D2! :)

  • BillyBrush #33 2 years ago

    And it seems Bobby's smack is still causing nappy rash

    what an angry boy he is

  • GamerG #34 2 years ago

    Its a real shame that PC fanboys think so bad of LFD2 that it's game play will not hold up at 30fps and no AA