TGS 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Hands-On
Everyone is aware of the controversy that erupted around the Left 4 Dead franchise when the sequel was announced at this year's E3, but with the game's release just over a month away, it's time to look at what Left 4 Dead 2 brings to the table, as opposed to wondering what could have been added to the original.
At this year's Tokyo Game Show, Gaming Union had a chance to check out Left 4 Dead 2 at Microsoft's booth on the Xbox 360. Diving in as one of the new characters, Ellis, we took part in a 2-player local co-op match, which took place on the Dark Carnival level.
One of the first things that became apparent was that the levels are actually a lot larger now, and lot less linear. The new and improved Director can now choose to send the party down different paths depending on their performance, but the actual level design is a lot more diverse. It means that every play-through will now be even more unique, as not only will there be big changes with the enemy frequency, but the length and course of each level.
However, while the levels do help to make the game more interesting, the main focus of Left 4 Dead 2 is of course, killing zombies. An entirely new skeletal system has been adopted in Left 4 Dead 2 for hit detection, and its sole purpose is to help with the newly incorporated melee combat. Players can now hold a ranged weapon, and a melee weapon, perfect for getting up close and person with zombies. There is a unique range of melee weapons, from the stereotypical axe, to an electric guitar and they can be found randomly throughout levels, as opposed to pre-determined resting points. Hitting zombies with these weapons is extremely satisfying, as the cuts are accurately reflected on the zombie. It's possible to completely dismember them, and it definitely adds a different dimension to the combat, especially when getting swarmed. There are also more ranged weapons being added on top of the existing arsenal, which is nice to see.
While dealing damage is all good and fun, the zombie forces have also had some new additions to their ranks to try and make things more difficult. All of the old favourites return - with a few behavioural modifications - and they will be joined by The Charger, The Spitter and The Jockey. Some of which were encountered as we made our way through the Dark Carnival level. The Jockey, in particular, will definitely make the game more challenging, as they jump on players' backs and try to guide them towards zombie hordes - helping to promote a feeling of impending doom. The Spitter, didn't seem overly challenging though. They spit acid, which then causes a small section of the environment to become corrosive. However, it was relatively easy to avoid, and compared to all of the other special Infected enemies, they seemed quite tame.
Overall, Left 4 Dead 2 definitely maintains its sense of fun and togetherness. The gameplay is as frantic as ever, and the new AI director will also help to make the game feel even more unique after each play-through. Melee combat is a fine addition, as is the new skeletal system for hit detection, and with a story now being present, it may appeal to a much wider audience than before. It's safe to say that Left 4 Dead 2 isn't a simple expansion, as there is easily enough content present to justify its release. Expect to see it appear on the Xbox 360 and PC on the 17th of November, 2009.
