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Left 4 Dead: A rude awakening for armchair zombie hunters everywhere photo

Having formulated plans for almost every eventuality once the dead rise, or the virus breaks out, or whatever flavor of zombie apocalypse you prefer, the brief time I had my hands on Left 4 Dead at PAX resulted in a horrifying revelation. If the zombie apocalypse ever actually happens and I'm forced to fend for myself with whatever I'm lucky enough to have at hand I am well and truly screwed.

The high population center scenarios of Left 4 Dead aren't the kind of thing for which zombiphiles usually prepare. Realizing that to stay in a place brimming with creatures that want to rend you limb from limb is likely to result in the five and ten minute strolls my teammates and I took before being clawed to death while our screams mingled with the animal shrieks of zombies at a feast.

And unless you're particularly skilled with a controller or keyboard all paths in Left 4 Dead seemingly lead to just such a scenario. I am not particularly skilled with either. But in spite of that fact I was able to gun down a hulking monstrosity as it barreled toward me through an abandoned subway train. Five seconds later I was ripped to shreds and it was all I'd ever hoped it could be and then some.

However for someone such as myself, the type that tends to die early and often, coop shooters aren't the kind of game likely to provide me with a lengthy, engaging experience. But in spite of biting the dust frequently prior to my Survivor peers, the ability to ride along with someone else if you aren't revived in time, and even move your camera perspective independently of whomever you're tracking, kept my fingers twitching the camera around long after I'd died.

For hours after the brief time at Valve's booth playing Left 4 Dead its effects lingered; a sentiment echoed by those that also got to spend some time with the game. Naturally, being shoved to the ground by a horde of decaying nightmare-people, nearly blind and firing wildly into the hazy shapes you hope are zombies and not allies tends to stick with you. But in the era of shooter saturation, when we move from worlds populated only by creatures that want to kill us, real reactions are in limited supply. As the genuine shrieks emanating from Valve's booth go to show, Left 4 Dead is going to be wonderfully horrifying.


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27 comments | showing # 1 to 27

Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 16:49
Cube
I find it hilarious they are dumming down the console zombies, AI making them wait for the bajallion years it takes to turn all the way around with a junk controler analog stick.

where on the PC version they attack more agressive faster and from Gasp BEhind more often, hell they attack from everywhere since you can turn fast enough to hit the damn things.

Zombie AI converstions go like this on consoles, they are not really dumber just paid to be that way.


"Hold on zombines we cant attack until he has turned all the way around"

"Right boss"

"or we cant attack at all we have to go from the front so he has a chance at hitting us with that thing his is twiddling forever"

"Ok boss ill take my 40 minute brake now it wil tkae him that long to kill six zombies from the front with that thing."
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 16:51
Wedge
This post and comment are both full on non-sensical nonsense.

YAY INTERNETS.
Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 16:56
Cube
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169669
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:01
Cartman
@Cube

I think they're implementing some sort of system where you turn 180 degrees at the touch of a button, so that problem wont arise.
GrayFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:01
GrayFox
I'm not sure why but I laughed pretty hard at the pic.
F Whipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:15
F Whipple
I can't wait for this
Dr Dtoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:30
Dr Dtoid
Do want.
Holiday's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:34
Holiday
In the movies zombies came at you not just through the front door. That's what added suspense, tension. You never know where they are all the time and so one moment you are walking by a window the next moment CRASH-"AAAaaah!!" If this game just ends up being a straight linear walk 'n shoot tour of zombieland well...it'll get boring fast.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:36
mix
My PC pee'd it self out of pure excitement once I told it that I was going to put this game inside it.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 17:58
Kyousuke Nanbu
Jesus Cube, what's with you and console gaming? I hate PC gaming but I don't go around commenting on its shortcomings, a simple fuck PC gaming is enough for me.

And uhh, great I guess, co-op is the best kind of multi.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 18:07
B-Radicate
I can't wait for this game. Now it's just a matter of whether I get it for 360 or PC.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 18:34
Joe Burling
I preordered this game 15 months ago. You have no idea how much I want L4D.
Murumasa123's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 20:21
Murumasa123
Ever sicne reading Max Brook's brillaint guide and fiction I have ahd zombies on the blame.
With the apocalyse games like Left 4 Dead and Fallout comming, i can only describe the hurt in my like seeing a beatiful girl that has promised to fuck you after she completes some puzzle. WORK THE FRICKING CORNERS AND HURRY IT UP!
SnakeDude4Life's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 21:03
SnakeDude4Life
I'm planning on gettimg Left4Dead twice;

PC via Steam(for mods and custom maps) and 360 for playing with my friends.
PwnyBownz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 21:05
PwnyBownz
This is the one game I hope I'll be sober long enough to play with some friends.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 21:11
Dexter345
I wish I had gotten to play this, but the line for it was always way too long. I can't wait to try it out myself.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 21:14
Sharpless
Yeah, this game looks quite intense. *ignores Cube*
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 21:20
Sharpless
Now that I think about it, I'm even more incredulous as to why Valve is altering (not really "dumbing down") the zombie AI. It doesn't really make sense to me. I have no more trouble turning around on a console than I do on a PC. I realize these enemies are different from most, but I should think they'd still be managable with a controller.
LongDeth's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 22:17
LongDeth
Check out a book called The Zombie Survival Guide if you havent already. Interesting read, great tips.
cannedpasta's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/02/2008 23:55
cannedpasta
I still hate the idea of fast zombies. To me, it's just plain stupid, and almost makes me not want to buy the game.
MF DOOM's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 01:14
MF DOOM
Fast zombies are awesome and is a more current view or "more" scary of zombies but i love them all. I believe fast zombie were put to enhance the mood and keep you on your toes. What worries me is that some of the zombies seem to take a lot of bullets and show minimal impact (physics). There better be instant kill head shot.
TheStripe's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 01:59
TheStripe
@Masa - Get the gfx novel Zombies vs. Robots Complete.

It also contains the Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons book.
nintendoll's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 02:07
nintendoll
I wanted to play this, but the line was kind of ridiculous.

However, I agree with the happiness at co-op play. Not enough games do that anymore.
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 02:14
BahamutZero
you still work here?
Max Power's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 10:31
Max Power
Cube:dumming down

An Hero!
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 13:27
Holyetheline
Dude... I want this game so damn bad!
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2008 13:33
Sharpless
@Max
LOL, I never even noticed that.
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