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Because you can't have enough Left 4 Dead videos
9:06 AM on 03.02.2008, Jim Sterling 69 comments

     PC

Considering those darlings of the game world at Valve are involved, it's hardly surprising that there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Turtle Rock Studios zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead. It's looking like it could be a lot of fun, but I certainly wouldn't advise people to start expecting the second coming.

The graphics look dated, but hopefully wave upon wave of screaming, rushing zombies should be more than distracting enough. The exclusive GTTV video above shows off plenty of undead genocide to whet your appetites. I expect a very fine shooter indeed, but nothing that will make my head explode with amazement.


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JtheYellow's Avatar
JtheYellow at 03/02/2008 09:28
Remember when Source was announced, and everyone from Warren Spector on down wanted to make games with it? How many professional studios outside of Valve have used it? Didn't they both more or less go out of business of making these kinds of games as a result?

Valve buying Turtle Rock is no big surprise, given how much work on contract they've done. But this looks like Ravenholm without the headcrabs. I guess this is why they pushed the release date back.
DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 03/02/2008 09:29
Looks fun, not interesting, but fun. Can never get enough zombie slaughtering.
fyre's Avatar
fyre at 03/02/2008 09:35
This looks like a good game. But......is there something wrong with me if mowing down zombies doesn't excite me?
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 03/02/2008 09:35
I'm not sure what's "dated" about the looks.
Also, @JtheYellow: You're confusing Steam for Source. Everyone who's anyone is releasing their game on Steam anymore. Source WOULD have a booming license market, except Ritual Entertainment ruined it. Their colossal failure with Sin: Episode 1 soured the market. It doesn't help that Source just isn't as easy or as fast to work with comparatively to Unreal. Source still gets plenty of indie love in spite of that, though, and it's not like Valve's hurting any.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 03/02/2008 09:38
Jetsetlemming: Mostly the character models. While I won't say they look last-generation, they don't look especially current either. I'm no graphics whore or anything, just saying they look a little old, and this game could benefit from making the zombies look as real and grotesque as possible.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 03/02/2008 09:39
Why would you want more Zombie mods if you can have this?
RJG's Avatar
RJG at 03/02/2008 09:41
This is pretty much perfect game for my group of friends. My lady friend loves the co-op element of TF2, and loves zombie games. That said, the game will need some awesome maps and a really great Director to keep things fresh. I could see it getting stale really quickly otherwise. Without real AI, it could get boring.
RJG's Avatar
RJG at 03/02/2008 09:41
"Real AI"? What the hell was I thinking? Not much, it's 3am. I meant to say "Without real people to play against who can get smarter, it could get boring."
notdryad's Avatar
notdryad at 03/02/2008 09:55
I hope this game comes out for 360 so it can lag behind PC in terms of updates just like TF2!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 03/02/2008 10:22
Wow that's a whole horde of zombies! It will be fun to tear through this game... I hope. Graphics aren't too great... but I have a Wii too so I'm used to it.
Log1c's Avatar
Log1c at 03/02/2008 10:37
Gameplay looks fucking awesome. Those are huge hordes of zombies.

But the graphics?! come on, aren't they using the source engine, shouldn't it just look good by default? I mean do they have to try to make it pretty? It doesn't even look as good as HL2.. Hopefully they will fix this.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 03/02/2008 10:48
The release date for the game IS in four months, guys.
@ Jim: I can see what you mean a bit, they have visible seams on their shoulders/joints in a couple scenes in the video. I didn't notice that the first time around. I think it's probably a given that they'll be spruced up a bit before it's Gold. The model work in everything else Valve and Turtle Rock has done has been just fine, so I think it's safe to say these are placeholders. The human models themselves don't appear to have any seams or issues. I guess they're done and ready.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/02/2008 10:49
I call being the skeezy bearded guy.
Tragic Hero's Avatar
Tragic Hero at 03/02/2008 10:53
I call old man green beret guy!

And I do agree the graphics look a bit dated but when you have that many zombies running on screen I think its the best way to ensure the game runs at a smooth frame rate.

I'm also creeped out that they run like 28 days later "zombies" and they don't shamble like regular zombies.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 03/02/2008 11:00
This game will be amazing fun. Sub-par graphics or not. When there's THAT much zombie slaughtering fun to be had, I don't think I'm gonna have time to stop and look at anything anyway.

Can't wait.
RivaOni's Avatar
RivaOni at 03/02/2008 11:03
One little thing I loved, the Shotgun seems to use the same sound effect from DOOM!
mix's Avatar
mix at 03/02/2008 11:06
I wonder how they will do ammo pick ups as it looks like you need one guy on the team to carry around a case of ammo....I want it released NOW!
diversionmary's Avatar
diversionmary at 03/02/2008 11:25
Can't wait. Will this be part of HL2:ep3 'orange' box?
l4d, portal2, ep3 = $60?
ZeroTolo's Avatar
ZeroTolo at 03/02/2008 11:31
@mix

In some interview that was online, one of the developers said something along the lines of all the characters being able to use all the weapons, that nothing was class-specific or anything like that. Based on that, I'd say that it's like any other shooter where you just pick up any ammo you find.
godkow's Avatar
godkow at 03/02/2008 11:46
Still want.
A Sexually Disturbed Jedi's Avatar
A Sexually Disturbed Jedi at 03/02/2008 11:51
I approve
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 03/02/2008 12:02
@diversionmary
No. This is coming out all by its lonesome in June. Don't expect Ep3 and company until 2009.
Spartacus's Avatar
Spartacus at 03/02/2008 12:04
If this becomes a series, what are they going to call the fourth game?
Ratcliff's Avatar
Ratcliff at 03/02/2008 12:25
@Spartacus

Left4Dead 4.
nukka jdav's Avatar
nukka jdav at 03/02/2008 12:37
AHHHHHHHHHhh I just get anxiety attacks thinking about this game!
Teta's Avatar
Teta at 03/02/2008 12:43
Looks stressing and fun. Not the best graphics on the market, but if the AI is as good as they have promised, the game is gonna rock.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 03/02/2008 12:48
Do you really want super high quality graphics killing your framerate when fighting a mass of zombies at high speeds? I think not. Jim of all people should know you need to sacrifice some quality for quantity in these cases (ahem, Dynasty Warriors...).

And anyways, this is the first zombie mod I've ever seen that has remotely interesting looking movement and animation for the zombies (save for possibly Killing Floor). It looks wonderfully chaotic, and not just like a wall of zombies marching in a line towards you.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 03/02/2008 12:52
Those criers freak me the hell out. EVIL LITTLE CHILDREN FTL.
cbre88x's Avatar
cbre88x at 03/02/2008 13:05
This is an instance when the look of the game shouldn't matter nearly as much as the gameplay...and obviously that's what they are focused on. If it wasn't this way..we'd just have another mediocre online shooter that looks pretty aka- UT3.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 03/02/2008 13:11
I was looking forward to it before...but now that's it's a 100% Valve product through and through I'm absolutely stoked. I don't think they would ship a bad title, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it's delayed a bit. It doesn't look nearly up to par as Episode two or TF2, etc.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 03/02/2008 13:12
After everything inside the Orange Box was such great quality, I have no doubt in my mind that this game will be good.

@ Wedge

It makes sense that the number of zombies would take away some resources from the graphics.
Sadie G's Avatar
Sadie G at 03/02/2008 13:13
why are they so fucking fast??
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 03/02/2008 13:18
@Sadie

Because people think zombies need to be innovative (read: 16 year olds).
Crapsh00t's Avatar
Crapsh00t at 03/02/2008 13:23
This game's innovation has nothing to do with visual fidelity. The AI Director, if it works right, will be a new baseline by which all other single player and co-op games are judged.

Maybe I'm a dying breed, but I don't care how good it looks if it plays like shit.

Also, Wedge called it out so I don't have to.
trunxkam45's Avatar
trunxkam45 at 03/02/2008 13:59
Definitely looks better than halo 3.
JtheYellow's Avatar
JtheYellow at 03/02/2008 14:04
Actually, I wasn't confusing Steam for Source, but I was thinking about Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines: The Game That Broke Troika, and Sin: Emergence: Ritual Gets To Make Casual Games From Now On.

I just wish someone other than gmod makers would make a Source game that doesn't look like a Source game.
FuriousGeorge's Avatar
FuriousGeorge at 03/02/2008 14:09
the graphics are fine.... you're all whiny bitches over nitpicky bullshit this game is gonna rock...


TF2 doesnt have amazing graphics but it gets the job done being an amazing game.... stfuajpg!
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 03/02/2008 14:17
Roryzilla's Avatar
Roryzilla at 03/02/2008 15:00
TF2 certainly has amazing graphics, it has an excellent sense of style. This game is no exception. I do think they can up the textures a bit, but saying these graphics are terrible is bollocks.

God damn you, Jim Sterling.
Roryzilla's Avatar
Roryzilla at 03/02/2008 15:01
I can't believe I said bollocks.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 03/02/2008 15:03
Hah, nice Jetset, I just thought of that when thinking of cool Source games.
brosef's Avatar
brosef at 03/02/2008 15:24
Something needs to be said about zombies not being able to run...and I'm just the guy to say it:

ZOMBIES CAN'T FUCKING RUN!!!
George A. Romero is spinning in his grave right now.

...

What's that? He's alive? Well good for George, he's alive and pissed off too.
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 03/02/2008 15:35
@brosef

I agree with you 75%. Yes it's far creepier and awesome when zombies are coming at you at a snails pace, but there's certain circumstances where zombies have to run their asses off. Like with 28 Days Later, that movie would've been terrible if they walked slow. Yeah, I know their not technically zombies but who gives a shit, that movie's awesome.
ronneh's Avatar
ronneh at 03/02/2008 16:16
The creators never refer to them as zombies, just infected, so lets keep crying about how zombies can't run.
notdryad's Avatar
notdryad at 03/02/2008 16:18
@brosef

Then don't buy the game if you have that large of a stick up your ass about zombies.
nopk's Avatar
nopk at 03/02/2008 16:20
The graphics "look" dated because the game will focus on FPS I suspect.

FPS > bits of textures you don't really pay attention to like in Farcry, for games like this.
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar
BlackSunEmpire at 03/02/2008 16:28
@fyre Yes there is something wrong with you, mowing down zombies is one of the most fun pastimes yet conceived (if you ignore the fact that there has to be a zombie outbreak first, which may make things less exciting).

I quite like fast running zombies as something a bit different. I mean the shamblers are scary in their own right, but the only way to make them tough is to make them take 1000's of rounds, have endless numbers, or pin you in corners constantly. At least fast zombies can chase you down.
Steel Squirrel's Avatar
Steel Squirrel at 03/02/2008 18:24
All I care about is the co-op. I could care less how fast the zombies run. Do you guys have some secret zombie rule book that says zombies can't run? Last time I checked..... zombies weren't real..... so...... I think if the only issue you have with the "realism" is that zombies can't run, then you might want to rethink that.
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