LEFT 4 DEAD

With the introduction of 4 strangers, thrown together by their shared immunity to ‘zombification’ and an overactive survival instinct zombie apocalypse just got bad ass. Cracking sculls and dispatching the undeaden hordes has never been such righteous fun!

Lets do this.

Valves L4D is set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic pandemic that has caused the dead to rise and exact revenge upon the living (for what? I am not certain). L4D is a first person shooter, released on Xbox and pc. In spite of the fact that that first person shooters flood the games market as well as the zombie genera being immensely popular, in my opinion L4D offers something new and innovative. You know no more than the survivors about what is exactly going on, the story of the outbreak can be pieced together through conversation and ‘the writing on the walls’ of the safe houses.

Built on the Source engine (Half-life) the gameplay is extremely flowing, fast paced and more often than not frantic. However the game manages to maintain a focus on the importance of tactics. Closing doors, crouching while aiming, throwing pipe bombs, turning off flash lights and oodles more factors mean the difference between survival and being stomped to death under decomposing feet.

With all those zombies, how do we keep things fresh?

Good question. The AI in left for dead ensures that although the layout of a level will not change, a level never feels or plays the same. Weapons and supplies need to be scavenged for as you progress through the levels. You find yourself instinctively drawn to certain environmental objects. Backs of trucks or crashed ambulances yield reward, an extra pistol on the bonnet of an abandoned patrol car. The glorious sight of the red and white medical cabinet gives some much needed medical relief.

Atmospheric music helps to add to the ‘movie’ feel of the game. Increasing the intensity of the waves of attack. Be it the Huge muscle bound zombie (tank) or the seemingly harmless witch, the music that plays when they are near becomes a chilling reminder of their presence and danger.

All this survival getting you down?

Scraping through a level on the bones of your arse can become a little tedious. That’s when left 4 dead really keeps on giving. In 8 player vs mode, one team attempts to survive the levels as they would in single player or co-op however the other team has the doubleplusgood roll of the special infected; surrendering themselves to chaos and mindless destruction of any and all living things. However mindless is maybe not the best word; undead teamwork is essential to taking out those pesky survivors. Bring order to chaos> Ponce, choke, puke on and crush the survivors into the ground.

 Standard special infected.

The Smoker is an ambush class that can strangle Survivors with its long tongue, similar to Half-Life's Barnacle. The help of another Survivor is required to escape from a Smoker's hold (though if quick enough it is possible, though difficult, to kill a Smoker who has already grabbed you, earning an achievement). As the name implies, Smokers emit smoke when killed to impair Survivors' vision. A Smoker also will frequently cough, letting the Survivors know when he is in the area. The Smoker can drag players that he has captured with his tongue towards himself, though he remains stationary and cannot move. The Smoker is also momentarily paralyzed for a few seconds after having his tongue removed from his captive by another Survivor. (Left4deadwiki.com [online] available from http://left4dead.wikia.com/wiki/Special_Infected#Special_Infected)

The Hunter is a Special Infected that is not as mutated on the outside. The Hunter is extremely fast and agile, capable of quickly scaling walls. Additionally, he can pounce and pin down Survivors, clawing at their abdomen until either the victim is dead or the Hunter has been knocked off or killed by another Survivor. They are not the most physically robust Infected, having relatively low health, and thus it doesn't take very much to kill them. When the Hunter crouches down in preparation to pounce, it growls, giving it away to any nearby Survivors. However, whilst standing, it makes no noise. The Hunter is the only Special Infected that can remain absolutely silent. (Left4deadwiki.com [online] available from http://left4dead.wikia.com/wiki/Special_Infected#Special_Infected)

The Boomer is a Special Infected that vomits a special bile at Survivors, which temporarily blinds them and draws Common Infected to them. At a distance the Boomer isn't much of a threat; his large size and low health make him an easy target against any weapon at mid or long range. However, if within range he can vomit on Survivors, attracting the Horde. When he dies, he explodes, covering any Survivors who are close enough with bile, blinding them and causing them to stumble backwards. The Boomer is notorious on the Expert difficulty for being able to snipe Survivors. Boomers can be anticipated because of the near-constant gurgling they make. (Left4deadwiki.com [online] available from http://left4dead.wikia.com/wiki/Special_Infected#Special_Infected)

5 Stars,