Plus XP

A double dose of zombie mayhem.

Garvaos and GuitarGirl 24 played Left 4 Dead 2 at Eurogamer, so read on as they both take you through the zombie slaying action in Plus XP’s first joint review.

Garv- At Eurogamer, the Plus XP team got the opportunity to try out Scavenger Mode, The new multiplayer game variant that features in Left 4 Dead 2.
24- In celebration of this new multiplayer mode we at Plus XP have decided to team up and give you our first ever joint review, so sit back, relax and enjoy a double dose of this exciting new release.(but don’t relax too much and forget to watch out for the zombies…).

Story
Garv– It’s your typical survival horror scenario, you are one of the few survivors left after a virus has broken out and turned most of the human population into crazed flesh-eating freaks. First person shooter gamers and B Movie horror fans will be right at home here as you fight your way through hordes of zombies by any means possible.
24- It is clear from the start that this game is as a true sequel to the original Left 4 Dead. With the tried and tested theme of zombie horror madness still going strong, anyone who loved the first installment is sure to love this new addition. The game promises to be like stepping right into a zombie movie, with all of the blood, guts and in some cases good old-fashioned comedy value a good horror flick should have.

Scavenger mode
Garv- For all of you gamers out there who don’t know what this mode is, its a two team battle, where the survivors have to collect petrol cans, which they then have to take to a generator on the map. The opposing team, AKA the infected, have to stop the humans from fueling this generator by mauling them to death in any which way possible.
24- To me this new mode opens up endless party play possibilities. Though the original Left 4 Dead was a good title to play through solo, this new mode gives the option for multiple players to take part in shorter battles, making it much more fun to play with friends. The format was reminiscent of the Slayer multiplayer mode in Halo, with Survivors Vs Infected, best of three team battles, bringing out many a competitive nature. My advice is; get this title, add some friends, a big stash of junk food (and quite probably a few drinks) and let the zombie death match rage.

Gameplay
Garv- For me the basic gameplay of Scavenger mode - and indeed for Left 4 Dead as a whole – is very well done, I can easily see myself maybe spending days on this game mode alone, it’s the classic simple-but-effective approach that makes this mode so appealing. Left 4 Dead 2 as a whole feels and plays beautifully. Having only played a small amount of the first game, I can safely say the classic B Movie Horror feel is back in full swing, making this game a unique gem that stands out from any First Person Shooter Game and any generic Zombie mashing gore fest.
24- The gameplay of Left 4 Dead 2 proves to be as smooth and enjoyable as any hard-core gamer could wish for. Reminiscent of the original Left 4 Dead, it allows many possibilities for varied forms of combat, with quite in-depth (but still easy to master) controls. Despite the odd zombie getting stuck in doors (much to our amusement) the demo ran smoothly throughout, which is more than I can say for some of the other new titles showcased . All of this looks promising for a classic, smooth running, familiar yet still exciting gaming experience.

New features
Garv- One of the things I found interesting was the new infected characters. The Spitter, the Charger and the Jocky. Getting to actually control these new zombies has been something I have been looking forward to since Left 4 Dead’s appearance was announced for the Eurogamer Expo. The Jocky I was most impressed with, because he could jump on any unsuspecting survivor and control where they moved, meaning you can lead any survivor into a horde of zombies for a flesh-eating mosh pit of carnage. The Charger and Spitter were good too, the Charger being a lot like the tank from the first game but with a great speed boost, and the Spitter spits stomach acid that can engulf any unsuspecting group of survivors. I loved to see three or four survivors cowering in pain as they dissolved in a pool of acid, but then maybe I’m a tad masochistic.
24- I also enjoyed playing with the new infected characters, but it’s also worth saying at this point that the storyline also features 4 completely new survivors. I also can’t go without mentioning the new melee weapons this game features. Aside from the more traditional weaponry, in this title you can also choose to fight with an electric guitar, crowbar or even a frying pan. Though I didn’t find these weapons as effective as the guns, there is still something to be said for fighting off hordes of very angry zombies with your kitchenware. Very Sean of the dead.

Sum up
Garv-As a whole, Left 4 Dead 2 is a must for any one who has a slight inkling to rip apart the living death. If you were a fan of the first game, I suggest you welcome this game with open arms. Put boycotting aside, because I will tell you now, with all the new content, this is far from just a glorified DLC pack.
24- If you enjoyed Left 4 Dead you will definitely be up for Left 4 Dead 2. I have it on good authority (The writer in fact) that this game promises and entirely new storyline, as exciting and zombieful as the first installment. That plus the new characters, modes and weaponry makes this game a surefire hit for all of those wannabe post apocalyptic survivors out there.