First-person shooter earns perfect praise
Issue date: 12/7/08 Section: Business
Left 4 Dead
Xbox 360/ PC
5/5
If something is going to be shot, it might as well be a digital zombie, and Left 4 Dead leaves gamers with plenty of fodder for an itchy trigger finger with Valve's latest romp into the video game world.
Gamers looking for a plot, should play another game because there is not one; but it is not necessary. Left 4 Dead is a game that plays out like a high budget Hollywood slasher flick minus the customary sex scene in the woods. In the game, up to four other survivors may battle a zombie apocalypse with a simple goal; get out alive.
Left 4 Dead brings an amazing game-play experience. Valve has moved against convention and delivered a game that is built almost entirely around cooperative multiplayer action. This is a game that comes to life when played with at least one other human player, and it is even better if there are four humans in each game.
In each of the game's four scenarios, players battle their way to a series of safe houses that ultimately lead to a place of salvation. As players maneuver their way through to each check point, the game displays neat little statistics like who killed the most Zombie's. These updates can lead to some friendly one-ups between gamers as they go on their merry way attempting to survive.
The name of the game is team work, so much so, that it is evident from the beginning of the game to work together to survive.
Digital commando's who like to run off and kill everything by themselves will be punished first. There are many enemies in the game which can not be beaten on a solo effort.
The zombie horde battled is based on the fast zombies seen in movies like 28 Days Later. They sprint, kick down doors and hop fences. With features such as vomit blinding players and being attacked continuously, the zombies do their share of scare in this game.
Each adrenaline pumping level pushes players to their limits as they are knocked down, time and time again. Everything weapon as well as the environment can come into play to help dispatch a foe.
The game is also terribly short. All four scenarios can be conquered over a couple of hours, but the game is highly replayable. The game experience is different depending on teams, leaving an unlimited number of playing experiences with online play.
Online play proves to be great, especially the versus mode. In versus, one team acts as the survivor team (humans) while others act as the special zombies. Teams take turns trying to see how far they can get in each level, while the other team tries to put an end to them.
This introduces a certain level of team work, especially on behalf of the zombie squad, that needs to try to utilize the special attributes from each of the undead to stop the human squad.
The game is not a staggering mass of graphic beauty, but it is clean enough to make gamers feel like their HDTV was worth the money spent. Some of the zombies just look down right corny if not lazy.
If there is a downside it is the AI, not because they are bad, but because they are good. The AI are solid and good about killing zombies while not hitting players, taking little damage, and always managing to patch players up when they become hurt.
Left 4 Dead also has a staggering gap in difficulty when turned on the expert mode, but despite those minor details the game is still incredibly fun to play. It is a social adrenaline rush with high replay value that is a must buy.
David Houston•
Xbox 360/ PC
5/5
If something is going to be shot, it might as well be a digital zombie, and Left 4 Dead leaves gamers with plenty of fodder for an itchy trigger finger with Valve's latest romp into the video game world.
Gamers looking for a plot, should play another game because there is not one; but it is not necessary. Left 4 Dead is a game that plays out like a high budget Hollywood slasher flick minus the customary sex scene in the woods. In the game, up to four other survivors may battle a zombie apocalypse with a simple goal; get out alive.
Left 4 Dead brings an amazing game-play experience. Valve has moved against convention and delivered a game that is built almost entirely around cooperative multiplayer action. This is a game that comes to life when played with at least one other human player, and it is even better if there are four humans in each game.
In each of the game's four scenarios, players battle their way to a series of safe houses that ultimately lead to a place of salvation. As players maneuver their way through to each check point, the game displays neat little statistics like who killed the most Zombie's. These updates can lead to some friendly one-ups between gamers as they go on their merry way attempting to survive.
The name of the game is team work, so much so, that it is evident from the beginning of the game to work together to survive.
Digital commando's who like to run off and kill everything by themselves will be punished first. There are many enemies in the game which can not be beaten on a solo effort.
The zombie horde battled is based on the fast zombies seen in movies like 28 Days Later. They sprint, kick down doors and hop fences. With features such as vomit blinding players and being attacked continuously, the zombies do their share of scare in this game.
Each adrenaline pumping level pushes players to their limits as they are knocked down, time and time again. Everything weapon as well as the environment can come into play to help dispatch a foe.
The game is also terribly short. All four scenarios can be conquered over a couple of hours, but the game is highly replayable. The game experience is different depending on teams, leaving an unlimited number of playing experiences with online play.
Online play proves to be great, especially the versus mode. In versus, one team acts as the survivor team (humans) while others act as the special zombies. Teams take turns trying to see how far they can get in each level, while the other team tries to put an end to them.
This introduces a certain level of team work, especially on behalf of the zombie squad, that needs to try to utilize the special attributes from each of the undead to stop the human squad.
The game is not a staggering mass of graphic beauty, but it is clean enough to make gamers feel like their HDTV was worth the money spent. Some of the zombies just look down right corny if not lazy.
If there is a downside it is the AI, not because they are bad, but because they are good. The AI are solid and good about killing zombies while not hitting players, taking little damage, and always managing to patch players up when they become hurt.
Left 4 Dead also has a staggering gap in difficulty when turned on the expert mode, but despite those minor details the game is still incredibly fun to play. It is a social adrenaline rush with high replay value that is a must buy.
David Houston•
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Susan Goatman
posted 3/04/09 @ 2:32 AM CST
Thanks to author! I like articles like this about title , very interesting.
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