Left 4 Dead

[BHvrd]

What the hell!

I haven't seen a single topic on this game! This has to be one of the most exciting concepts for a game in recent memory and yet I see no comments.

Does it suck? Unfortunately I don't have money to purchase this atm.

[JSoup]

All I know, is that a friend of mine came up with an idea for the greatest Left 4 Dead mod ever.

Simply, it's based on the Black Friday and that guy that got trampled to death. The four people you play as? They have the last four Tickle Me Elmo's in Wal-Mart. And the zombie holiday shoppers want it.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

played through the first two chapters thursday. pretty exciting. lots of omgwtf moments. only thing i didn't like was the lack of variety. same standard handgun/shotgun/smg/assault weapons as pretty much any fps, and only a handful of enemy types. a little repetitive, but still a lot of fun.

[walrusmonger]

I enjoyed the demo twice (pc and 360) and picked it up yesterday for $50, not sure if I'm going to keep it or return it-> very cool, but certainly screams out as a "$30 in 3 months or less" price drop kind of game.

[Slate]

I've been playing Left 4 Dead in Versus mode, Playing as a zombie is quite fun. I like to be a smoker the most, It is similar to being a sniper except for how you attack.

[slip81]

We kinda turned the Tomb Raider Underworld/Left 4 Dead thread into Left 4 Dead only, but it needs a dedicated one anyways.

Love this game though, some of the best money I ever spent on an initial release. COuldn't be having more fun with it, though I just wish people would listen to me online. I mean, I'm no wiz or anything, but I know that the only way to beat the last part of No Mercy is for everyone to stick together. Why is it that people always just wanna run off by themselves during that part?

[courtesi96]

Why is it that people always just wanna run off by themselves during that part?

Leeeerooooyyyyy Jennnnnkins :D


(Sorry I just had to)

[Drixxel]

Completely awesome game. I agree with JunkTheMagicDragon in that the weapon variety is lacking, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the basic firearms available. You definitely feel the improvement with weapon upgrades.. finding an auto shotgun after a long stretch of standard shotgun struggle is consistently rewarding. The dynamic zombie placement keeps multiple attempts on the same chapter (or checkpoint) feeling rich in panic and unpredictability. This and Dead Space represent the most fun I've had with the current gen in quite awhile.

[mnkysuit]

I'm absolutely killing this game. If you have a couple good friends to play with it's perfect. Versus mode is pretty exciting and actually requires you to come up with a strategy when you're playing as the infected.

[Hwj_Chim]

good solid game. I played it on the PC and I can say that it is a good shooter. It was one of the few games that put a smile on my face, that have been released this year. I love it when the blood spatters on the screen.:)

[Richter Belmount]

I don't have a pc to run it , so naturally Im just going to purchase this on Xbox 360. However doesn't valve give the cold shoulder to console gamers? I bring this up cause valve is rather slow when it comes to updating on the Orange Box on consoles.

[Kitsune Sniper]

You think it's fun now?

Just wait until user-created levels and episodes pop up.

[portnoyd]

I'm portnoyd on Steam. Look me up anytime for a run! The game is amazing.

[jedimind7]

This game is such a blast to play as long as your playing with the right people.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

It's definitely brilliant.

I tip my hats to the team at Valve.

While I feel like at it's core it's just a super high-class HL2 mod, I must admit that this game trumps the "zombie film" feel found in any of the Resident Evil games and even bumps Dead Rising in terms of making the player feel like they're re-living zombie cinematic history.

I suppose if there were an SAT question it would look something like this (with answer)

Dead Rising is to Romero's Dawn of the Dead as Left 4 Dead is to Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead

Again, going back to the "core" of the game one will find a pretty minimalist experience in both the weapon and enemy department but what's there is perfect, everything works exactly how you'd want it to ... and after a few missions and experience with each "super-infected" you'll find yourself in a real groove.

The game scores some serious presentation points in my book with the mission titles and grind house film posters and end "credits" ... that really does a great job of blurring the line between game and film.

Sure, I do wish there were more weapons, and more story (or at least more cut-scenes) but I'm enjoying this enough to wait for Valve to perhaps give us a Left 4 Dead 2 or even some Left 4 Dead episodic DLC with more of a story (or back-story).

Great great stuff. Don't let this one slip under your radar in a season full of high-profile sequels.

[Half Japanese]

My impressions cut and pasted from my site:

Left 4 Dead is a godsend for anyone who’s ever discussed zombie movies and/or zombie apocalypse scenarios with their friends. Thankfully, Valve saw fit to ditch any semblance of story in favor of all-out action that will find players huddling together for fear of being dragged away or mauled to death by the 5 classes of “boss” zombies that seem to spawn solely to target players who stray from the pack (particularly on the Expert difficulty). The four “movies”/scenarios don’t take all that long to play through, but the harder difficulties and the fact that the game changes in key areas each play through is enough to keep you coming back again and again (and again and again and again after numerous deaths in the nigh-impossible Expert difficulty). There’s also a competitive mode where one group of four plays survivors and another group plays the zombies, but I’ve been so obsessed over trying to beat the game on the expert difficulty that I haven’t even given it a go yet. My only complaint so far has nothing to do with the game itself, but the people playing it; too often you’ll find yourself with shoddy teammates who seem new to the concept of playing on a team. From the kid with the annoying voice who thinks it’s funny to start a round by shotgunning his teammates to the guy last night who asked, after I had been downed by a group of zombies whether or not the team should go back for me, you’ll be adding all of the competent players you happen upon to your friends list to keep yourself from playing with the numerous turds in the Xbox Live punchbowl.

[norkusa]

I enjoyed the demo twice (pc and 360)

Can someone please tell me how the hell you get the 360 demo? I tried looking for it several times on XBL but couldn't find it. All I could find is an introduction video.

At first I just figured I heard wrong and there wasn't a Left 4 Dead demo up on XBL but a friend insisted there is one available.

[Gamebrain]

I only played the demo so far since I can't buy it at the moment (kinda tight on money).

Yes, its a great game. Great co-op!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Can someone please tell me how the hell you get the 360 demo? I tried looking for it several times on XBL but couldn't find it. All I could find is an introduction video.

At first I just figured I heard wrong and there wasn't a Left 4 Dead demo up on XBL but a friend insisted there is one available.

They took it down the day the game was released at retail.

It was a "limited time" demo.

[mnkysuit]

You think it's fun now?

Just wait until user-created levels and episodes pop up.

I'm pretty sure I read that a team was already working on a Crossroads Mall level straight out of Dawn of the Dead. Pretty exciting stuff!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Valve has actual posters of the all four of the "grindhouse" style level posters on sale on their website!

I know what I'm getting myself for X-MAS!

[slip81]

I'm pretty sure I read that a team was already working on a Crossroads Mall level straight out of Dawn of the Dead. Pretty exciting stuff!

http://gmtn.dk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/newyork_hellyes.jpg

[Sniderman]

Actually, I need some opinions on the single player facet of this game. I am not connected to Live (nor do I have any intention of doing so) and really don't have friends to play with here. I'm a solo gamer and happy to be one.

So, don't try to tell me what I'm missing out not being on Live or playing with others. Those who have this game, PLEASE tell me how the game is for the single player. How is the bot AI? Is the game impossible to play by yourself or is it easier than you can imagine? Would it be worth the purchase if this game were a standard offline shooter?

Give me some opinions on single player function please. And - again - don't tell me what I'm missing. Tell me what's there only.

[slip81]

Actually, I need some opinions on the single player facet of this game. I am not connected to Live (nor do I have any intention of doing so) and really don't have friends to play with here. I'm a solo gamer and happy to be one.

So, don't try to tell me what I'm missing out not being on Live or playing with others. Those who have this game, PLEASE tell me how the game is for the single player. How is the bot AI? Is the game impossible to play by yourself or is it easier than you can imagine? Would it be worth the purchase if this game were a standard offline shooter?

Give me some opinions on single player function please. And - again - don't tell me what I'm missing. Tell me what's there only.

Honestly, I wouldn't pick this up if I was going to do solo play only, at least not at the $60 price. It's a great game, and there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the bot A.I or anything in offline mode, but really, the fun of the game comes from working together with 4 other humans. The offline mode is more like a practice mode in this game, essentially a place to hone your skills for online battles.

As far as difficulty goes, I'd say it *might* be a tad easier with bots only because they're gonna have perfect aim, and never wander off by themselves. I also find bots die less during horde attacks that us humans do. Though that's not to say it's a cakewalk either, the expert difficulty is just that, even with A.I teammates with exceptional marksmanship.

If you haven't guessed by now, there really isn't much to the single player campaign, and the whole game can be completed in about 4 hours at this point unsure if they'll be DLC later on), so basically it becomes a pac-man or burger time style arcade game, where the only objective is just to see how fast you can get through taking the least amount of damage. And though that's essentially the main objective even in the online mode, t he human group dynamic does add a lot and extend the replay.

Hope I didn't deflate your balloon or anything, but I just really couldn't recommend this game at full price to an offline gamer.

EDIT: If you can, rent it at though, because even offline (which is how I first played the demo), the game is simply amazing the first time you play it. When I played that first demo level, I went from not even caring about this game, to pre-ordering it to get upon release in the same day.

[carlcarlson]

I agree with slip, I would pass. I played the demo once by myself and then again with a buddy on Live. It was a lot more fun with a friend. Solo it just got repetitive.

[badinsults]

It is great fun, especially the multiplayer. Basically it is like playing a video game version of 28 Days Later. The zombies are agressive and attack in waves. It is also great that the main quests can be beat in an hour,, a perfect amount of time for a single sitting.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Is it just my setup or does the team audio in online multiplayer sound absolutely horrible?

I couldn't find an option to get it to run through the headphone, and coming out of the TV speaker it was completely drowned out by the in-game music and effects.

Is there something I'm missing?

[Scawt]

The lobby audio sucks. I can't say about in-game on the 360 because I play PC.

L4D is fantastic. The best co-op game ever? Perhaps.

[slip81]

Is it just my setup or does the team audio in online multiplayer sound absolutely horrible?

I couldn't find an option to get it to run through the headphone, and coming out of the TV speaker it was completely drowned out by the in-game music and effects.

Is there something I'm missing?

I haven't had any problems with it, I've just been plugging in the headset and going. Are you using a wireless one? Maybe it's not syncing?

[matacoz]

Slightly over rated, but nonetheless fun! I can't afford it nor can my video card handle it (getting a new one soon.) I think it's a great game but a little over priced. Not every new game has to be $50.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I haven't had any problems with it, I've just been plugging in the headset and going. Are you using a wireless one? Maybe it's not syncing?

You know what ... since I got my new 360 I haven't re-adjusted my universal mic audio settings. It's probably set to audio out = TV instead of headset.

I bet that's the problem. I'll try that later.

[The Shawn]

I don't know. But the more I check out the reviews and screenshots on-line, the more tempted I am to ask the wife for an X-box arcade just to play this game.

I don't go online with videogames either, prob. never will. But this looks worth $60 even for 4 hours of game play.

Question though: Can you also play co-operative with just another player in the same room? Or do you have to be on-line for that feature?

[E Nice]

It has 2 player co-op offline. You can even do the vs mode offline by tricking it, unfortunetely the human team will get crackshot AI players to fill out the team while the zombie team would only have one player and no help with filling out the rest of the special zombies for the team.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I don't know. But the more I check out the reviews and screenshots on-line, the more tempted I am to ask the wife for an X-box arcade just to play this game.

I don't go online with videogames either, prob. never will. But this looks worth $60 even for 4 hours of game play.

Question though: Can you also play co-operative with just another player in the same room? Or do you have to be on-line for that feature?

You have a 28 Weeks later signature bar ...

... you really should get your hands on a copy of this game.

However, other than playing through the "story" mode missions offline to get a feel for the objectives ... it doesn't really hold up as an ultra-solid offline/single player experience. It's a lot like Team Fortress 2 ... fantastic online experience (YMMV) but not really built for the offline/single player (unless you're networking consoles / LAN party-ing).

If you're a 28 Days fan, I'd recommend biting the bullet and figuring out a way to get yourself online with this game. That's where it's at.

[Bratwurst]

This is definitely a $20 game. It's great (I tried the demo both single player and online with a friend) but I just don't see the full version holding my attention for very long. I stopped playing the demo a couple days before it expired and to me that was a clear cut indication of its value.

Who knows, maybe the modding community will help expand it's longevity, too bad the 360 crowd won't get to enjoy it.

[DJ Daishi]

L4D is fantastic. The best co-op game ever? Perhaps.

I second that. the fact that I stopped taking the disc out of the system sorta proves just how addictive this game is.

[Half Japanese]

This is definitely a $20 game. It's great (I tried the demo both single player and online with a friend) but I just don't see the full version holding my attention for very long. I stopped playing the demo a couple days before it expired and to me that was a clear cut indication of its value.

Who knows, maybe the modding community will help expand it's longevity, too bad the 360 crowd won't get to enjoy it.

If you're the type of person who has to beat it on higher difficulties, it'll definitely keep you busy as long as what might typically quantify a $60 game. The expert mode is brutal and has no qualms about unleashing a torrent of bullshit on a regular basis. This is made worse by teammates who don't know what the fuck they're doing, so if you play with someone who has a decent idea of what to do, you'll definitely have to send them a friend request.

Quick tip for anyone who's struggling with expert difficulty: the only way to kill a tank in expert is to set him on fire, meaning you'll want one or two people carrying molotovs at all times in case he shows up. You've gotta light him on fire, tuck your tail between your legs, and haul ass in the opposite direction until you hear his theme music die down.

[BHvrd]

Boomer Santa! lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swCWiULbGPY&fmt=22

Btw, i'm downloading Left 4 Dead as I type, I just can't resist it anymore.

[Dastardly Dylan]

I had a chance to play this at my friend's house and it's actually pretty sweet. I'm gonna pick it up eventually but until then I'll still be playing Team Fortress 2 @_@

[BHvrd]

Just got through downloading it and yeah, this is my favorite game this year.

The videos don't do it justice, it's just like TF2 graphics, but more realistic, i'm especially impressed with the way the character models look. I didn't expect the graphics to be this polished from the videos i've seen, but it's easily one of the best looking new games. The videos make it seem more chaotic than it actually is, it's paced extremely well and zombies attack in waves with the big payoff being the hunters/boomers/smokers/tanks/witches, it's very neat and intense.

I haven't gone online yet and i'm only in act 2 of No Mercy, but so far I love the mechanics, though a bit sketchy at first I learned that melee is definetily the key, especially if you get trapped. I love that you can blow through doors, it's hella sweet to close a door in a Boomers face then blow him (and the door) to kingdom come. The game has a bit of an arcadey feel so be ready for that and the squad AI really just do what they want (usually the right thing), when you try to tell them to do something though they don't do it (maybe they will patch this). All in all it's like a Sega game on crack.

This game is not just a HL2 mod it's full fledged and it feels like it, it may be short (maybe) like others have said, but from what i've seen already i'm glad I got it. Can't imagine the mods we will see from this game, it should be the place to be for great gaming the next year or so. The modding for this game should be awesome once the SDK is released, lots could be done with this engine.

Technologically I would recommend it even to those without online capabilities, it's just too neat. It's better than it looks.

[slip81]

I really feel confidant that the 360 version will get extended play through DLC. To me it would just be weird for Valve to go through all the throuble of making a finely tuned online experience, and then not release any extra content, as I'm sure they know that games like this are built to be modded. If Halo can get map packs, L4D should at least get them too (though I'm really hoping for a level editor and more weapons, even if it comes in the form of a seperate disc that I have to buy).

I badly want to go through this game with a mini gatling gun, .357 Magnum, chainsaw, flamethrower. . .drool

[slip81]

at first I learned that melee is definetily the key, especially if you get trapped.

yeah, it's essential on expert. there are a lot of people over on the valve forums complaining that it's too powerful and asking for it to be weakened with a patch, but for once I hope Valve doesn't listen, as it really needs to be that strong in order to survive expert.

[Gamebrain]

I played the demo version and I friggin loved it. Low on money at the moment so I gotta wait until I can buy it.

[Romeroman Santa]

I played it once at a friend's house. I think he had some illegal hacked copy. You don't fight zombies.

[Sabz5150]

Overheard at my local gamestore:

"Buy an Xbox 360 and get Left 4 Dead!"

I immediately turned around and told the guy that truer words have never been spoken.

[BHvrd]

I mean, I'm no wiz or anything, but I know that the only way to beat the last part of No Mercy is for everyone to stick together. Why is it that people always just wanna run off by themselves during that part?

I hear ya man! Just got through playing my first online game and that stage is INSANE!

We all stayed in a closet till the Tank came then we kinda split up, lol. It is funny when people split up a bit though cause rescuing is fun, but you are right that the last stage on No Mercy online (I was playing advanced) is best to regroup at parts, though... I will admit I left the pack a few times to throw a propane bottle into the carnage, kinda made things go faster, muaha. :D

I'm stoked, I unlocked some cool achievements and my first play through was fun as hell, solo is fine but online is definetily the way. There was one part where a Tank hit one of our team and the dude went flying a country fucking mile, I haven't laughed that hard in a fuckin while!

[slip81]

Has anyone here tried out the Nazi Zombie mode in World at War? Was wondering how it stacked up against the zombie action in L4D. I know it's basically just one map, but the idea of just camping out in a house and trying to defend it and being able to rapair damage sounds really cool. Maybe Valve should build an add-on map like this *hint* *hint* :)

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

did anyone else make the same noob mistake my friend and i did on 'no mercy'. we're at the helipad, then approach when it comes close. both of us assumed we had to clear the helipad for the chopper to land, then you win. after getting new orifices four rounds over, we handed the controls over to another pair while we took a smokebreak.

one of the guys just automatically jumps in the chopper after it shows up and we're like "you can do that?.... that would've made it easier."

[BHvrd]

did anyone else make the same noob mistake my friend and i did on 'no mercy'. we're at the helipad, then approach when it comes close. both of us assumed we had to clear the helipad for the chopper to land, then you win. after getting new orifices four rounds over, we handed the controls over to another pair while we took a smokebreak.

one of the guys just automatically jumps in the chopper after it shows up and we're like "you can do that?.... that would've made it easier."

If everyone is dead one man can take off in it, only if they're dead though, otherwise you gotta have all 4 or the ones that are still alive.

Btw I played with Team Nintendo the other night and damn them guys are good! Ganon likes to play Jeff Hardy music when we run as Survivors which is funny as hell, talk about kicking ass, they could barely touch us we stayed so tight and fast. We also killed the whole team before they even left the safe point more than once. One time we got a Tank spawn at the start, lol. :D

[roushimsx]

I really feel confidant that the 360 version will get extended play through DLC. To me it would just be weird for Valve to go through all the throuble of making a finely tuned online experience, and then not release any extra content, as I'm sure they know that games like this are built to be modded.

The only thing holding them back from pushing shit loads of free DLC on 360 is Microsoft. Epic had similar problems with them when they were discussing how to handle bonus content for Gears of War, though given how they're whoring the map pack money on Gears of War 2, I think they've been converted to the dark side.

They also have strict limits on software patches/updates. I can't remember the firm numbers (halp, Programming Ace!), but I believe you only get one or two for free. After that, Microsoft charges the company $$$.

I wanted to get this on PC, but a bunch of my buddies picked it up on 360. Despite the controller issue, I'm having a fucking blast with it. Even in single player I'm having a hell of a fun time. I love how it changes every single time you play and I love finding new ways to exploit the environment to my advantage (exploding gas station!).

It's crazy to think that the whole idea for the game spawned from when the team was working on Counter Strike Condition Zero and they'd spawn in waves of terrorists armed only with knives for fun. Whole idea just kind of snowballed from there.

[TheRealist50]

I played the crap outta the demo when it first came out, now that I got the game I can't seem to get myself to play Gears 2. So fun online, especially when someone pisses off the witch and every screams "oh shit! RUN!" then at this point its pretty much every man for themselves.

Has anyone noticed that when your Louis you seem to get attacked more by the special infected then anyone else?

[Dastardly Dylan]

I got this today as a Christmas gift and it's kick ass. I'vep played the game before but owning it now brings joy to me and my brothers. We love it <3

[kainemaxwell]

Just started playing this on PC. Love it. Creepier and more fun than the Resident Evil titles!

[The Shawn]

Awesome game with great replayability. Less then 1000 zombie kills away from the 53,595 genocidest achievement myself.

Not bad considering most all of those were done on single player as I just got xbox live.
But yeah, really fun game IMHO.

[Bratwurst]

L4D2 is supposed to be getting the remainder of the first game's campaigns ported over sometime this April.

[The Shawn]

L4D2 is supposed to be getting the remainder of the first game's campaigns ported over sometime this April.

It allready has 2 of them.

Sucks as I bought the sacrifice for both games thinking I would be able to play as all survivors. Not so.

[kupomogli]

Hopefully because of how well Portal 2 has done so far, PS3 owners finally get a port of the series. Playable with Steam users just like on Portal 2, this would be awesome.

[The Shawn]

Hopefully because of how well Portal 2 has done so far, PS3 owners finally get a port of the series. Playable with Steam users just like on Portal 2, this would be awesome.

No L4D for you.

You assholes get Kratos, isn't that enough?

[kupomogli]

No L4D for you.

You assholes get Kratos, isn't that enough?

Seeing that I hate the God of War series. No.

[The 1 2 P]

I have had Left 4 Dead 2 for almost two years now. I really need to go play that.

[Emperor Megas]

I have had Left 4 Dead 2 for almost two years now. I really need to go play that.You really should. Man, it's easily my most played game on the 360. The wife absolutely LOVES it. We play offline co-op all the time.

[kainemaxwell]

Gave L4D2 a try. Love it as much as the first. the added melee weapons are fun. Loving hearing the cricket bat cracking as it kills a zombie. Is it just me or does it seem like the 2nd is darker in terms of visibility and brightness than the 1st one?

[The Shawn]

Gave L4D2 a try. Love it as much as the first. the added melee weapons are fun. Loving hearing the cricket bat cracking as it kills a zombie. Is it just me or does it seem like the 2nd is darker in terms of visibility and brightness than the 1st one?

Made that way for a reason me thinks. The hotel stage and Hard Rain stages can be a real bitch to see through between the smoke and the rain storm. Especially on the harder settings.

[Lucifersam1]

L4D2 is good, but it just isn't as great as the first one in my mind. Maybe it's because that was the first game I really played on this generation of consoles. I am very excited about the release of the L4D levels for L4D2. I think that will get me playing again!



Gave L4D2 a try. Love it as much as the first. the added melee weapons are fun. Loving hearing the cricket bat cracking as it kills a zombie. Is it just me or does it seem like the 2nd is darker in terms of visibility and brightness than the 1st one?

[The Shawn]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=airsoft%20gi%20lfd&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dcn5 2ExijPcI&ei=nkPhTrzkLejX0QH3ucGzBw&usg=AFQjCNGJFZvO20yECz5aUkeGkRL1WG9stA

Nicely done teaser trailer IMHO for anyone who still follows this game as I do.

Poor Bill

*sniff