"Left 4 Dead" puts all other zombie games to shame
Mike Cremer
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: Entertainment
We have all seen or heard about the standard, generic zombie movies. A group of people get locked inside a mall, movie theater, or some other business establishment, and then they have to survive the zombie apocalypse. Then there is always that one person in the movie who does something and the audience is compelled to think, "Why are you doing that? I would NEVER do that in this situation!" Well, now you have your chance to prove that you would be able to survive a zombie apocalypse in the game "Left 4 Dead," created by the innovative artists at Valve, the makers of the "Half-Life" series.
Unlike the zombie movies we are so accustomed to, this game is different. There is no true explanation of how people have turned into zombies. In order to learn more about the spread of the virus that caused the infection, the player has to read the walls in each safe house before the start of the level of each campaign. Basically, the story is simple: a virus got out, and it infected a lot of people. You are one of four people that have survived the infection: Bill, Zoey, Francis, or Louis. The main goal of this game is to survive long enough to be evacuated. There are also four campaigns to be played: No Mercy, Blood Harvest, Dead Air, and Death Toll. Each campaign takes place in a different location, and it provides a genuinely scary experience with how the zombies spawn at different points based on how the player is doing at that moment.
The main complaint that I have with this game would have to be the lack of a concrete storyline. Whenever I play a video game, I enjoy getting into the story and developing a connection with each character. Instead of having a plot that the player can follow along with, the story is essentially left up to the player's interpretation because the spread of the virus is completely ambiguous.
The biggest highlight of this game is the multiplayer and online gameplay. I do not think I have had this much fun playing a game online. Not only can players meet up with their friends and play any campaign of their choice, but they can also join Versus matches and alternate between the survivors and the special "Infected:" the Witch, the Tank, the Boomer, the Smoker, and the Hunter. The objective of Versus mode when you are playing as an "Infected" is to eliminate all the survivors before they reach the safe house. It takes a lot of strategy to find the right places to attack the survivors, and it requires a lot of strategy as a survivor in order to survive the constant onslaught of enemies encountered.
While I would love for a less ambiguous storyline, I am perfectly fine meeting up with friends and taking out hordes of zombies. This game is truly one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played, and I think that Valve has hit the mark once again with "Left 4 Dead." I highly recommend picking this game up just for the multiplayer and the online modes. And, here's something else to look forward to: Valve has stated that they will be releasing DLC (Downloadable Content) in the future to add to its already wonderful game.
4.5/5 stars
Unlike the zombie movies we are so accustomed to, this game is different. There is no true explanation of how people have turned into zombies. In order to learn more about the spread of the virus that caused the infection, the player has to read the walls in each safe house before the start of the level of each campaign. Basically, the story is simple: a virus got out, and it infected a lot of people. You are one of four people that have survived the infection: Bill, Zoey, Francis, or Louis. The main goal of this game is to survive long enough to be evacuated. There are also four campaigns to be played: No Mercy, Blood Harvest, Dead Air, and Death Toll. Each campaign takes place in a different location, and it provides a genuinely scary experience with how the zombies spawn at different points based on how the player is doing at that moment.
The main complaint that I have with this game would have to be the lack of a concrete storyline. Whenever I play a video game, I enjoy getting into the story and developing a connection with each character. Instead of having a plot that the player can follow along with, the story is essentially left up to the player's interpretation because the spread of the virus is completely ambiguous.
The biggest highlight of this game is the multiplayer and online gameplay. I do not think I have had this much fun playing a game online. Not only can players meet up with their friends and play any campaign of their choice, but they can also join Versus matches and alternate between the survivors and the special "Infected:" the Witch, the Tank, the Boomer, the Smoker, and the Hunter. The objective of Versus mode when you are playing as an "Infected" is to eliminate all the survivors before they reach the safe house. It takes a lot of strategy to find the right places to attack the survivors, and it requires a lot of strategy as a survivor in order to survive the constant onslaught of enemies encountered.
While I would love for a less ambiguous storyline, I am perfectly fine meeting up with friends and taking out hordes of zombies. This game is truly one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played, and I think that Valve has hit the mark once again with "Left 4 Dead." I highly recommend picking this game up just for the multiplayer and the online modes. And, here's something else to look forward to: Valve has stated that they will be releasing DLC (Downloadable Content) in the future to add to its already wonderful game.
4.5/5 stars
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