One-trick zombie
Valve is a developer that takes their time when making games. When they do release a title, it's usually of high quality- the problems tend to come in the quantity department. And their newest venture, Left 4 Dead, is no different. "Zombie survival horror" has simply never been done this well, which is why it's disappointing that there isn't much to do. A noticeable lack of content is the only thing holding Left 4 Dead back from being an otherwise stellar shooter.
If you've played other recent Valve games, such as Half-Life 2 or any other piece of The Orange Box, you'll immediately feel at home with Left 4 Dead. It uses the same engine as those games, as well as the same control scheme. This means you get slick, precise controls at all times. Which is good, because you'll need to be able to respond quickly to the hordes of zombies always swarming around you. Fortunately, your teammates are also there to help. While one can play alone with AI controlled bots, Left 4 Dead is a game that was clearly intended to be played cooperatively with four players. Indeed, the game shines its brightest when you gather up three of your friends and team up against the horde. Games rarely capture the essence of teamwork so wonderfully as Left 4 Dead- it brings out all the little triumphs and frustrations that come with working with other human beings. From saving someone from getting their insides ripped out by a Hunter, to accidentally getting blown to bits by an ally's stray shotgun blast, cooperative play in Left 4 Dead is as pure as any, and sets new standards for such games.
As good as the cooperative play is, it's a shame that the other modes don't pull their weight. The single player campaign is the same as the cooperative one, just with bots filled in. As already mentioned, playing the game this way doesn't have nearly the same punch. Also, the versus mode doesn't seem quite as balanced as playing the game cooperatively. Playing as the zombies is a slow paced affair, with lots of waiting time between deaths. And deaths come quickly, thanks to the perpetual "normal" difficulty setting throughout versus mode. What hurts these modes even more is the fact that the game only comes with four maps- and they are the same four maps for every mode. Even worse, the maps are basically the same thing with a scenery change, and two of them aren't even included as options in versus mode. This essentially boils the game down to a solitary play mode, on a map that lasts roughly an hour or so, while the only variables to change are how many humans you sub in for bots. The lack of content is just astonishing.
When Left 4 Dead works, it's an adrenaline pumping high, the triumphs and failures of which you'll hopefully share with some good friends. At all other times, it feels like a game that should have been budget priced, but you got conned into paying the full $60 anyway. Left 4 Dead is a "one-trick pony", and while it does its one trick incredibly well, it probably won't be enough to endear itself to everyone.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
