I was late to the game (quite literally) with the original Left 4 Dead, I didn’t get/play it until several months after its release. The reason I was always apprehensive was that I believed the game to be more focused on multiplayer (which it is) and I’ve always enjoyed single player games more due to the story normally being better, also the structure of Left 4 Dead that being campaigns broken into different chapters with the A.I. director changing various things around didn’t tickle my fancy BUT my opinions change as frequently as the weather so I purchased the greatest hits version of the game a few months back and found myself thoroughly enjoying it. Sure all the aspects of the game I thought I’d dislike were there but I didn’t care because the game was just plain fun. This brings us to Christmas day when I received Left 4 Dead 2 and zombie killing became my new past time.

Left 4 Dead 2 doesn’t break the mold set by its predecessor, Hell it doesn’t even bend it but it does improve upon it. Everything that you enjoyed about Left 4 Dead is still intact, 4 diverse characters, campaigns broken up into chapters and zombies…lots of zombies. So what makes it worth a purchase? Well there are a few things to consider.

The Campaigns:

The original Left 4 Dead featured 4 Campaigns with 4 chapters each (since the release one new campaign with 2 additional chapters has been released). Each Campaign took place in different environments including an Airport, Wooded Area, City Streets/Hospital and a Farm. While different the campaigns didn’t change much up the same enemies appeared in each and they all sort of looked the same due to the dark color palette. The sequel ups the ante by adding a 5^th Campaign and all of the said campaigns take place in vastly different settings for the most part, this time out we get a Mall, a Small Town, a Sugar Mill, a Carnival and a Bourbon Street wannabe . Each Campaigns environment have unique features including swamps, sewers, rain storms and all sorts of fun filled set pieces, also each campaign features unique common infected including clowns and hazmat zombies. There little additions but they add to the feel of the game. The lighting is also vastly improved as unlike the first game there is daylight present for me made the experience more immersive as I could actually look around and see the surroundings I mean its not like zombies only come out at night, right?

The Graphics:

The game looks great as did the first but little tweaks here and there are welcomed. The gore has been amped up with all sorts of zombie bits flying at the screen and the zombies themselves are much more diverse, including the aforementioned special common infected there are more models for the common infected and several new special infected including The Charger, The Jockey and The Spitter. The special infected from the first return as well with some visual upgrades. Like I mentioned the lighting is great, the weather effects are nice and the character models have been given a boost over the first. Overall is a very nice looking game.

The Gameplay:

If you played the first you know what you’re in for yet again however yet again its all about the small additions. You can still carry a main weapon and a secondary weapon as well as a healing product but this time out we get something the first was sorely lacking, MELEE WEAPONS! Swords, Cricket Bats, Axes, Guitars and a few others all are just fantastic. I’ve spent most of my time with the game using the various melee weapons because there’s just nothing more rewarding then decapitation. Along with the melee weapons there are also some new healing items such as adrenaline shots which act similarly to the pain pills and a defibrillator which can bring a killed survivor back to life. Like the rest of the package the additions are not game changers but they improve on an already good formula.

The Final Say:

If you enjoyed the first you will enjoy the second and if you hated the first this won’t change your mind, it’s as simple as that. I suppose I can see how some would refer to this as more an expansion and less a sequel but I wholly believe the game is worth it, it’s everything the first game was and everything that it should have been. If we get Left 4 Dead 3 I can’t think of anything missing that I would add but I’m sure the good folks at Valve are up for the challenge.

Also Yes I know the game came out in November and it’s now January but what can you do, if you still on the fence and want a review here it is.

Final Verdict

8.5 out of 10

Sinatra REALLY Likes Left 4 Dead 2