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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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.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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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Contest:
9:06 AM on 03.02.2008
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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.
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.
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.
@ 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.
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.
Can't wait.
l4d, portal2, ep3 = $60?
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.
No. This is coming out all by its lonesome in June. Don't expect Ep3 and company until 2009.
Left4Dead 4.
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.
@ Wedge
It makes sense that the number of zombies would take away some resources from the graphics.
Because people think zombies need to be innovative (read: 16 year olds).
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.
I just wish someone other than gmod makers would make a Source game that doesn't look like a Source game.
TF2 doesnt have amazing graphics but it gets the job done being an amazing game.... stfuajpg!
http://www.destructoid.com/pc-gaming-just-got-f-cked-up-zeno-clash-brings-the-creepy-68865.phtml
God damn you, Jim Sterling.
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.
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.
Then don't buy the game if you have that large of a stick up your ass about zombies.
FPS > bits of textures you don't really pay attention to like in Farcry, for games like this.
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.