Zombie Killing On A Whole New Level
Ever since the classic film Dawn of the Dead, zombies and zombie killing has become a staple of horror movies. Along with the zombies in some of these fine craptaculars, have been the kickass heroes and heroines who have been dealt with the nasty chore of killing these “things” anyway they can. In the videogame world this concept has also gotten its fair share of hits and misses (Dead Rising anyone?). Of the more successful franchises in the zombie genre for film and videogames is the Resident Evil series. With a film trilogy, at least double the amount of games and anew multiplatform title on the way, one could easily say Valve’s entry into the genre, Left 4 Dead is like Resident Evil. Well if by “like” you mean there are undead to kill then you’re correct. Now take those undead and add a new innovative way to play, an outstanding multiplayer experience, a game that has those classic zombie movie elements, and some genuine scare-the-piss out of you moments and you have a fresh new take on killing rotting humans.While that sounds entirely gross if you dig this type of gameplay then owning this game will be as easy as lighting a zombie on fire.
4 Guns are Better Than 1
If you’ve ever wondered what you would do if the world became infected by some virus and you and three other unlikely candidates are joined together to fight to stay alive then Left 4 Dead lets you live out this fantasy. Also, if you are having this fantasy it might be best to seek professional help. In any case the four characters in the game, Zoey, Louis, Francis and Bill all band together to fight the zombie apocalypse. How did it start? It doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that you have to live and they (mumbling and screeching undead)have to die. Each of the characters have particular traits and qualities that often get revealed during gameplay from good old fashion movie bravery to genuine fear in their eyes (no really). This translates to characters that become more than just your AI buddies in the single player game. Valve also threw in a player halo that tells you if someone one is hurt healthy or about to die. You can also see this halo through walls. Definitely handy. If you’re playing this game alone, they AI players actually help you through the game. You get jacked by a “smoker” and one of them will save you. Running low on health, one of them will heal you. Need to go see a comedy show – put in GTA IV and call Patrick.
Zombie Killing Ain't So Much Fun Alone
Unfortunately, the single player game is where one of the game’s greatest shortcomings is revealed. This is one of the rare games in recent years that actually plays better in co-op play. The single player in fact ends up being a good way to test out your skills before you jump online. Take those AI characters and get 3 other gamers to join you and what you have is co-op that’s intense, rewarding and hella fun. And this isn’t just co-op where you run around killing together. You actually have to stay together and work together to stay alive. Otherwise your character will be treated to a lot of brain and flesh eating. And if you really suck, the other three players can votes to kick you out. Yeah it’s cold but when you have 100 zombies coming at you and your gang and one dude is off making a sandwich, then they will get killed then booted. Now that’s not to say playing this game alone is not great. Quite the contrary. It’s just not as much fun.
Hasn’t this already been a movie?
If you’ve seen any of the cinematic gems of the last 20years involving infected humans then you will feel right at home in this game.What Valve did here was to tap directly into this genre and give you movie-like experience in a game. Four levels, 5 chapters each that play like individual movies complete with a mock poster at the load screen and credits at the end with even a count of how many zombies were killed. There are even way cool movie moments like when you run out of ammo and are forced to just using your pistol. Or when you do something during a level (like flip a switch) that basically will force a whole mess of zombies trying to bum rush you and your mates. Out of courtesy you do get a prompt on the screen in the form of “Here they come” followed by that look-out-for-all-the-crazy-undead-coming-at-you music. These aren’t your ordinary turtle-paced zombies either. These are those zippy suckers from movies like 28 Days Later and Resident Evil movies.
What is surprising especially since this is a game from the people that made Half-Life, is the campaign mode seems woefully short. These four “movies” only take about 40-50 minutes or so to complete on the normal or easy mode. Sure they change things up so the walking dead don’t always act the same or show up in the same amounts, but it seems like they could have made this thing a little longer or actually have, a story? A similar issue plagues the multiplayer because the versus mode (humans versus zombies) is not available for all four campaigns but only two thus limiting the different places you can kill zombies.Perhaps the next time around we’ll get to find out what actually happened and get more of a deeply layered story.
No We’re Not All Alike – What Are You A Zombieist?
When you’re slaying zombie after zombie you may not pay close attention to what kind of zombie you’re decapitating or bludgeoning but in Left 4 Dead there are some special critters that give this game and extra level of fun and fright. There are five all together, four of which you get to play as in the multiplayer versus mode. Each comes with a requisite, creepy or overly exaggerated gross noise that provides fair warning of their appearance. There’s the boomer, the smoker, the hunter, the tank and the witch. Of these the witch is the worst because just sits and cries loudly. What? Here’s the kicker you can’t use flashlights around her and if you startle her she unleashes a relentless horde of zombies on you as well as gets all crazy on you as well. Online play with the other special infected can be both great fun and entirely frustrating. It takes teamwork and coordination to successfully prey on your human counterparts and since you will get killed a lot more, you have to make your attacks count.
Zombie Killing Greatness? Not Completely
Valve did not spare on production value for this game. They spent a great deal of time making this a very movie-like experience (minus Mila Jovavich). The graphics are also solid but not entirely solid. While the lighting is astounding, especially going into a pitch black room and all you have is a flashlight and a gun, there are some graphic glitches especially when you’re in a mass zombie fight. Big props to the voice acting which doesn’t just offer just much needed assistance but also adds actual emotion at the loss of amate and fear and panic as well.
In Left 4 Dead you have an amazingly immersive, relentless, experience that definitely has some great replay value.Whether intentionally or not the developers made a game that is truly best enjoyed with friends or other gamers willing to join you in the fight to survive the zombie apocalypse. For Valve,going into the potential of making a follow up game, they have a great starting point to build off of and for gamers this game offers a fresh new take on the genre that you should not ignore.
"Left 4 Dead (X360)" is on sale November 18, 2008 and is rated M. Action, Shooter.
