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| Zombie killing at its finest. |
There's something strangely satisfying about tossing a Molotov cocktail at a horde of zombies. Or even whacking them with a baseball bat and then blowing their head off with a combat shotgun. With all the zombie games out there, I still keep coming back to the Left 4 Dead series. Sure, the levels stay the same. But those fun, frantic moments that erupt into chaos never grow old.
The original installment took us all by surprise. Engaging team work, intriguingly vague storyline, and endless co-op fun through a dark zombie apocalypse. It was basically everything you could want in a first person shooter. Less than a year later we get news of a sequel, sparking curiosity and even resentment. In some cases people were thinking L4D2 would be a rushed, incomplete effort to cash in on the success, hardly worthy of downloadable expansion, let alone it's own standalone sequel.
Thankfully, early criticism of the game was quickly put to rest upon the release of Left 4 Dead 2. Nearly everything good about the first game was expanded upon. The game's improvements were remarkably well done and amazingly they managed to release it about a year later. Levels were robust and engaging, weapons improved and zombies were wonderfully varied. It didn't rely solely on the dark, uncertain atmosphere of the first game (although that gave L4D1 a certain charm) and managed to pull off some intense moments - in broad daylight, no less.
Further expansions followed and we got new weapons, new levels, and new modes of gameplay. With the "Mutation" mode you were treated to hacking away at levels with just a chainsaw or katana. Or dealing with an endless barrage of Hunters. Or making your way around by yourself, without the presence of 3 other teammates. L4D2 officially wrapped up a near perfect game play experience with it's final DLC, Cold Stream, in 2012. It's a hectic and fun level that combined all the exciting parts of the game and served it up as a satisfying finale.
Left 4 Dead 2 has been out for many years now and it still remains an old favorite. That said, there's a lot of engaging elements that aid in its replay value...but, in the end, I think I just like whacking zombies with baseball bats.
Valve, if you're listening...we're ready for Left 4 Dead 3 now.
An absolute classic and one of my all time favorite zombie shooters. I always found it remarkable how quickly they followed up with L4D2 and how well they improved upon it.
ReplyDeleteThe original was already a great game, fun coop play, dark atmosphere, tense game play. BUT the sequel took all of that and really perfected it.
The levels were great too.
Agreed!
DeleteI like the dark night time feel of the original but with the second game, they expanded upon it and gave you new scenarios.
You get the nod to Romero while fighting zombies in a bright mall in Dead Center, the creepy Dark Carnival, the weird backwoods vibe of Swamp Fever, fighting mother nature in Hard Rain and the hopeless quarantined city look in the Parish.
Valve really nailed the levels in L4D2 giving us more than just some new dimly lit levels in the sequel.