Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead, the latest game from PC shooter dev Valve, is a game where you kill (rekill?) zombies. Lots of zombies. In it's current state, it is a bit disappointing in terms of content, but based on Valve's wonderful track record of adding content to their games, I have high hopes.
Gameplay
In Left 4 Dead (L4D), you shoot zombies. Quite a few zombies. You play co-op with 3 others online, or split screen. Players can play in co-op campaign, versus, or single player. In co-op, players use a unique matchmaking system to find a team, and continue off on their way. In Versus, 4 players play boss zombies, who attempt to kill the other four players of the match, playing as survivors. The players switch teams on each section of the movie. Single player is the same thing as campaign, with bots filling in for the other survivors. Versus is by far my favorite mode, as the boss zombies are much more intimidating because they are controlled by thoughtful humans.
Some of the zombies are considered “boss zombies”, ones that are more powerful, more dangerous, and much more difficult to kill. These boss zombies are the hunter, boomer, smoker, tank, and witch. Each of these are varied in powers, and when they attack simultaneously, death is almost inevitable. The Hunter jumps upon one team member, and mauls them until another team member shoots it off. The Boomer vomits on any number of players, and the bile in the vomit attracts a horde of zombies. When shot, the boomer explodes, spreading his bile on any of the by standing players. The Smoker strangles a player with its tongue, until another teammate shoots either the tongue strangling the player, or the Smoker itself. The Tank is a mutated, super-strong zombies that can incapacitate survivors incredibly quickly. The Witch is definitely the most dangerous. She sits, crying in the corner, until an unwitting survivor startles her, and she charges, mauling and quickly killing the target.
The main problem in terms of gameplay is the small amount of content. There are only 10 weapons in the whole game, but they all feel very visceral and violent, which is always good in a zombie game. The 20 .bsp maps translate into 4 “movies” with 5 “scenes.” Each movie takes about an hour to play through, but this time can vary wildly based on the team you're playing with. This low weapon count and small number of maps make the game start to feel a bit repetitive.
Sound
The sound of L4D is truly the best part of the game. The sound is so truly creepy and strikes fear in my heart. Each boss zombie has a unique sound, from the screech of a Hunter, the moaning and burping of the grotesque Boomer, and the like. The most terrifying sound is the crying and associated music of the Witch. Hearing the initial cries before the music sets in truly sets you on edge. The “normal” zombies also have their unique sound, which gets louder based on the size of the horde. The sound is often cited as what makes or breaks a horror game, and this game is definitely made.
Graphics
Being a Source engine game, it looks a little bit dated by today's standards. That being said, I have noticed a few updates to the engine to make it look a bit better than Episode 2 or TF2- namely the blood and smoke effects. The blood is truly some of the best I have seen in a shooter, apart from Gears. Watching a headshot on a standard zombie running at you from the auto shotgun is truly a sight to behold. In addition to the gore rendering update, the smoke effects and gun models have been upgraded. The guns, after being fired for extended periods of time, have smoke trailing of the barrel while you reload. The city environments are especially unique, because I totally connected with it. You could see familiar stores and locations in a city, like the obligatory hospital with the massive logo on it, the farmhouse, the airport, and the highway.
Replayability
This is a place where this game falls a bit short. The game starts to feel repetitive after playing through for a couple hours. As much fun as shooting zombies is, it gets old after a while. I have noticed that's more of a boredom issue, because after playing something else for a while, I pick up L4D again and I have a renewed sense of amazement and grisly entertainment. Keep in mind, Valve has a good track record of updating their PC titles with new content, be it new weapons, maps, and the like. If you love zombies, and have friends who do too, you will definitely enjoy this game.
Value
Another disappointing part of this game, the price. $50, for the amount of content, seems a little steep. While I understand that Valve playtested those maps several times, I still feel a little disappointed. If you have friends willing to play with you, this can add quite a significant amount of value for people. Having played with three of my PC gaming friends, playing with friends might be one of the greatest co-op experiences this year.
Overall, despite the lack of maps and unique weapons, L4D is possibly one of the best zombie games I have played in quite some time. Especially compared to some of the Garry's mod game modes that involve zombies, L4D is certainly superior to those games. Basically, if you have friends, and love shooting zombies, L4D is certainly a good choice for you.