Gameplay Impressions
Gameplay ImpressionsThough we've blasted and maimed our way through our fair share of zombies over the years, and have wandered through many a cliched horror 'B' movie-inspired location, whether it be a blood-stained hospital, eerie sewerage system or abandoned subway, Left 4 Dead 2 still feels like a breath of fresh air despite its dated blueprint.
In terms of pure, unadulterated fun, Left 4 Dead 2 gets it spot on and surpasses the entertatinment value provided by the critically-acclaimed original by adding even more variety to the enemy character roster to make for a more diverse and entertaining challenge, while also throwing in some excellent melee weapons to lighten the fairly dark mood and tension-ridden gameplay.
Indeed, the tense atmosphere, created through a clever blend of disturbing sounds such as the retching of a spitter (zombie) or the screaming of a witch, as well as the creepy environments and rabid zombies that pounce on you around every corner, are all part of the appeal. Despite the relatively simple Unreal Engine 3-powered, run-and-gun, run-and melee, mechanics, Left 4 Dead 2 is a frantic game that manages to keep you on edge and immerse you in its gameplay.
The wide variety of special infected creatures that you meet, all of which boast an array of special skills, are just one of the highlights. Whether it’s the vomiting boomers who explode on impact, the mudmen who scuttle around on all fours in the swamps, or the jockey who jumps on your back and sends you full pelt into a zombie horde, there’s a lot to keep you on toes and plenty to keep you on edge. The range of enemy types means that you have to adopt your tactics accordingly, for example, smacking a zombie who's wearing a police riot mask in the face with a frying pan isn’t the wisest of moves.
The inclusion of melee weapons now means that as well as having the more powerful weapons at your disposal, including shotguns and grenade launchers that will easily see off most zombies in one hit, there’s also humour injected into the zombie-killing fest as you pick up anything from cricket bats to an electric guitar and batter them senseless.
There are also new items, such as the vial of boomer bile that add a further tactical element to the gameplay, allowing you to draw the hordes away from an area by throwing down the sticky green substance on the floor. Though the aim of the game is simply to kill zombies and get from 'A' to 'B,' the gameplay is still very challenging and you won't get to the extraction point without the help of your team-mates.
Clearly Left 4 Dead 2 was made for co-op play and it works seamlessly, allowing you to play through a campaign with three other friends working swiftly and tactically to help each other out. Even if you want a break, developer Valve has it covered by implementing an option for you to let the A.I, take over while your team-mates continue their zombie-slaying antics. Due to the fast pace of the game, and the fact that you have to change your tactics at an instant to perhaps cover a friend's back or heal them, there's a real feeling of camaraderie and satisfaction gleaned out of reaching the end knowing that you had to work damn hard as a team to reach the extraction point.
Playing Left 4 Dead 2 as a solo experience just doesn’t have the same impact. Team-mate A.I. generally behaves as it should and helps you out when you're in a tight spot, but sometimes they'll fail to pick up better weapons even when they're right in front of them, or they'll get in your way while you're trying to shoot down a zombie. Left 4 Dead 2 is all about the co-op play and multiplayer modes. If you're in it alone, then you'll probably be a little dissapointed.
Left 4 Dead 2 has been marketed as a multiplayer game and its one of the finest co-op experiences that we've played this year with infinite replay value provided by the 'Director,' which changes weapon and item spawn points as well as zombie behaviour each time you play. The multiplayer modes, particularly versus where 4 vs.4 fight for survival add further replay value, and having the chance to play as one of the infected is wildly entertaining.
Like the original, Left 4 Dead 2 is purely about mowing down zombies, hundreds of them, and it only has one objective: to survive. Neverthelss, trying to do so is a lot of fun and with a wide variety of zombies to tackle it's been done with a great deal style. Put quite simply: killing zombies has never been so much fun.
Final Score - 9/10
Note: PC Specs shown overleaf...
