I downloaded Crash Course this morning before going to work. I completed the entire campaign in about 22 minutes but I must admit I was rushing myself. Overall I think that it seems to be more of the same. There were no spectacular moments in this campaign, no brilliantly scripted events aside from a pretty witty line spouted by Zoey while walking past a steaming pipe. The environments had some nice variety and it looked like there were some places to branch off and possibly take different routes, but I was in a hurry to get to work so I plowed through without exploring too much.
Versus mode should be pretty fun on these levels because of all the different buildings and dark corners you come across. I did notice the item placement system got updated. You'll see quite a few extra handguns and various items tucked away in the not-too-familiar levels. What I'm trying to say is items seem to appear more frequently now.
The other day my friend stated that he doesn't like how long it takes to finish a campaign of Left 4 Dead and he said he's usually sick of it by the second or third level. Crash Course should be good news for people like this since it is a very short campaign. The 2 levels featured in the new DLC both seemed bigger than most L4D levels and it didn't necessary feel like it was lacking anything. I didn't walk away feeling unsatisfied, I actually want to play it again right now. Still I wish there was more to this. I'll try versus and survivor mode on these maps tonight when I really start to sink my teeth in.
What about you, what do you guys think of this new little adventure for Bill, Louis, Zoey, and Francis?
*Update*
Here is a list of achievements that come included with Crash Course, should extend re-playability a bit.
Crash-proof 15
Survive the Crash Course Campaign.
Quick Power 25
Restart the generator within 30 seconds of it shutting off in the Crash Course campaign.
The Littlest Genocide 25
Kill 5,359 Infected in the Crash Course campaign.
Smash Hit 25
Win a Versus campaign of Crash Course.
Truck Stop 35
Your team wipes all Survivors after the escape vehicle has opened in Crash Course.
20 Car Pile-up 20
As a Tank hit 20 Survivors with a car in the Crash Course campaign.
Jumpin' Jack Smash 25
Pounce a Survivor for 25 points of damage in the Crash Course campaign.
Slippery Pull 25
Smoker pull a bile-covered Survivor until you hold him during Crash Course.
Tank Stumble 20
Stun a Tank with an explosion in the Crash Course campaign.
Wipefest 35
Your team incapacitates three Survivors within five seconds in the Crash Course campaign.
I'll be buying this in a few minutes and playing it with my wife. Thanks for your impressions! I wish it was more exciting, then.
Thanks for the memories.
Can anyone find any non-watermarked screenshots for Crash Course? I never got a press packet for it, and I literally can't find anything outside of IGN's 100 watermarked images.
@Magnalon
I have looked around and I'm also not finding any. Lame.
I just got done playing it for the PC. Eh, it's alright but way too short for my tastes.
Also,
@MrSadistic
Yeah I feel you there, it was pretty short.
Is this from Crash Course?
http://www.incgamers.com/images/screenshots/1275orig.jpg
@Magnalon
I don't think so... Bills' beard looks unusually fuzzy in that picture.
I rushed through it this morning as well. It wasn't outstanding, but it has maze-like qualities that ought to lend well to multi-player.
I just had a quick game and it wasn't particularly impressive. I'd be genuinely surprised if this campaign had been planned all along and wasn't a reaction to the negative attention that L4D2 was getting.
Plus they broke a bunch of stuff yet again.
I don't know how much you guys have played through it, but for the Xbox 360 it has like at least four places that I know of where you can walk right through walls. Not to mention it isn't a whole lot of fun, and it's a tad too short. It definitely was a reaction stage to all the people who wanted DLC. I hate Microsoft for making us pay like seven bucks for something that PC owners got for free, but then again I wasn't obligated to pay it...I chose to.
In any case, I hope the levels in L4D2 are better and much more polished. I'm sure they will be, Valve never disappoints! :)