Left 4 Dead 2 was one of the 10 big exclusive titles that Microsoft announced at their press conference Monday morning, and if what we played today was any indication, non-360/PC owners are going to be sorely missing out. Valve Software is at it again with the co-op survival horror shooter, this time taking it up a notch to include daytime levels and a much more advanced AI Director.
We had a chance to go hands-on with the game today at E3, and despite any concerns that this is but an attempt to cash in the one-year anniversary with a game that could be a DLC add-on, we can assure you it is anything but...
Left 4 Dead 2 features four new survivors: Rochelle (a reporter), Ellis (southern mechanic), Coach (a high school football coach) and Nick the conman in the Southern U.S.; you start in Savannah and will eventually wind up in New Orleans. In our demo, we took on the role of Ellis and started the game with an improved assault shotgun (one of the many new weapons, alongside melee types like fireaxes, chainsaws, iron pans and silenced SMGs and a new assault rifle) and a pistol (which you can still dual wield).
The scenario we played was called "The Parish," and has our team of survivors in broad daylight trying to get from one side of a massive courtyard to the other to shut off a alarm that alerts the Infected horde. You pass through numerous alleys, pieces of chain link fence and even a graveyard with a winding hedge path that can quickly turn you around if you're not paying attention. Left 4 Dead 2 features 5 "scenarios" that will be playable in all of the game's familiar modes (even a brand new secret mode) out of the box, unlike its predecessor who had to update the game's compatibility with two scenarios via DLC. Some levels will even have rough day/night/weather cycles that reduce visibility as you progress.
Just like the original, the gameplay is rock solid. if you've played Left 4 Dead, you will be right at home with the sequel. Controls, pacing... they're all the same as we've come to love. Which is good. New additions to the mix, though, include the likes of limited incindiary ammunition which ignites zombies on contact, new Boss infected like the Charger (think a smaller Tank that can taken out much more easily), and an expanded AI Director. The Director can now tweak the levels themselves on the fly, in addition to the way the Infected spawn and react - which was the limit in the first game. The regular Infected have also been changed, some now donning Hazmat suits that repel fire - so those Molotov Cocktails will no longer work on everyone. Additionally, Infected are now outfitted with region-specific damage. They can be not only decapitated, but also relieved of their limbs individually.
Visually, L4D2 is a noticeable step above the first game. Weapons have real-time reflections; the HDR lighting is much more impressive when shining through trees in the courtyard; characters seem to have higher quality models (though it may just be that we can actually see them now), many more zombies can be displayed on-screen and gameplay just feels better than it did, while still retaining everything you've grown to love and master. Valve hope to keep the L4D2 community hooked on killing undead for a lot longer with better designed and thought out DLC and updates, so stay tuned for more information.
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Frank's Thoughts
People believed that Left 4 Dead was not going to have a sequel, that it was all going to be done through downloadable content. I am glad that it wasn't done that way. Graphically Left 4 Dead 2 has taken a pretty big leap. It could be that there are levels that are set during the day but I think it is more than that. The reflections on the weapons, the fire effects and all the other enhanced graphical elements really add to the Left 4 Dead experience. In the sequel, Valve gives us 4 different characters, a new arsenal of weapons (including fire axes and chainsaws), new levels and a brand new game. I think it is going to be alright to spend the $59.99 on this one. Congrats Valve on what I have seen so far to be an awesome sequel to an already awesome game.
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Left 4 Dead 2 is currently due out on November 17th for Xbox LIVE and PC.
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