Left 4 Dead

[MasterBlaster76]

The SDK, a new game mode, and the two versus maps which arent used yet are coming the in the 'Survival pack' which is coming out in the Spring. That means that custom maps will be on offer for PC users, so the possibilty of more replayability.

No price has been set for the 360 version, Microsoft will no doubt charge for it though. The PC content will be free.

Left 4 Dead DLC includes 'Survivor' mode, 2 full campaigns - Network World

Good! That'll mean unlimited maps before too long, won't it? I've just ordered the game today, am looking forwards to it arriving!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Is the the kind of game you can play happily with random people, or do you really need people you know (or have spoken to on the internet at least?) If so, then we'll have to all get together for a game!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

GAME have despatched it now, should be here within the next two days.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Hi, it arrived today. Great opening movie and then - nothing. Every time I load it, it locks up as soon as it gets to the main menu. Any ideas how to stop this?

Edit: It's ok now, there was a firewall request hidden under the game, lucky that it came on top once, so I could permanently authorise it. All ok now, and what a great game!

Edit: Anyone tried this out?

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=745113

It lets you play splitscreen with mouse/keyboard and a gamepad...

 

[The_gas]

Can you describe this game for me, i am considering buying it.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Can you describe this game for me, i am considering buying it.

I'll do my best, based on my limited experience of the game so far.

This game is:

Creepy
Bloody
Awesome
Fantastic
Not the best offline (you could blast through the campaigns far too quickly. It isn't made for offline).

Not as predictable as you'd expect: the 'AI Director' always keeps things fresh for each playthrough. You'll see zombies climb over fences, rip through certain walls/doors and the best thing about it is none of it is scripted!

Not quite as scary as you might expect.

There are about four 'movies' made of five maps each. Basically, they're campaigns and you have to fight your way through each stage to get to a 'safehouse' where the zombies cannot enter. Each movie provides a distinctive playing experience, none of them are alike. (The SDK and new maps are being released at some point, so maybe unlimited new maps will shortly follow once the crazy modders get hold of it!!) The Survivors (us mortals) are a band made up out of a feisty girl, a biker dude, an old army guy and a businessman type chap in a suit.

These aren't your 'shambling' zombies (when they see you, they sprint at you and not in a straight line, either: they dodge about). They're quite easy to kill, but the main problem is the sheer numbers of them, especially when the 'horde' gets involved, I'll explain later. There are loads of different types of zombie and all are from ordinary life, so you'll see policemen, businessmen, hospital patients and lots of other walks of life. It makes it all the more creepy, knowing that these people were once ordinary human beings who maybe wouldn't hurt a fly...

There are also 'boss' zombies. These are:

The Boomer: This tries to puke all over you and its puke attracts the aforementioned 'horde' (a huge pack of extra pissed off zombies) who will home in on you because the Boomer vomited on you. Also, you're temporarily blinded if it pukes on you. Best thing to do is knock it away before shooting it: shooting it makes it explode and if it does that within range of you, then the 'horde' will head for you anyway!

The Tank: This does pretty much what it says on the tin. It smacks other zombies out of the way in its mad charge towards you or your team mates and can lob heavy chunks of rock/brick/whatever it can find at you. You must all team up to take this thing down!

The Smoker: Has a long tongue that it can whip out from a large distance and grab a Survivor. If no-one kills it, it will hold the unfortunate person until they're ripped to bits by other zombies.

The Hunter: Can leap prodigious distances and tries to pounce on Survivors, holding them down. If it manages this, only another Survivor can help by killing it or knocking it away, otherwise it holds you down until the other zombies rip you to bits. They have a habit of creeping along the rooftops before jumping someone...

The Witch: The only one who won't attack you if you leave it alone. If you see (or hear) one, turn off your flashlights and sneak past it. When startled, these things are massively vicious and are far more dangerous and powerful than they look.

(By now, you've probably figured out that this is a game about zombies)

Maybe Valve might introduce more classes as time goes on? I hope so, that'll keep us on our toes.

By the way, you can also play as the 'boss' zombies (bar the Witch and Boomer I think). I haven't tried that yet, but the Survivors are still controlled by other players, so it should be a lot of fun!

Ok, so a short description request turned into a mini review there!

Hope it helps anyway and other more experienced Left4Dead'ers, fill in any gaps!!

 

[IloveGilly]

Should've got it during the Steam weekend sale. Was only $25US. I got it on release and haven't looked back since.

I've played about 220+ hours of this now and it's still a very fun game. I've had too much time these holidays so I've engaged in Zombie blazing. Best $75AUD I've ever spend probably.

Generally played this too much that for the first time, I'm actually pro at a game. Hah.

 

[The_gas]

Thanks for the write up, i might have to look into getting this.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I think people will be playing it for years, it is well worth picking up.

MasterBlaster76 added 14 Minutes and 6 Seconds later...

Anyway, when I get it, I'll be sure to let you guys know my ingame name, so we can meet up for a game!

My name in the game is HunterKiller76.

Hopefully, the DLC will include a proper way to play splitscreen on PC. There is a way to do it, but it involves much messing around with .cfg files and the like.

 

[IloveGilly]

Don't think they'll be releasing such an update. But still a lot to look forward to with the SDK and new Versus maps. There's going to be a ton of custom campaigns like in TF2. Resident Evil themes, Dawn Of Dead etc...

I'd play with you but playing overseas is pretty much a killer ping even though I'm on ADSL2+. Don't know how bad it is in England though.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Don't think they'll be releasing such an update. But still a lot to look forward to with the SDK and new Versus maps. There's going to be a ton of custom campaigns like in TF2. Resident Evil themes, Dawn Of Dead etc...

I'd play with you but playing overseas is pretty much a killer ping even though I'm on ADSL2+. Don't know how bad it is in England though.

Aren't there dedicated servers for each country?

Also, do you think it might be possible to make a 'UK Mod' for the game? You know, having London Bobbies as the police zombies and so on? And maybe some custom maps like the area in and around the Houses of Parliment? I'd love that and I'm sure the rest of the UK players would as well.

 

[IloveGilly]

I'm sure you can model individual skins but you'd need to retain the original skin if you want that back.

Yeah there are, but there are ways you can connect overseas. The matchmaking system isn't exactly brilliant as well.

 

[angryangy]

Aren't there dedicated servers for each country?

Also, do you think it might be possible to make a 'UK Mod' for the game? You know, having London Bobbies as the police zombies and so on? And maybe some custom maps like the area in and around the Houses of Parliment? I'd love that and I'm sure the rest of the UK players would as well.

I thought from the beginning Francis would be better if played by Jason Statham, tbh.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Left4Dead keeps saying 'stopping search' whenever I try to search for an online game at the moment. Does anyone else get this?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

At the end of 'Death Toll', there's a rock where you all can stand that makes surviving the final Horde attack child's play (too bloody easy, in other words, as the zombies have a hard time getting up there). Maybe there are others in other levels, I don't know, but I hope Valve patch them out, otherwise it makes the game far too easy to win, on that level at least.

Also, do you reckon there's a chance of Valve introducing new Special Infected classes in the future?