

Their team spirit doesn't stop there: they'll shout out when the find ammo or health, and, crucially, will pick you up when you've been incapacitated by an enemy.įor all of their good qualities, you'll definitely appreciate your fellow survivors more when there's human controlling them. Seeing the relief on his face when you heal him is almost as satisfying as the relief you'll feel when your AI allies heal you. The character models are top-notch, and there's nothing quite like looking at the macho biker when he is injured and seeing fear creep across his face as he begins to doubt that he'll survive. They each banter in appropriate, often amusing ways when healthy, and they become more subdued and anxious when injured. Left 4 Dead stars four charismatic survivors whose appearances and personalities add an immersive element to the game. Although the limited selection and grim, overcast color palette can sometimes feel a bit repetitious, the dynamic enemies, varying weapon and ammo spawns, and ever-changing human factor combine to make each play-through feel surprisingly unique.

One campaign on normal difficulty (the second of four tiers) takes about an hour to complete, so you'll soon become familiar with each set of maps. You never learn exactly what happened, but the rich environments and thoughtful graffiti set the stage expertly. You'll travel through urban, suburban, and rural areas, each one grim, desolate, and littered with evidence of the apocalyptic event. The first four levels end in safe houses (places to heal and rearm free of the zombie menace), and the final level ends in a desperate stand as you wait for your rescue vehicle to arrive. There are four campaigns in Left 4 Dead, each spanning five levels. The zombie electrician's union won't be happy about this one.

Despite these hitches, Left 4 Dead is a remarkably fun, excitingly tense game that will make you want to revisit the apocalypse again and again. Human teammates (or enemies) make each play-through dynamic, mitigating the game's two hang-ups: limited map selection and uninspired friendly AI. Nevertheless, Left 4 Dead's well-crafted gameplay simply must be experienced in multiplayer. It's equally thrilling to play as one of the zombies (aka the infected), coordinating deadly ambushes as you try to kill the survivors.

Battling your way through the grim, desolate world is always tense and challenging, thanks to the unpredictable, relentless enemies. When most humans have been turned into shambling, flesh-hungry monsters, how will you fare? Whether you fancy yourself an intrepid survivor or an infected savage, Left 4 Dead is the game for you.
