It’s rare when such a game comes along like Left 4 Dead (PC Version Reviewed). However, when it comes to Valve, we usually expect nothing less than Pure Gold. With releases such as Team Fortress 2, Half-Life 2, Portal, and even going back to the original Half-Life (which spawned mods of it’s own including Counter-Strike), Valve has shown and continues to show it knows how to make a great game. So when I was offered the demo for Left 4 Dead, I could not help but pounce. What happened next was a wallet opening and a card being charged for a copy of Left 4 Dead. Once the download was complete, I could only sit and wait for 12:00. Time to cure the infection, “One Bullet At A Time”.
At first, I looked for something to compare Left 4 Dead too. Resident Evil? Dawn of the Dead? Perhaps 28 Days Later? None of these seemed to fit. The reason is Left 4 Dead stands on its own. Ironically, the game is presented somewhat as a film. The cinematics are great though and help to further the story which is made up mostly of you and your allies trying to stay alive. The story revolves around 4 main characters, Francis, Bill, Zoey, and Louis. Francis seems to be more of a hard-nosed Mercenary type while Bill seems to be an older seasoned person, likely with experience in war. He’s also a bit of a strategist and seems to serve as a leader figure to the group. Zoey, the lone female, is more of a fearful person, but does not hesitate to help others before herself, and Louis is a more jumpy person ready to shoot anything formerly human that moves. Together, the four attempt to escape the infection and the mass hordes of zombies ready to assail them around any corner.
The Source Engine powers this title and Valve makes excellent usage of it. Although it’s 4 years old, this engine produces excellent graphics and even a great physics engine which presents rag-dolling on a level to rival Ageia. Animations are smooth and transition well. This is nice to see and keeps things feeling seamless no matter what system you play on. The audio engine is also near perfection. The dialog goes beyond simply expressions and warnings and moves into something which gives each character their own personality. Players also recognize fallen comrades and will mourn for them in their own unique way.
From standard zombies to boomers, smokers, hunters, a witch, and a tank that could rival General RAAM, there are no shortage of monsters to fight in Left 4 Dead. Likewise, there’s no shortage of weaponry to slay the horde with including, but not limited to: Molotov Cocktails, an M4, a Shotgun, an Automatic Shotgun, a Sniper Rifle, or of course everyone’s favorite, a Pistol or two.
Gameplay is generally run and gun based; something that separates it from other zombie based games which are generally more about strategy rather than just general survival. Instead of pondering how to go about solving a puzzle, you are instead left to ponder how to stay alive and keep your team mates alive. There are random things spread throughout levels which can help you such as Pills which give a temporary boost of health. However, these items are just that: Random. They can be there one play through, but not be there the next. This provides an extra level of difficulty that I can appreciate.
Now this game is fun to play alone, but the game truly shines when you play online. Bots simply cannot think, act, react, or be nearly as dynamic as a human player can. So although Single Player is excellent, make no mistake that online is where this game truly is meant to be played. There’s nothing like getting assaulted, letting out a hearty laugh, and being verbally assaulted by your teammates for finding humor in the situation.
The gameplay breaks down like this: You and your team start out in one area. To reach the end of the campaign level, you must safely make it to a series of safe houses in between which act something like checkpoints. Once your entire team is safely inside, you are able to move onto the next level. Left 4 Dead is a game which truly encourages team work as well. You will have to keep each other alive to make it to the end. One person cannot do it alone. If there is not a full team, an A.I. will take over the missing character, completing the four person experience.
Now things aren’t all blood, gore, and dismemberment in Left 4 Dead. I wish you could play Versus mode on more than 2 scenarios. Speaking of scenarios, I found it a bit disappointing that the game only includes 4 scenarios to play on. Perhaps more will be added later. These scenarios can take anywhere from half an hour to over an hour to complete depending on the difficulty level you specify and how many times you and your team dies. The upside to this is how the levels can vary each playthrough. Now when I say vary, I do not mean in the Diablo sense. This one is more closer to a very nice or a very mean dungeon master. If you are doing too good, expect more zombies, less ammo, and less health to be around. Likewise, expect the exact opposite if you are doing poorly. This leaves a well rounded experience that ensures a new experience each time around. There are a few minor bugs to contend with such as sometimes, albeit rarely, headshots are not recognized as such and instead will serve as nothing more than a catalyst to anger a zombie as opposed to an instant “kill”.
In summation, this game is one to enjoy for a long time to come and the experience is worth every bit of currency spent, merely just for it’s social aspects and replay value alone. Whether playing with friends or a random group of individuals online, you’re guaranteed an enjoyable experience that will never be the same twice.
Score Breakdown
Presentation: 10/10
The presentation of this game is excellent and shows Valve’s integrity and ability to produce high quality work time and time again.
Graphics: 9.5/10
We were able to play with all settings maxed at our monitors native resolution and still achieve perfect frame rates. Chalk one up to the Source Engine. Even in it’s 4 year old form, it still has the power to produce excellent lighting in addition to rendering shadows, massive zombie hordes, excellent animations, and provide a level of detail to rival many titles of the day.
Sound: 10/10
Absolutely near-perfect voice acting and a great soundtrack, even up to 7.1, gives Left 4 Dead the edge in Sound. Hear that crying? Turn off your flash light.
Gameplay: 9/10
A simplified control scheme via Keyboard and Mouse or Controller keeps gameplay moving quickly without the player having to reach for the correct or desired button. The never ending rushing zombie hordes will keep you on your toes and moving. Stay in one place to long and expect to be ambushed.
Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Although short, Left 4 Dead features excellent replay value which should keep any individual coming back for more.
Final Score: 9.5 out of 10 (*This is not an average)
