After a three week hiatus, CPCG is back with what is probably my favourite game series of all time. I love a lot of games and there are IPs that can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned, be it Prince of Persia: Warrior Within or Front Mission 3, the Metal Gear Solid games or the Assassin’s Creed series, but nothing quite sticks out like Left 4 Dead. It was a relatively unique game when it released and, whilst it’s certainly inspired a lot of games since, it is still the only place for its style of gameplay.
I first played Left 4 Dead the day before it released on Steam and I still tell the story of my first experience with it now: I had a new-ish laptop I’d bought with birthday money and there was a demo out on Steam, so I downloaded it and tried it out. It ran well enough to play, so I did. In the subways of No Mercy, I stopped for a second to gather my bearings. I’d never heard of L4D before I decided to download the demo, so I knew nothing whatsoever before I started playing other than the fact that it involved zombies. I didn’t expect it to involve so many zombies, and I certainly hadn’t expected that Boomer to explode when I shot it, nor the horde of zombies that flocked to my newly-biled face.
[drop]However, I did make it to the first safe house and got to the second chapter. I was in the subways trying to gather myself when I heard it for the first time ever – something that creeped me out more than anything else had ever done. Crying echoed through the dank, run-down subway lines and I froze immediately. Even after the hunters, boomers, smokers and the many hordes, I was taken aback. I mean; crying? I inched forward, reloading my shotgun as I moved through a subway train, the crying growing louder, accompanied by a high, urgent background music that only brought my heart further into my throat.Approaching the door on the far end, I saw something move – it was a deathly pale, red-headed female zombie sat on the floor. It was obvious she was the source of the ghostly whimpers that were echoing through my head and, as I approached, her head jerked and suddenly she was staring at me, glowing eyes locked on my face as if she could see me through the screen. She growled, louder and louder. There was no way around her and, not knowing anything about the game, I had no idea how stupid it was of me to be so close, nor how idiotic it was of me to shoot her in the face.
Obviously, you know all about the Witch in Left 4 Dead, or at least you should by now provided you ever leave your cave. I shot her in the face and before I knew what was happening I was on the floor incapacitated whilst she was looming over me tearing chunks out of my torso. The AI shot her down but I didn’t get back up – I turned the damn game off. Never had I jumped so violently; I almost knocked my laptop off the bed. I’m half-surprised I didn’t just jump out of the bedroom window to try and escape as if she was going to crawl through the screen like the girl from The Ring.
[drop2]And that is why I love Left 4 Dead. It doesn’t just provide great gameplay, it doesn’t even have particularly good graphics, being a Source engine game, but it creates stories. I’ve found myself telling the above story and a handful of others (the witch at the top of the ladder is one of my favourites, too) to various people. The mere mention of Left 4 Dead around anyone who has played it brings out a sharing of tales like they’re war stories from our own personal trip through the apocalypse. The random nature of the game and the way the Director reacts to how well you’re doing both serve as catalysts to keep the stories coming the more you play.I haven’t even mentioned multiplayer yet. I’ve spent many hours playing multiplayer with headsets via Steam alongside and against many TSAers and it’s been the most fun I’ve had in a multiplayer game. There’s nothing quite like the planned and tactical approach that immediately appears when you’re friendly with your team mates and immediately devolves into running around like idiots when a tank appears. Shouting at the opposing team whilst watching your character helplessly being directed towards the edge of the No Mercy hospital roof because you accidentally wandered off a little too quickly and got caught by a jockey is simultaneously hilarious and heart pumping.
The experience would be nothing without the special infected, of course. They’re all works of genius that can ravage entire teams if they’re in the right hands at the right time, though none of them quite compare to the echoed whimpers of the witch and that terrible, brilliant music.
Left 4 Dead is available from Steam for £12.99 and Left 4 Dead 2 is £14.99. They’re also on sale on Steam reasonably often if you’re willing to wait. Both games are also available on Xbox 360 if that’s more your kind of thing. Specs for both games are available through the links above, suffice to say here that Left 4 Dead released in 2008 so it is likely you own something that will let you get in on the zombie-slaying action.
Hannypoppie
At least I can manage not to kill all of my teammates in one subtle flick of the wrist. And I do use a gun these days! Do too, it fires bullets and everything.
rainydays458
*Slow Claps* it took you that kong to figure it out, well done…
bunimomike
Donkey, King, Hong!
Hannypoppie
Kong, Donkey Kong
MrSpeedyGonzales
I loved L4D2 was a brilliant game to play with a friend, but it did get quite repetitive.
bunimomike
Some tips for L4D gamers:
• Don’t carry out a vehicle inspection when said vehicle is lowering and about to crush you. Eh, teflon?
• If you’re Irish and winning, gloat so much that the other side goes quiet and feels demoralised for well over 24 hours.
• Say sorry every time you “accidentally” hit me with an axe. I was the same frikkin’ character just two minutes ago and yet you do it ALL of the time! Racist.
• Charging through plastic tables and chairs wins you massive bonuses.
• Above all else, shout so loud that you cause everyone on TeamSpeak to spit their alcoholic beverage out (that you turned them to in the first place) as their brains bleed slowly out of their ears. Apologise, rinse, repeat. You don’t care!
Hannypoppie
Also, even though you can see the silhouettes of the survivors, does not mean they are in clear sight! So as the Charger, always be sure the way is actually as free as you think it is and there’s no stray pipe in the way. Or chair, or table, or car, or wall….. All inanimate object really, they tend to cling to you like a child who’s lost his mother.
bunimomike
The day you decided to charge a giant tree instead of the four humans in front of you was the day I died a little inside.
The Lone Steven
I shall do all of those things when i get the game. :D Now, where is that very large car. Also does trying to reason with the zombies happen in your party Mike? Knowing Hanny and Katherine, they probably try to reason with them and offer them tea. :)
Hannypoppie
Poor lad, you still think females are harmless and lovely. I’ll let you live in that fantasy a little while longer while you can. <3
The Lone Steven
I also forgot to add before trying to stab them in the back/balls/throat. And Hanny unleashing her crazy to make the zombies cry. :)
teflon
There’s a reason why they call her Hanny “The Laughing Black Widow” Poppie…
AG2297
Black Widow?! What happened to Josry :( :( …noooooo!
The Lone Steven
I believe Hanny killed her and ate her heart. I think she believes that by eating the heart of her enemies, she gains more power or that she really enjoys human hearts. *runs away from Hanny*
AG2297
Haha! Steven called Josry a “her”. Close, but not quite Steven. Hanny isn’t a whoopsie.
teflon
Josry could be, though… :-O
AG2297
Dont tease me Tef!
The Lone Steven
He/She may have been a certain TSAer disguised to mess with Adam’s head. ;-)
teflon
Hey! I needed to check the suspension was working, otherwise we wouldn’t make it to the safe zone! I got crushed, and we moved on to discover that the van didn’t make it… SEE?!
bunimomike
Gamoc – we love you! (even if we can’t hear you because you’re broadcasting from a WWII bunker with a Heinz Baked Bean can to capture sound).
Gamoc
I love you too! But not in THAT way!
And hey, if you want me to turn my mic down because you can hear the audio from my PC through it you’re no longer allowed to complain about not being able to hear me. Now shush or I’ll accidentally sniper you in the head again. Three times.
Do seriously, that was totally an accident.
Hannypoppie
Oh RIGHT, trees too, especially trees are tricky! They tend to just pop out of the ground unexpectedly and before you know it you’re a rumpled mess at their roots.
And Mike, as long as you’re dying of laughter I reckon it’s okay =)
yogdog
Gather up the fire axe’s, boys! We’re going Zombie hunting…
Severn2j
Oh, I love the L4Ds. Picked them up with the Valve Complete Pack for a song a few weeks back, really great value.. :)
aerobes
I know it’s enjoyed by many on TSA but the fun clearly hides away whenever I pick this game up because I find it utterly forgettable and joyless.
This series is part of a fairly distinguished list of titles I cannot abide along with other critically acclaimed games like GoW, GeoW, Batman: AA, Halo and Uncharted.
*sigh*