Game Sports Realm

Its funny how video game trends tend to cycle with the passage of time.  True tested is the zombie genre; and it looks like the wave is coming back around again. Shooter games are leading the pack as of late but, whatever your poison: online, console, PC, or the ever popular free game, it looks like this is going to be a good year for the undead.

Left 4 Dead

In the wake of the phenomenal success of The Orange box, Valve recently launched this survival PvP shooter.  What the game lacks in story it makes up for in fast twitch, high pace action coupled with an environment that is for lack of a better word.. captivating.

The premise of the game  is that a highly virulent form of the rabies virus has infected society, leaving (at least for the purpose of this game), four survivors ( how convenient), that need to navigate convoluted levels populated with hordes of infected in order to reach safety.   As a ballast to these four survivors players are five "boss" class zombies:  the "Boomer", "Smoker", "Tank", "Hunter"  and  "Witch".   All boss zombie classes are playable except for the "Witch" simply because she is too powerful, being able to knock down any player with a single strike.

This is a game that really delivers when it boasts "completely engaging gameplay". The classic use of a flashlight in pitch black environments to create tension has been perfectly captured in this game. This coupled with the fact that beneath its fast paced shooter exterior the game actually requires a significant quantity of skill and strategy , not to mention team work, which makes it worth playing.

The rogue lone wolves of the Half-Life, Counterstrike, and Team Fortress two years need not apply.  This game is very difficult if not impossible to play without team work. Survivors will need to constantly be aware of their surroundings and those of their teammates.  Quiet halls can be flooded with hordes of infected in the blink of an eye, leaving a single player ridiculously outnumbered. To further encourage team play, downed survivors can only be revived by their teammates, until which they are out of play.

The zombie gameplay is no less entertaining.  Players are randomly allotted one of the four player controllable boss zombie characters. While "the horde" of infected are computer controlled, the player zombie is free to roam (in shades of relatively placid magenta I might add).  While the desire to ambush from the shadows may be appealing this is a game that doesn't reward campers; wrenching control away from a player if they decide to loiter in a single location too long.  There's no silent hint about it either as the message in bold face flashes across the screen "YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE TANK " (or whichever of the classes you may be controlling). Playing from the zombie perspective was rewarding in the way being a survivor isn't. There is something very appealing about stalking the prey, inciting fear and orchestrating a perfect ambush, again expertly captured by Left 4 Dead.

Right now only two of the campaigns are available in multiplayer, which may dishearten some but Valve has promised to remedy this in the near future with patches and upgrades. All in all, this game is awesome in my opinion and well worth the play. Gamers can look forward to new content from Valve ( something that they have been good about delivering on in the past) not to mention the many hours of extended play that can be expected once the mod  machinists get their creative gears turning.  If this is any indication of the scope for zombie gaming to come... the return of the undead might not be such a bad thing. Shotguns for everyone!!!! Yeah!!!

Left 4 Dead Trailer and Introduction Movie:

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Check out these game play videos for  Left 4 Dead :

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And keep and eye open for my next review : Resident Evil 5.