Left 4 Dead Review

By Kieron Gillen Published 19 November, 2008

It's braining men.

Version tested: PC

My favourite moment in Left 4 Dead? I'm playing Versus mode, and we've reached the apex of the Blood Harvest campaign in a desperate farmhouse siege against overwhelming odds. I'm part of the overwhelming odds, playing the corpulent blob that is the Boomer. I wobble up to a window and look inside, to see Louis firing away desperately at the horde around him. I just watch, smiling, waiting for him to turn in my direction. Only when he does, when he realises that I'm standing there, do I spray him with my zombie-attracting vomit, prompting another wave of infected to crowd in and hammer him to death.

Actually, writing about Blood Harvest reminds me of something that may be even better. I'm playing with a group of survivors who've yet to make the desperate run across the fields to get to the farmhouse, and I'm trying to explain that the trick is to just get a move on. We get there, get organised and start the clock for the rescue to arrive as soon as we bloody can. It will only get worse. They seem to get it. We drop into the grass and scarper. Sheer chaos. I make my way to the farmhouse, and only then do I turn around to realise everyone I'm with has climbed on top of the enormous pile of hay-bales in the distance and are trying to hold them off there. And I'm alone in the house as the waves start to move in...

No - mentioning that reminds me of something else. It's right at the start of a level. We've opened the door to find a med-kit in the room down the corridor. Now, we've each got a med-kit, so we haven't space to carry the leftover. However, about fifty or so metres on, all hell breaks loose, and I end up covered with vomit, pummelled by a mob and generally taken to pieces. I use my med-kit and weigh the odds... I know there's one back there. It's really near. And since we're playing versus, there's a chance our opposition may not paying attention if I break from the group to run back and get it (the omnipresent AI director would be less sympathetic).

An extra health-pack can be the difference between making it to the next safe room or not. The guys are pressing on but... well, I can make it. I know I can. So I head off through the corridors, on edge, knowing if I spot the infected first, I can take them. I just need to stay calm. Every turn stretches out on the way there. It only gets worse on the way back, as I know they must have noticed I've separated from the pack by now. But all is well until I actually have the group in sight - at which point the infected spring a trap and the party is torn apart even as it's brought back together. By cheery stupid human greed I... well, I was the idiot who got everyone killed in the zombie film. I felt a bit like Judas.

'Left 4 Dead' Screenshot 1

You're mostly able to revive fallen comrades. Mostly.

Except, I've misunderstood, because you meant what's my favourite moment in the whole of the game. I thought you meant the last time I played. I'd have to think harder about the other one. Left 4 Dead's a zombie-powered collision between Gauntlet and DOOM, and it generates stories at that kind of rate. In any given mission, someone will mess up or excel in a memorable and amusing manner. Especially the former: in a real way, someone making the unfortunate step of Disturbing The Witch is the late-noughties social faux pas equivalent of Warrior Shot The Food.

Of all the co-operative shooters that have come out recently, Left 4 Dead is the one that goes for it hardest. In fact, it goes for it so hard it kind of goes through co-operative games and out the other side - but I'll get to there eventually. Rather than a traditional linear game, Left 4 Dead's content is divided into four campaigns, set around four traditional zombie-apocalyptic scenarios (hospitals, airports, farms and small towns). You can go through each one in an hour or so on a standard difficulty level, with the time increasing if you up it to expert - especially if you get stuck on the ludicrously violent sieges which close each one.

While you can play them by yourselves with three pretty-efficient bots alongside you (The Chaos Engine is another reference that comes to mind when playing - and you can take that as a suggestion of what you should do now, modders), the real heart is coming in with three friends and talking nonsense over voice-chat with one another. While 4-5 hours of pure-play content (i.e. no significant cut-scenes) is about standard for a modern FPS - whether we like it or not - the real value of the game is brought by what's probably the most innovative part of Left 4 Dead: the AI director.

The AI director manipulates the horror. While his changing of the sounds is a boon to atmosphere, the director's real strength is in mixing up the allocation of bad guys (and equipment). This means that each time you play through a level, it's an unpredictable experience. Yes - there are going to be themes throughout (mock-naively noting "Oh man! Look out! There's more zombies here!" is one of the standard things to say), but in terms of what comes when, it mixes up. You really get a sense of a malevolent personality behind the attacks, which does much to increase the tension and zombie-horror atmosphere.

For example, the more you slow down and take your time, the more likely the director just gets annoyed with you and spawns another wave of infected as a message - though never in sight, in my experience, and always from a logical position. If something can go wrong, the director will try his hardest to make it go wrong - and note that I'm giving him a gender, because I can just picture the bast. As you amp the difficulty up to expert, you learn to expect open cruelty like one of the almost-indestructible Tanks arriving just when you're on your last legs or the Witch - She Who Must Not Be Disturbed - sitting right by the exit, quietly weeping. Which inevitably results in you quietly weeping too.

But the real wickedness comes to light in the versus mode, where you team up with the director and play leading actors in his horrific drama. This is the co-op plus - a totally asymmetrical experience that I suspect will dominate online play. One team plays the survivors. The other plays the infected. In the normal game you get to see the Boomers (enormous fatties whose fluids, if spread on the survivors, will cause a new wave of normal-infected to home in on them), Hunters (prowling, leaping creatures who knock survivors off their feet and slash at them) and Smokers (whose prehensile tongues can grab people at distance and drag them into the shadows). In versus, you get to be them, and work out brutally Machiavellian ways to make the survivors' day as bad as possible. When one team gets to the next safehouse (or, just as likely, is wiped out), everyone swaps and plays the other side. You score points by how well you did, and by the end of the campaign a winner is found. It's deeply compelling. And occasionally you get to be the Tank.

It's almost total win. Valve's new matchmaking system - where you avoid a server browser and just start games - has a few teething problems. PC owners used to more control tend to feel aggrieved when they consider a substandard server and, when something goes wrong, it's tricky to work out what's going on. I've had a few problems with the director, such as spawning a Tank in an inappropriate place - but considering how much it does, that's only been terribly rare.

'Left 4 Dead' Screenshot 2

To be honest, pretty much everyone will.

It's also a game which is incredibly certain what it is. It doesn't make any apologies for its extreme take on the genre. Like Serious Sam before it, it's not afraid of a less-is-more approach to design and a more-is-more approach to enemies. If you believe shooters should be slow and tactical and zombie horror should be Resident Evil, you're going to be alienated. Oh, and while this isn't anything to 360 owners, those PC gamers who haven't gone voice-chat yet need to get with the times. Not being able to yelp at your friends will get you torn apart by the undead pretty sharpish.

Obviously enough, it's worth stressing there's not much here for the single player. But I think the associate oft-stated standard caveat - "as a teamwork game, it's no fun playing with random people" - is far less true than you'd expect. In fact, throwing a group of strangers in a strange situation and then one of them acting strange is the kind of random chaos that Left 4 Dead thrives upon. Things going wrong is glorious. And when things go gloriously wrong, it's the sort of thing you happily blow 500-word intros on. Left 4 Dead is the zombie apocalypse trapped safely inside your computer. Take a holiday in their misery.

In short, Left 4 Dead is another deeply professional, personality-filled and progressive take on the shooter from Valve. In a cultural landscape that has as many zombie touchstones as ours, it takes something special to make them shamble appealingly, and Left 4 Dead, both literally and metaphorically, makes them run. In this new co-op landscape, it'll be interesting to see whether anyone can catch up.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kieron.

About Kieron Gillen

Kieron is one of the founders of the lovely Rock, Paper, Shotgun and nowadays writes comics for Marvel starring characters that even his mum has heard of.

Read more articles from Kieron by visiting the Kieron Gillen archive page.

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Comments (165) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • JayScott #1 3 years ago

    Fuck it. I was totally going to hold off with everything else there is to buy/play (my copy of Fallout3 still sits wrapped on the shelf) but you've totally sold me Kieron (along with a couple of other reviews). Fuck it.

    EDIT: BTW, It's Braining Men? Genius. :)
    Edited by 2 at 19/11/08 @ 07:15

  • kungfool #2 3 years ago

    [Looks along row of 360 games and ponders which ones to trade-in]

  • bad09 #3 3 years ago

    Yay zombies!

    / Glares angrily at RE5

    I've had the demo of this on my 360 since it came out and not tried it, might have to tonight after reading the review!

  • woodnotes #4 3 years ago

    Damn it. Another great game I can't afford :/

  • Dizzy #5 3 years ago

    Awesome game. Well deserved 9.

    And a pretty big technological breakthrough in game design. A "Director" as extensive and important as this one is a world first. It will only get better and more complex from now on. I can already imagine connected Directors that change the game based on how the whole world is doing. Exciting times!
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 07:34

  • Tonka #6 3 years ago

    But they run...
    ;_;

  • Tonka #7 3 years ago

    Brilliant review though. I have to upgrade my laptop.
    We are four in the office...

  • Freelancepolice #8 3 years ago

    Yup, superb game. Finished the No Mercy campaign last night with a dire ending resulting in one of us not making it :(

  • JayScott #9 3 years ago

    Forgot to mention in my opening post - superb review Kieron. A joy to read.

  • GamesConnoisseur #10 3 years ago

    Fanastic! Only negative point by which probably be seen as weak trolling attempt but in sincerity is non appearance on PS3, as I got a few work mates who only got PS3 and they would really loved this game!

    I would have gotten PS3 version to go with X360 on this instance just so I could play co op with both set of mates!

    Valve and PS3 is not yet an equation for this game

  • Ignatius_Cheese #11 3 years ago

    Surely infected not zombies...?

    Either way, an absolute classic game. Cannot wait to play it with a few mates over the weekend \o/

  • Xerx3s #12 3 years ago

    "To be honest, pretty much everyone will."

    Well, with me on their team they will anyway. ;)

  • RedPanda #13 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • space_ace #14 3 years ago

    left 4 win

  • muscleblade #15 3 years ago

    "Obviously enough, it's worth stressing there's not much here for the single player"

    Who cares coop is the way to go. You dont play Horde mode in Gears 2 alone either do you? This game will probably end up being my GOTY even though Gears 2 is up there too ( love Horde mode).

  • drumbaby #16 3 years ago

    They're NOT zombies. They're infected living people.

  • Tonka #17 3 years ago

    Red Panda The guys in my office ran it on BootCamp and it work perfect. (As opposed to my Vista ready laptop ;_;)

    Anyway, just get the demo on steam and try it out for yourself.

  • Darren #18 3 years ago

    Niiiiiiice... and a PC review of a multiformat game for a change instead of the Xbox 360. :D

    /Is happy because the PC version is the one he is getting

  • the_dudefather #19 3 years ago

    From Valve's website: 'Set in the immediate aftermath of the zombie apocalypse'

    the rules of zombies are not set in stone by St Romero (who had zombies who could run a bit in his movies), if they want running zombies, let them do running zombies.

  • bad09 #20 3 years ago

    "the rules of zombies are not set in stone by St Romero"

    LOL! He's no saint no more, have you seen Land Of The Dead? ;)

    (Diary wasn't too bad tho)

  • systems #21 3 years ago

    Nice and cheap on Amazon.

    I wouldn't call them zombies in this either. They're more "28 Days Later running infected".

  • dr_swin #22 3 years ago

    Great review KG, this sounds awesome. I just wish it had come out a bit later as I am still enjoying my gears sessions at the moment.

  • UncleLou #23 3 years ago

    "They're NOT zombies. They're infected living people. "

    Valve disagrees with you.

    "Set in the immediate aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, L4D offers four expansive "movie campaigns" that challenge you and your fellow survivors to battle thousands of swarming zombie. It's the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. BRING FRIENDS."

    edit: Oh, bit late, me. :)
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 08:35

  • booner #24 3 years ago

    So.....360 or PC??

  • matrim83 #25 3 years ago

    Jesus another game I need to buy and we havent even gotten to PoP or TR. And I have Fallout 3 and CoD still to play.

    The drought of 2008 ended with a flood.

  • The_Inquisitor #26 3 years ago

    I say tomato, you say Zombie, it's all the same.

  • DFawkes #27 3 years ago

    This was the game I managed to ignore and not want. Until I read this at least. I guess that'll be more Christmas money not going on other people present then :p

  • Colin8703 #28 3 years ago

    @Nick09

    Just get a couple of friends on it. I died at the end of Blood Harvest after saving my Mrs and she was in tears, such was the experience as she survived.

    This game is brilliant and providing you stick to people on your friends list, you won't go wrong. You owe it to yourself to get this game.

  • Mooks #29 3 years ago

    It's ok but overpriced as this is more a social game I would prefer the 360 version but it's around £5 short of £40. While the graphics are ok they don't have the " next gen " feel that countless other titles over the last year have. I am suprised that Valve haven't released a Source 2.0 engine with DX10 and Shader 3/4 support for this title.

  • Lepperman #30 3 years ago

    Great review. I'll be buying this one I think!

  • barchetta #31 3 years ago

    Well, I was on the slow moving, 'quantity over quality' side of the zombie debate (still am when it comes to books/films I guess) but having played the demo well into the night over the past week I'll say this is fantastic. The sheer mayhem that ensues - in game and over voicechat - is a highlight of gaming this year. The panic filled swearing to the - is that fearful ? - whispers I've been party to speaks volumes of the great job done by Valve to nail the atmosphere of impending doom.

    Just please try and play it over decent headphones in the pitch dark!
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 08:57

  • dr_faulk #32 3 years ago

    Cripes... Some good gamkes during the Summer, please? This is recockulous.

  • gaselite #33 3 years ago

    Very strong review, very good game.

  • HiredMan #34 3 years ago

    Heya gaselite! :D

    Bought it thisarvo, prepare to launch.

  • mingster #35 3 years ago

    /wants
    /brains

  • Trane #36 3 years ago

    Well conceived review Kieron, a good read aswell as getting the fundamentals accross.

    The game is brilliant, for me personally it's a 10. Purely because playing with 3 other mates in the campaign is just perfect for what I want from a co-op experience. A 9 overall is fair though.

    I need to join the general EG steam group and find some more people for some versus action. (I'm in the TF2 steam group atm)

  • MoFo #37 3 years ago

    My classic moment today was when I got fed up with my team mates milling around the same spot in versus mode, slowly having their health worn down. So I said, "Fuck em" and legged it off towards the objective (distance travelled = points remember). Only to find myself looking back in guilt and seeing them all on the floor being beat up by zombies. The pang of guilt was too much so I decided to run back and help them. Was only a few feet from them when I got yanked off my feet by a smoker and dragged backwards away from them through the fields to a grizzly death. Should I have left them behind or never have left them in the first place?

  • themorganator #38 3 years ago

    Excellent review! Glad I pre-ordered!

    @NickD09:

    Seriously? the 360 community isn't all screaming yank kids! Get some good people on your friends list and you'll have a blast on L4D!

  • muscleblade #39 3 years ago

    @NickD09

    Dont you have any real friends on your friendslist? Personally i always play 2-4 player coop or even 5 player coop GoW Horde with people i know in real life not random LIVE users.

  • DAN.E.B #40 3 years ago

    muscleblade
    agreed co op is the way to go
    got the level 50 acheivement on horde at the weekend!

  • p00ntang #41 3 years ago

    Come what may, I am getting this

  • andywilkie35 #42 3 years ago

    @ muscleblade

    yeah co-op is the nuts - my only problem is that on my friends list I only have 4 people that I know personally, one of them I haven't spoken to since I switched jobs (coz I worked with him) and two have said they arent getting this! Its a shame I don't know more people with an xbox, it really is coz I'd love to get this but I'm not too keen on playing team games with people I don't know...

    I might still invest in this however, it sounds like if any co-op game is good to play with randoms, this is it!

  • penhalion #43 3 years ago

    Had this on steam since yesterday and I'm sorry but, it's not all that!

    After finishing the 4 campaigns you are going to find little incentive to re-visit them, with or without friends. The campaigns never change in the slightest and the director invariably picks the same spots on the maps to spawn in zombies for a hoard rush. It's fun the first time through and even the second but, the third and fourth runs start to get stale. It becomes like watching the same movie over and over again. It's made worse by the last scenario having the same style ending as all the others i.e. wait 10 minutes for a rescue then hop in the vehicle and watch the end credits. If tasks had been varied or they had even added a drive the armoured bus section....anything really, other than the same 5 enemies throughout the whole game and the same go from here to there objectives.

    Here's hoping they expand the game over time with more scenarios and more varied tasks.

  • spiny #44 3 years ago

    Fantastic game!

    Anyone here got latin?

    "I came, I saw, I was eaten"-->?

    :)

  • Pablo2k5 #45 3 years ago

    "Disturbing The Witch is the late-noughties social faux pas equivalent of Warrior Shot The Food."

    Haha. Fuckin love EG.

    Best online game I've played in donkeys years, smashing! :)

  • pcholakov #46 3 years ago

    BTW, It's Braining Men? Genius. :)

    +1!!! :-)

    Can't wait - L4D only launches here on Friday.
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 09:40

  • Mr-Brett #47 3 years ago

    "late-noughties"

    Horrible term, otherwise good review.

  • viper_h #48 3 years ago

    Awesome game. Simply awesome.

    Did 3/4 campaigns yesterday, and played a bit of versus too. Didn't think I was going to enjoy Versus but it's actually a lot better than I thought!

    This game's a 10 for me, and GOTY for sure.

  • mikeck #49 3 years ago

    thanks penhalion for spoiling the ending...some of us haven't finished the campaign yet...(although it was kinda obvious I suppose)
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 09:44

  • jonsaan #50 3 years ago

    'It's almost total win.'


    er, what?

  • andromeda #51 3 years ago

    why is a smoker called a smoker?
    i don't get it.

  • jonsaan #52 3 years ago

    The Nazi Zombie game in COD:WAW is awesome too. Zombies that run = fun game

  • DugBriderider #53 3 years ago

    @andomeda
    When a smoker dies he release a cloud of coughing smoke.

  • mikeck #54 3 years ago

    why is a smoker called a smoker?

    Because when he's killed he releases a cloud of smoke, which can be pretty hazardous when the swarms are attacking ;)

  • Ignatius_Cheese #55 3 years ago

    @ andromeda - The Smoker makes a distinctive sound of coughing and wheezing when on the prowl. When killed, it creates a green smoke that cause player characters to cough and choke.

    Edit - Hehe, slow typing FTL...
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 09:54

  • SixFootHalfling #56 3 years ago

    This has to be a pc purchase, as it will be the same as TF2, lovely user designed maps for the PC, 7ish maps for the 360 (ok 4 for L4D), which game will have the longer lifetime I wonder?

    @andromeda
    Smokers explode and leave smoke behind when you shoot them

    edit: very slow typing ftl
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 09:56

  • zombies #57 3 years ago

    For those talking of £35-40 for the Xbox version, Amazon has it for £29.97

  • Lebowski #58 3 years ago

    I'm hearing there are no leaderboards or stat-tracking for this. If true that's, erm, rubbish for a game of this type (and size).

  • Ryze #59 3 years ago

    I'd totally buy this either on the PC, or to play with a pointing device for better immersion.

    As it stands, the demo satisfies me for now...

    Excellent game.
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 10:00

  • muscleblade #60 3 years ago

    "Can't wait - L4D only launches here on Friday. "

    It launches on Thursday in Europe. All EA distributed games launches on Thursdays. I bought it a couple of days ago because i know the dude in my local game store.

  • UncleLou #61 3 years ago

    I've got a problably somewhat silly question:

    Can you play coop (online) with just one other person, with the AI buddys filling in? And how about versus? 1 vs 1?

  • makeamazing #62 3 years ago

    Purchased it on steam last night..its fun.. but Im still pretty much convinced its a shallow game and not worth the £29 or whatever it was...but I am a sucker for zombie games. Will see as i get through the levels. Its seems like a run and shoot game with very little else at the moment. I know its more of an online multiplayer experience, but I dont think games companies should totally forget the singleplayer experience.

    At the moment i would give it an 8 for zombies, but only a 7 overall.

  • penhalion #63 3 years ago

    If you can. Get it on PC. This game is really going to suffer after a few weeks, when everyone has played all the scenarios through a few times.

    It's more likely that Valve will update the PC maps and scenarios (Shopping Mall anyone), than the 360 version. Other players can also update the PC version with the SDK. 4 scenarios with 20 maps total is just too short. You will learn the maps off by heart very quickly.

  • Trane #64 3 years ago

    "I'm hearing there are no leaderboards or stat-tracking for this. If true that's, erm, rubbish for a game of this type (and size)."

    Most people don't care. The game is about the fun experience and that fact that everytime you play it, it's slightly different. Makes scoring slightly moot IMO.

  • Tomo #65 3 years ago

    Lou - you can in the demo. So I assume you can in the game.

    Not sure about the versus mode however.

  • gaselite #66 3 years ago

    I'm hearing there are no leaderboards or stat-tracking for this. If true that's, erm, rubbish for a game of this type (and size).

    I'm sure I'm not the only one that couldn't give three-eighths of a shit about superfluities like this.

  • MoFo #67 3 years ago

    "You will learn the maps off by heart very quickly."

    Yep but that doesn't really help. The random spawning of the zombies and random positioning of health packs / ammo means it doesn't matter how well you know the maps. Throw in versus mode and you have zero way of predicting where zombies will spawn meaning map knowledge will count for little.

  • Widge #68 3 years ago

    I'm going to grab this on PC. I also agree that this should be a cheapie game. Its effectively another Counterstrike or Day Of Defeat to add to the HL2 mod games.

  • skillian #69 3 years ago

    PC is surely the way to go if you are able, if only for mods and maps and stuff.

    Someone's already hacked in the TF2 maps: [link url=http://kotaku.com/5089572/play-left-4-dead-on- team-fortress-2-maps
    ]http://ko taku.com/5089572/play-left-4-de...[/link]

  • DugBriderider #70 3 years ago

    I wish I could have this for the PC but TF2 pushed it as far as it could go and I will have to wait for a windfall before I can upgrade, still 360 version will satisfy for now.

    Valve did suggest they are going to support it more on 360 thasn they did with TF2, but were having trouble with M$'s pricing of DLC, still the Burnout team don't seem to have any problems.

    For the PC Modders out there a "Shaun of the Dead" Total Conversion would be most welcome, Cricket Bats, a Winchester Rifle and replace the pills health boost with a Cornetto.

  • gmjapan #71 3 years ago

    love
    this
    game

  • Lebowski #72 3 years ago

    @ gaselite.

    And I'm sure I'm not the only one that loves leaderboards and stat-tracks. That CoD4 thing has tons of such stuff, and has done quite well I hear.

  • andromeda #73 3 years ago

    smoker issue cleared up! thanks

    surprised you can hear what noises he makes what with all the other stuff going on!

    good game , feels like they've really jazzed up the source engine, plays so well.

  • rudedudejude #74 3 years ago

    Do you have issues with people joining / leaving games during a level? How does the game cope with that?

    Will try the demo but as previosuly mentioned, I think unless new content is added I will probably get bored of this after a few play thoughs, probably about a week or so. 4 levels and an hour each per level did it say? o.O

  • Buztafen #75 3 years ago

    Epic game, been playing the demo for the last couple of weeks and its not even started to get boring even though its only 2 sections of 1 campaign! Playing with 3 mates its quite possibly the greatest game this world has seen....so far....
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 10:45

  • yerawldda #76 3 years ago

    looks good but i dont have XBL. refuse to pay for a game server which should be free. which means i can only play half the game.

    plus i HATE shooting with they triggers on 360 pad. ps3 shooters usually map 'fire' to R1, not R2 like the 360. shooting with the trigger is imprecise and crap for single shots or tap firing.
    Edited by 2 at 19/11/08 @ 10:48

  • dirigiblebill #77 3 years ago

    The first three paragraphs told me more about this game than IGN and Gamedaily's reviews combined. For Christ's sake Kieron (and all EG contributors), don't change career.

  • Trane #78 3 years ago

    "And I'm sure I'm not the only one that loves leaderboards and stat-tracks. That CoD4 thing has tons of such stuff, and has done quite well I hear."

    Of course you aren't. But those people can stick to their stat games. Some people (myself included) play games purely for fun. Hence me being attracted to TF2, and this. I realise there are stat servers on TF2 aswell, but they have a very different feel to the others - and it doesn't promote teamwork as much.

  • qoobah #79 3 years ago

    I really tried, but I couldn't force myself to like it. I played through the demo and got bored after literally 30 minutes. The blazing run speed, and overall run&gun design really put me off, as have the AI director which seemed to generate the hordes on a random basis, rather than having some sophisticated AI backing it up.

    Maybe this type of gameplay just isn't for me. The price on Steam doesn't help either. Think I'll pass on this one.

  • agparrot #80 3 years ago

    @Adam_T

    "Do you have issues with people joining / leaving games during a level? How does the game cope with that? "

    It literally just reverts control to the machine, and then when new people join, they take over from it, meaning the character is always there, like in Gears of War... pure drop-in, drop-out stuff. You can even set yourself to spectate and take a breather to grab a beer or pop to the WC, while the AI takes over your character, but saves your space for when you get back.

  • actionfitz #81 3 years ago

    I was really looking forward to this. Then got the demo and played the single player scenario with bots. After the likes of COD 4 the shooting / aiming in this feels kind of lightweight. The 360 demo I played had a horrible lack of anti-aliasing, totally jaggy-tastic :/

    It wasnt until a mate called around and we did the split screen co-op that the game came into its own. was much happier with the experience after that and the game went back onto my wanted list.
    I'll wait for a cheaper post xmass copy though as 'Wrath of the WoW addict' has already seen me put Fable 2 and Fallout 3 on ice...
    wondering how many of the recent game releases I can neglect to buy until Feb... (my birthday) hehe.

  • TafKas #82 3 years ago

    Reloading!

  • kule #83 3 years ago

    I wonder if the best thing to come out of this will be the "director" idea in future games - it could add some proper replay factor especially when mixed with some good scripting so that whatever area you enter you can never be sure where someone is going to pop out from.

    Could make the need to be a lot more skillful as you can't just see where the scripted bad-guys are going to come from, die and then know exactly where enemies are going to spring out from once you reload.

  • the_mtfr #84 3 years ago

    Good review. But forgot to mention that its developers were formerly known as Turtle Rock. Instead you said it's another game by Valve, as if made by the same people who made H-L or TF. We'll have you walk the plank for that one :p

  • Sanxo #85 3 years ago

    Heh, after the recent deluge of tens, just what does Valve need to do to get a 10? HL2 was a long time ago... Mind you a 9 from Kieron is probably a standard issue 10 from the others.

  • NorfolkNClue #86 3 years ago

    Yep, this game is indeed all kinds of fun. I played it for 6 hours solid last night. Not played it with randoms yet, but 4v4 with everyone on the same vent channel makes for a great evening's entertainment.

  • NorfolkNClue #87 3 years ago

    @UncleLou - yes you can play 1v1 as versus, but annoyingly the survivor bots wallhack and can track infected far too easily. They are also crack shots, leading to large amounts of frustration.

  • T4RG4 #88 3 years ago

    9/10? Didnt entertain me for very long (demo). Too simple for my liking :(

  • Subquest #89 3 years ago

    played a few hours last night, got lucky and joined with 3 other decent players on a lag free server. Totally amazing game - not sure it's a long termer, we'll see how things go, but for the next few weeks it's going to be a lot of fun. As with many games like this, your experience will differ depending on the quality of your compadres and whether you get lag.

  • FTM #90 3 years ago

    20 of the queens pounds gets you the pc version so its a no brainer for me..plus I cannot play this frantic a shooter with the pad..has to be a mouse

  • kinky_mong #91 3 years ago

    i HATE shooting with they triggers on 360 pad

    Is it just me gobsmacked at that comment?

    Anyway this is my most anticipated game of the year and it certainly won't disappoint. The demo was fantastic and the across the board 9 out of 10 scores fill me with all sorts of excitement.

  • bigbadbeasty #92 3 years ago

    I really do not know if I was expecting more, and even though I love zombies this feels just a bit too shallow. It is like a 3D Popcap game, I was expecting a game that would drag me away from TF2, and not Peegle.

    I will endeavour, see if I can feel the love more. I am wondering if we will have another Spore on our hands, where after the first week no one was playing it any more.

  • muscleblade #93 3 years ago

    Its short and simple for sure. But the coop design and fun factor is unbeatable. Just how i want it.

  • Dr_Spankenstein #94 3 years ago

    The replayability and upoming mods will make this game legendary. I'm having a blast with what is there already. Fantastic game! Much better looking on the PC but better online connectivity on the 360.

  • stampax #95 3 years ago

    i want for mt ps3 :(

  • sneetch #96 3 years ago

    Excellent game, especially played with friends of variable competency. :)

    Some times my friends are like a well drilled military unit, other times they're like, well, they're completely dire and I'm convinced that one or more of them is a special type of boss infected.

    My favourite so far was when we were playing the third map in the first campaign (we're masochists who have played years of CS, TF2 and other team games so we're playing on Expert difficulty, now known as "Complete Bastard AI Director" difficulty). We approached a petrol station and heard the tank music, the basic sentiment was "oh shit" and three of us were borderline panicking. "Spread out" we say. And "if he chases you run, everyone else, shoot him until he turns around". Then I heard a single shot ring out and the petrol station goes up in a massive explosion and the music stops. There was silence. I turned around and saw Zoey standing on top of a truck cab sighting down her hunting rifle, silhouetted against the skyline.

    Now, I've never actually loved a computer game character before but that? Taking out a tank with a single shot (and, granted, a petrol station)? That was awesome.

    Knowing the big bloke who was playing as her (occasionally called "shithouse", as in "built like a brick...";) kind of spoiled it though. ;)

    Oh, and he's called a smoker because he... oh, never mind. :)



    @makeamazing
    "I know its more of an online multiplayer experience, but I dont think games companies should totally forget the singleplayer experience."

    It's not more of an online multiplayer experience, it is an online multiplayer coop experience, without other people you're missing so much. I'm surprised they even bothered with the single player (there's no single player in TF2 after all, it wouldn't work). When I downloaded the demo I played through the single player and felt the exact same way, then I played with my friends and the game just opened up into an amazing experience.

    If you're not playing it online coop then you're missing out on so much. Seriously, go for it. You've nothing to lose, even on random servers with random people you'll sometimes get awesome players and sometimes get complete idiots. But it's worth it.



    @UncleLou
    "I've got a problably somewhat silly question:

    Can you play coop (online) with just one other person, with the AI buddys filling in? And how about versus? 1 vs 1?"

    Just to confirm you can play online with just one other person and the AI fills in the gaps, I've played through sections where we were missing one or two people, the AI team mates are a curious mix between idiotic and amazingly competent, for example, they react quickly to boss zombies but have a habit of just standing around in daft places, like a corridor about to be filled by a horde when there's a perfectly good room right next to them. I don't know about versus but I imagine it's the same.

  • BremXJones #97 3 years ago

    To stress something I said in the review - really, you need to play the Versus mode before you can make a call on how long it'll last you.

    KG

  • HoriZon #98 3 years ago

    GOTY!

    Well for me at least!

    @stampax ps3lol
    Edited by 1 at 19/11/08 @ 12:06

  • Bangaioh #99 3 years ago

    can't friggin wait :)

  • 1Dgaf #100 3 years ago

    Was there a mention of how only two of the maps work for versus or did I skip that bit?

    Awful omission.

  • Albull #101 3 years ago

    Want. So. Hard.

    Can't afford it till next friday though :-( and can't afford to upgrade my PC so its going to be a 360 purchase.

    Gamertag "Albull 2010z" for anyone wanting a serious player to play with.

  • Razz #102 3 years ago

    This should have been a ten :op

  • NorfolkNClue #103 3 years ago

    @1Dgaf - there will be more content. For free, if you have it on PC.

    @sneetch - When you're playing as a tank, you feel charged with energy - like you're invincible! That magic box appears on the screen, "Norfolk'n'clue will be the tank. Get ready". Excitement rushes through you - and the bar on the right that decreases if you don't attack players forces you into combat (if it reaches zero you lose control of him) - but that rush must be tempered with caution. If you rush the survivors headlong in an open space, and give them a chance to focus fire, you will get cut down. Quickly. He comes into his own in corridors and cramped stairwells. You can see the survivors panicking badly and bouncing around in their desperation to back away but above all keep firing. Then you chuck a lump of rock to reduce the threat. Scratch 1. Then a survivor gets stuck in a corner. Scratch 2. The others back into a room. They are yours. ROOOOAAAAAAAAR!.

    This game is a top laugh.
    Edited by 2 at 19/11/08 @ 12:38

  • Capa26 #104 3 years ago

    This has sold me. Excellent review.

    'It's braining men' and the 'You're mostly able to revive fallen comrades. Mostly.' Aliens reference get kudos points too.

  • spiny #105 3 years ago

    Dr_Spankenstein: but better online connectivity on the 360.

    ...? Easier than clicking in your steam friends list and choosing "Join game"?

  • Azazel #106 3 years ago

    Important question: If you have the PC version can you play with people who own the 360 version?

  • Gearskin #107 3 years ago

    I'm already bored of it.

  • spookyzombie #108 3 years ago

    I don't get a 9/10 feeling from the demo.

  • TuftyMcTavish #109 3 years ago

    Awesome review. I was enjoying it so much that I had to scroll up to see who wrote it. Not surprised to find Mr Gillen's name on it.

  • local_celebrity #110 3 years ago

    Seldom have I come across a review this shoddily written.

    Self-indulgent beyond belief. The composition was so tortured, I had to stop myself punching the screen.

    This guy's supposed to be a decent writer, as well. I just hope he was having an off day.

  • Mr_Brown #111 3 years ago

    Awesome review, definatly worth a 9.

    Also keep an eye out for the 360 version in game, they maybe selling it for 29.99. Good for trade ins. ;-)

  • bonker #112 3 years ago

    Sorry, short on time - does this have genuine co-op in 'story' mode?

  • mikeck #113 3 years ago

    I'm already bored of it.

    Only boring people get bored... :p

  • thewolfiv #114 3 years ago

    brillant game, the AI director is really something and the fact it changes all the time is great (although he is a real b*strd - when it is all going wrong he throws in a tank and a hunter just to spice it up, really get the old blood flowing.) And the zombie hord is brillant if someone is stupid enough to set of an alarm they come from everywhere, just nuts only way to describe it.

    The pipe bomb and the shower of blood once it takes out a load if zombies is great - in fact i can't think of any downside to this game, but you need to play in the dark with the sound up and some good team players and hours will fly by - i don't understand the people who say they are bored, do you have a pulse?

    Also it is great fun watching everyone run away from or screaming down the mic "TANK"! makes we sweat even now.

  • mkreku #115 3 years ago

    Ok, I played the demo now. So the entire game is all about shooting endless amounts of respawning grey people while walking from point A to point B? And the full priced game only has four levels that you can complete in 4 hours?

    How on earth did this earn a 9? For me it was just running around, holding down the fire button and yelling "Reloading" every five seconds! Doesn't it bother people when you clear out a dead-end room and three seconds later ten grey people comes flooding out of the same empty room?

  • Azazel #116 3 years ago

    Has anyone else tried this mod before:

    [link url=http://www. zombiepanic.org/site/index.php
    ]http://www. zombiepanic.org/site/index.php
    [/link]

    Couple of friends have recommended it, might give it a go after work tonight.

  • muscleblade #117 3 years ago

    @NickD09 and mkreku

    Buy something else then. To me this is a 10/10 and GOTY. Fable 2 was like a 7/10 to me and i wouldnt even think of putting Fallout 3 into my 360 so its all about taste. This and Gears 2 is the type of games i love. Horde mode is better than the Campaign in Gears 2 imo and this is like a whole game of horde mode. Amazingly good fun and a good challenge.

  • zuljin #118 3 years ago

    muscleblade
    "Who cares coop is the way to go. You dont play Horde mode in Gears 2 alone either do you? This game will probably end up being my GOTY even though Gears 2 is up there too ( love Horde mode)."

    I did! Got to wave 4. And I blew myself up... :(

  • smoison #119 3 years ago

    GOTY for me too.

    And as for the length, I've only played the first and half of the second campaign and I've already put 20+ hours into the game.

    Can't wait to try out the Versus mode.

  • TSYNDMonkfish #120 3 years ago

    Played this with some randoms from teh interweb last night as my pikey friends are waiting for the box copy on Friday. Its srsly top class entertainment.

    Three of us made it out of the first 'movie'. One we had to leave behind on the roof of the hospital, he was got by a smoker just as he reached the helicopter, literally a second away from making it out alive. Amazing

  • NorfolkNClue #121 3 years ago

    @the people who think it's dead short - it's not actually about the finishing of the game just the once. It's about the hours of amusement you get from it while doing the levels more than once. Ah yes - the levels...they are superbly designed.

    Acutally, I'm going to stop bumming valve now, people are either going to play it or not. Those that turn their noses up before checking out the multiplayer will be missing out. If you play it and don't like it, fair enough. More server space for us lot :)

  • Oceadge #122 3 years ago

    I've just finished playing a Versus game for the first time on the 360 (it came out here today). There were two of us on the 'good' side and four on the 'zombie' side. Shortly before reaching the first safe house the other 'good' person got knocked down just as a Boomer exploded over me. I shot as many of the new wave as possible and then risked my life reviving my 'partner' so they wouldn't be on the ground for too long. What did I get as way of thanks? Kicked out of the game. Pfft. Don't know why - maybe because the other person was on the ground for more than 5 seconds? What's the point in a pretty much online only game when you have to put up with crap like that?

  • sneetch #123 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus
    ""Some people are not overly impressed with how this controls on console."

    Those people would be called 'PC snobs'.

    It controls just fine on the 360. Very sharp and with exactly the right amount of inertia and deadzone."

    Some of them are PC snobs, undoubtedly.

    Others are just ham-thumbed oafs who just can't get the hang of the 360 controller (I'd put myself in the latter category :), I'd give anything to use a 'cube controller on my 360, although I'd have to shove a few more buttons on it).

    @Norfolk'n'Clue
    "@sneetch - When you're playing as a tank, you feel charged with energy - like you're invincible! That magic box appears on the screen, "Norfolk'n'clue will be the tank. Get ready". Excitement rushes through you - and the bar on the right that decreases if you don't attack players forces you into combat (if it reaches zero you lose control of him) - but that rush must be tempered with caution. If you rush the survivors headlong in an open space, and give them a chance to focus fire, you will get cut down. Quickly. He comes into his own in corridors and cramped stairwells. You can see the survivors panicking badly and bouncing around in their desperation to back away but above all keep firing. Then you chuck a lump of rock to reduce the threat. Scratch 1. Then a survivor gets stuck in a corner. Scratch 2. The others back into a room. They are yours. ROOOOAAAAAAAAR!."

    Hmmm... your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. Now I really have to give versus a shot. :)

    Do they spawn other bosses at the same time as a tank? I'd imagine it'd be a walkover if you had a boomer, hunter or smoker at the same time.

    In my group we really need a better tactic for dealing with tanks than our current one which, despite what we say when we hear/see one, would be best put as "ok, everyone run about screaming, firing wildly and for god's sake people, try to get picked off by smokers, hunters or vanilla infected as quickly as possible! Joe, startle that witch ASAP. We're on a clock here people: we want to be back in the respawn area within a minute".

  • Cylinder #124 3 years ago

    Some people didn't enjoy the demo? Madness! I put more hours (17) into that teeny demo than I've ever put into TF2 - it really is sublime. Scratches my Doom itch nicely. Now to wait for Amazon to mail me the game.... : (

  • PinkSpider #125 3 years ago

    The demo was ace, full of quality and it kind of grew on you the more it played.

    Now (also) to wait for Amazon to get it for me.

    This would be my GOTY if Persona 3 hadnt also come out this year.

  • cyber_nicco #126 3 years ago

    Interesting review.

    However, I would have liked to see a little information regarding performance, bugs, etc. Not that I don't appreciate the focus on gameplay, but something about the technical side would have been welcome.

    Also, will there be a separate 360 review?

  • Katsumoto #127 3 years ago

    There's (almost) never a separate review for any other multi-platform game, so I doubt it.

  • sneetch #128 3 years ago

    @cyber_nicco
    "Interesting review.

    However, I would have liked to see a little information regarding performance, bugs, etc. Not that I don't appreciate the focus on gameplay, but something about the technical side would have been welcome.

    Also, will there be a separate 360 review?"

    On PC I've had no problems at all, I played from 6:00 PM yesterday until 1:00 AM this morning. I once got disconnected but that was because my router decided to reset. Managed to get back in in about a minute.

    Actually, once my graphics went a bit wonky there was a fluorescent pink overlay on certain textures, I alt-tabbed out and in again and it fixed itself.

    @bonker
    "Sorry, short on time - does this have genuine co-op in 'story' mode?"

    There is no difference between the single player campaign and the co-op campaign. Can't say about the versus mode.

  • Sanzai #129 3 years ago

    If you're interested in pre-ordering the PC version, it is available for £19.97 right now.

  • Roamer #130 3 years ago

    WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU MENTION A WORD ABOUT SPLIT-SCREEN?!

    There are still people not sold on the whole online thing, and I'm definetly not going to pay for or sign up for a subscription I can't get out of without making a long-winded phone call. Yes, I'm taking about Live! - easy to sign up for, but hard to get out of - probably helps boost their number. Still, Left 4 Dead might be worth it if it has 4-player split-screen....

  • skillian #131 3 years ago

    WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU MENTION A WORD ABOUT SPLIT-SCREEN?!

    Because it's a PC review, and split-screen isn't officially supported.

  • evild_edd #132 3 years ago

    Two things:

    1. I have a strong feeling this will end up being my GOTY.

    2. I have a worrying feeling that this might be lost amongst the other 2008 releases, both in terms of sales and (more importantly for a co-op game) on the playlists of my Live friends. I hope this won't be the case, but I fear that people won't see past GeOW2 and CoD5 :/

  • smelly #133 3 years ago

    Couldnt stand the demo.

    This to me is just EG giving yet another fps game a high score..


    >I hate people and have no friends, so this game does not appeal.

    I have friends.. none of them play games though.. :-)

  • hahayou #134 3 years ago

    "...4-5 hours of pure-play content (i.e. no significant cut-scenes) is about standard for a modern FPS..."

    Eh? What full game FPS worth buying has been under 5 hours long, even if you're not counting cutscenes and mission briefings?

    (I'm not talking about L4D, which is absolutely worth buying because it's replayable as hell, but standard linear FPS games.)

  • Bremenacht #135 3 years ago

    TF2 with zombies?

    Sounds brill. Is the 360 version much different (in terms of standard gameplay)?

  • lolife.se #136 3 years ago

    Okay.. That reads like a 10. :-)

  • Randell #137 3 years ago

    @ NickD09 - gameplay over graphics, it's as easy as that. So in their day neither TFC or Counterstrike or TF2 were worthwile games according to you as they all have 0 SP and are multiplayer only?

    Also the fact Source is only DX9 max and adaptable is key for a good MP experience for a wide range of people. My mate, who hasn't upgraded for 3 years and has a single core CPU and X800 GPU can have as good an experience as me with a more up to date computer, which is a good thing for him isn't it? Crysis and Farcry 2 wont work well on his rig, at least Valve aren't forcing him to upgrade yet, and there are many many people worldwide like him.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/08 @ 00:24

  • Dark_Stranger #138 3 years ago

    I played this last night (demo) with 2 mates & what a good game this is. We are all looking to buy this now.

  • turnget2005 #139 3 years ago

    god dam it!!

    in one way im glad it seems like a great game but on the other i just cant afford all of these games, its goint o be a great christmas.

    resistance 2, left 4 dead, gears 2, LBP, GHWT, rockband 2, and it continues......

    need a better job that pays more and gives me more spare time,,, any ideas?

  • sneetch #140 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus
    "@smelly

    "This to me is just EG giving yet another fps game a high score.. "

    Are you really that stupid, or did you not read the review or ANY of the comments?"

    Smelly doesn't like FPS games, anyone who doesn't agree with him is obviously wrong and liking one FPS will obviously mean that you only like FPS games and so therefore any point you ever make about anything is invalid.

    This is how it has to be in order for it all to fit in with his preconceived notion of the world, so this is how it is. Because the alternative, that he might be wrong or people might have genuine reasons for liking this, is too difficult to grasp.

  • wingzerosys #141 3 years ago

    Plays like a 6/10, overated POS.

    I expect being flamed but who cares, tried the demo and it plays like a generic fps with zombies.

    Graphics suck, gameplay is straight from HL2 and outdated (same makers of this), lame clichéd characters, boring level design.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/08 @ 16:41

  • Jandurin #142 3 years ago

    Couldnt stand the demo.

    This to me is just EG giving yet another fps game a high score..

    I think you're wrong.

  • wingzerosys #143 3 years ago

    Actually he's right, what's original about this?

    It`s a generic fps with co-op, big fucking deal, the enemies suck, AI sucks, it's been done before (and better) and the sad thing is, it would probably end up being GOTY.

    Tell me, what's so good about this? I'm intrigued, afterall its had rave reviews.

    I'd probably rather play Resident Evil:outbreak f1&2 than this POS, even they're not that good.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/08 @ 17:14

  • Jandurin #144 3 years ago

    Actually he's right, what's original about this?

    Original is the AI Director.

    In the end, though, it's about the experience and the fun. And this game delivers.

    IF, IF you play with people. Single player is rather boring.

    It's even better if you have friends and you play it through with them the first time.

    In the end, if you don't get it, what's the problem?

    Go play your Resident Evil:outbreak f1&2 and accept that some people really like this game, even with its somewhat dated visuals and simplistic idea.

  • DjFlex52 #145 3 years ago

    It`s a generic fps with co-op, big fucking deal, the enemies suck, AI sucks, it's been done before (and better) and the sad thing is, it would probably end up being GOTY.

    @wingzerosys

    But if it was on PS3 too, it wouldn't be a POS, right?

    Uh, can you please tell all of us the FPS co-op console games that are like L4D (and better)?

  • wingzerosys #146 3 years ago

    So cos I think this is a generic POS I'm labelled as a PS3 fanboy? Lol.

    I actually own all 3 current gen systems, no fanboyism about it, I just think it sucks and its overated, that's my opinion, I gave the demo ago after hearing people's praises and I Rofl'd after playing it.

    It may be good for co-op but it doesn't change the fact that its shit, I'm into different genres, mainly action adventures, FPS, RPG's and a lot of original IP's, this ain't original, its all been done before, better infact.

    Actually I believe the reviewers (IGN, Eurogamer) have been paid to give it a high score, if they give sequels or "seen it all before" games shit scores, why not this? I'd say this played like a cross between Half Life and Serious Sam but with zombies.

    I'll stick to CoD:WaW's zombie mode, more fun.

  • wingzerosys #147 3 years ago

    No cos I don't play co-op or take any notice, Halo 3 has co-op though, that's better than this.

    Defend this POS all you like, I'm (nor you) not gonna change my mind, it looks/plays like a Half Life 2 mod.

  • DjFlex52 #148 3 years ago

    So cos I think this is a generic POS I'm labelled as a PS3 fanboy? Lol.

    I actually own all 3 current gen systems, no fanboyism about it, I just think it sucks and its overated, that's my opinion, I gave the demo ago after hearing people's praises and I Rofl'd after playing it.

    Actually I believe the reviewers (IGN, Eurogamer) have been paid to give it a high score, if they give sequels or "seen it all before" games shit scores, why not this?

    @wingzerosys

    Why do people think that if they say they own all 3 consoles that means they aren't a fanboy and if you own 1 console that means you are a fanboy? It's about what you say, not what you own.

    Also, when you believe that game sites like EG get paid to give games high scores just because YOU don't like that game, it shows your immaturity and fanboyism. As you said......it's your opinion.....opposed to theirs. And EG doesn't degrade you because of your biased opinion as you are doing to them.

  • wingzerosys #149 3 years ago

    Fanboy remark again, lol.

    What does being a fanboy have to do with this game anyway? Just because I don't like this game doesn't make me one, it's funny how I'm supposed to hate this game because it's not on the PS3, for your information I would've gotten the 360 version, nice try though.

    So I'm immature because I said the reviewers got paid off for this review, why else would they give it a 9? They overated Fable II (wait can't say that, II'll be labelled a fanboy again), they overated Halo 3, GTA IV, all better than Left 4 Shit (Dead).

    I've said why it's shit, you go back to masterbating over this precious game, well you can't give reasons why it's good can you.

  • orakio #150 3 years ago

    Great game this, well worth the nine and not worth a ten, so EG nailed it quite well.

    The power is in playing with friends. If you're a little bit social you've got at least 3 of them in your steam network, which is just enough to play this Brilliant horror-shooter.

    SIngle-player is also quite good, if you play it for the first time.

  • NorfolkNClue #151 3 years ago

    @wingzero: "you go back to masterbating over this precious game, well you can't give reasons why it's good can you."

    That's what makes you immature, not all that other stuff you said :p

  • sneetch #152 3 years ago

    @wingzerosys
    "It may be good for co-op but it doesn't change the fact that its shit, I'm into different genres, mainly action adventures, FPS, RPG's and a lot of original IP's, this ain't original, its all been done before, better infact.

    Actually I believe the reviewers (IGN, Eurogamer) have been paid to give it a high score, if they give sequels or "seen it all before" games shit scores, why not this? I'd say this played like a cross between Half Life and Serious Sam but with zombies."

    Quick! Ready flame to fight the troll!

    Actually, wait. Lets not bother.

    @wingzerosys
    "No cos I don't play co-op or take any notice..."

    Then it's not the game for you.

  • brokenkey #153 3 years ago

    where's the demo gone?

  • metalangel #154 3 years ago

    But you being here arguing with him and defending the game isn't sad? confused now. Personally, I think Left 4 Dead is very overrated... simplistic and repetitive gameplay using the social aspect as a crutch.

  • iago71 #155 3 years ago

    'plus i HATE shooting with they triggers on 360 pad. ps3 shooters usually map 'fire' to R1, not R2 like the 360. shooting with the trigger is imprecise and crap for single shots or tap firing." '

    Actually this plays really well with the trigger and with just a nudge of the right trigger you can fire off a couple of rounds from a distance and hit your mark.

    Played with a group of friends over the weekend and we all had a ball - As the review states this is not for people who dont play online but with a group then its mayhem. Working out tactical positions whilst waiting for an imminent attack is great fun and then even more fun when the mayhem starts and your so called tactical plan falls apart into chaos.

    I wasn't sold when I first played the demo but got persuaded to get it and Im really glad I did.

    Give this a go if you are in doubt - You might be pleasantly surprised.

  • smelly #156 3 years ago

    Well i wont get to play the co-op element - as i refuse to pay microsoft for gold membership.

    But the demo didnt feel "tweaked" for the pad (where's the aim assistance you get in half life 2 on console?)

    And I dunno.. it just felt "meh" to me.. Seen it all before.. played it all before.. Nothing new or original ...

    No interesting atmosphere or plot like bioshock.. no interesting gameplay elements like mirrors edge.. just an average mundane run of the mill shooter. If anyone else other than valve had made this, no-one would care for it.

    Edited by 1 at 24/11/08 @ 20:44

  • SwashbucklingStuff #157 3 years ago

    Completely agree with Jstar. If you play on your own you are not going to get much out of this, but with 3 other friends you will get hours and hours of entertainment. We were playing on normal difficulty on the final stage of the first act and we still couldn't do it, because you can devise a plan based on how things went on the previous try but the enemies will do something different next time you play. That is the beauty of the game.

    Yes the graphics are ok and the level design is decent but not amazing but it doesn't matter. As for the AI, once you're attacked by a Hunter who is waiting for you to collect an extra stash of ammo away from the other survivors you'll question whether or not the AI is basic. After all how many standard run-of-the-mill zombies have you seen excelling on the Krypton factor?
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/08 @ 11:44

  • spookyzombie #158 3 years ago

    I bought this yesterday and I can't get into it at all. I really can't understand the 9/10 score. I'll be taking it back to the store today and sticking to GOW2 and COD:WoW for coop.

  • riz23 #159 3 years ago

    What a remarkable game. Intense and frenetic co-op. One of the best games I have ever played with friends on a co-operative basis. Yes it seems short, but the experience is unique. You are in a zombie movie. Cue screams of "Help me!", "Get it off me!" and "Here they come!" A triumph of design and game play over graphics, but it still looks good. Shine your flashlight into a dark room whilst you can hear the sobbing of a witch and try not to feel nervous. Currently loving it and not even tried the versus stuff yet.

  • avoozl #160 3 years ago

    To all the people saying the graphics are crap and dated etc:

    I don't know what that's based on but I strongly disagree. The graphics are awesome and top-notch. The characters are so cool, especially the faces. The way everything is designed is just neat. Plus I love the grain effect; perfect usage, especially in the woods. Too bad there isn't more of a story, because it's got me really interested in the world and the survivors. Maybe they'll elaborate on this zombie world they created with another game some day?

  • TOOTR #161 3 years ago

    Left 4 Dead = Best fun I've had on co-op ever. I've noticed some people being kicked for not using their mics (not by me) which is a bit harsh IMHO but that illustrates the cooperative nature of this undead beast.

    That is all.

  • rommy667 #162 3 years ago

    GET IT NOW ITS SOOOOO GOOD :)

  • Widge #163 3 years ago

    Don't worry about jumping in with randoms, there is something that seems to bond you together. Everyone seems to have a pre-existing understanding that you're all in it to survive and get to the end. So you'll find yourself getting patched up without asking, having pain pills handed to you. The audio cues are a welcome addition, no need to type out "WEAPONS HERE" because your in game character has already shouted it in game for all to hear.

    Play on Normal and you should survive through to the end with the finale giving you some challenges, play on Advanced or above and it can get a bit nasty!

    One of the most welcome additions is the take a break function. Go idle or need to AFK and you can set the AI off in your place while you do whatever you have to do. This needs to be adopted by all!

  • Mashum #164 3 years ago

    It must be nearly five months that I've had this game and I'm still playing it regularly.

    I also think it's wrested the 'snappiest FPS controls on a gamepad' crown from Halo - no mean feat.

  • Lukree #165 3 years ago

    ^ Second that, the controls are absolutely great with pad!