Left 4 Dead 2 Review
It's zombie season once again as the sequel to the cult hit, Left 4 Dead, has arrived. Some might think it's far too soon for a sequel to be released as the original was released literally a year ago, but Valve think they've added more than enough content to warrant a second installment into the franchise. With an improved AI director, new special zombies, more weapons and some new modes, they might just be right. Let's find out.
Left 4 Dead 2 takes place in the southern states of the United States of America, it happens a week after the original game. Players take control of a group of four new Survivors, as they try to take on insurmountable odds in order to survive the zombie outbreak. Things start as they mean to go on, as rescue helicopters leave them behind, and they are essentially 'Left 4 Dead'. There's actually a bit more continuation through the chapters this time, and at the start of the next chapter, players get a very short explanation about why they are there. It's usually very loose though, so don't expect any real explanation. Then again, due to the drop-in nature of the game, it's not really something that's missed. Zombies need to be killed and it doesn't feel like there's any need for a convoluted story.
Gameplay is much the same as in the original, although there are a few exceptions. Melee weapons have now been added, and there are eight in total. These range from guitars to katanas and chainsaws, but they are all equally as devastating. Most of them manage to kill an enemy in one hit, but decapitations are obviously the best way to go. The damage effects are great though, especially when using sharpened weapons like the katana and machete. It's something that felt required, as it offers a distinct alternative to simply shoving zombies back, which coincidently has been modified to reflect the new melee weapons. A stamina meter has been introduced which comes in to play after a few shoves, so it's not possible to simply spam them any more. A few new items have also been added, like the Defibrillator and Adrenaline Shots and they help to shift the balance back into the favour of the Survivors a bit.
To compliment the new melee weapons, there are also more firearms present. It was definitely needed, because the original game just felt severely lacking in this department. There is now a much wider range of shotguns, sniper rifles and automatic weapons. Laser sights can also be added to weapons, which increase their accuracy slightly. Players can also now carry a main weapon alongside a melee weapons or pistol, helping players feel a little bit more secure. However, they shouldn't get too comfortable as there is a new AI director, and some new special infected. New to the game are the Spitter, Jockey and Charger. They add some new dynamics to the gameplay and it means there are more challenges for the survivors to face. The AI Director definitely seems to be a lot harsher now, and with more tools to use, it can be quite unforgiving. Don't be surprised to face two tanks at the same time as some other special infected as well as a huge horde.
