The new Survival Pack add-on for Left 4 Dead was released earlier this month for gamers and with it came new maps, a brand new action-packed Survival Mode and updated features.  While the content in itself is free to download (and therefore somewhat pointless to review cause you can simply download it to try it out), I thought it would be informative to talk about the latest features and why this new add-on makes Left 4 Dead even better than before.

Left 4 Dead has been around for nearly six months and gamers have been perusing the same two maps over and over again since.  While the maps are huge and fun to traverse, repetitive sceneries and by-the-books paths to the end really hampered the experience.  The latest two maps, Death Toll and Dead Air, offer a fresh new take for Versus Mode.  Although these two maps were available for the Campaign, you never really got to explore the levels or experience them through the eyes of the Infected.  Both maps bring something new to the table, with Death Toll providing one of the most intense final levels of the four maps (and probably the hardest horde survival scenario) while Dead Air has you racing through an airport terminal to fight off the horde on the runway.

Ever since the two new maps became released I never found myself wanting to play No Mercy or Blood Harvest anymore.  Death Toll and Dead Air both bring a fresh blend of killing mayhem, and these two maps are probably the best designed out of the four campaigns.  They do not come without their faults however.  For starters, ever since the update players seem to be more on edge than ever before.  Players get kicked right off the bat, no one seems to use microphones anymore, and players run off in their own directions, leaving them easy targets for the Infected to pick off.  Although all of these scenarios are completely unavoidable and against anyone’s control, they happen far too often and hinder the game unplayable for many rounds.  Part of the fun of Left 4 Dead is working together to either reach the goal or kill all the Survivors, and sadly teamwork never seems to work anymore.

Survival Mode is probably the best new addition to Left 4 Dead as it offers up a Free-For-All killing fest where your main objective is simply to survive for the longest time.  You will die and there is no way around it and even the movie poster (which brilliantly portrays the level for which you play) on the loading screen states “This will not end well,” and rightfully it won’t.  Each map has approximately three set areas for Survival with one new map, entitled Last Stand, created specifically for this mode.  Survival Mode doesn’t start right away and you are given unlimited time to place gas cans, propane tanks, and stock up on supplies before you hit a switch to alert the horde.  Once that commences be prepared to fight for your life as wave after wave of Infected runs at you, breaks through walls, and crashes through the ceiling to end your life.

There are no objectives in Survival mode other than to survive, and many of the levels have a simple trial-and-error style of gameplay where players will learn the best vantage points to fend off attacks.  Thing is there simply is no right way to survive as areas with multiple heights might leave you wondering if taking the high road is the best bet or staying low to tackle the foes. Special Infected soon make their appearances known and Smokers can pull you away from the middle of a crowd, Hunters can leap across the screen, Boomers have no problem blowing up in your face, and Tanks are ruthlessly relentless in chasing you down.  As time continues on and you fight for those bronze, silver, and gold times, more and more Infected clog the screen.  One match I managed to get past the ten minute mark only to meet two Tanks at the same time, three Boomers, countless Hunters and dozens of Infected.  Survival Mode is more about bragging rights and who can chalk up the best time, and finding new ways to fend off the horde is only half the fun.

The new Survival Pack for Left 4 Dead offers plenty of new challenges and areas to play.  The new maps offer plenty of detailed areas to fight and add a great change of pace while the Survival Mode is frantic enough for anyone to have a good time.  As a free download it is almost a given to give this new addition a try, and for any fan who has played Left 4 Dead constantly for months on end, there is even more goodies here to further take hold of your life.

Related posts:

1. Preview: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC)
2. Review: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
3. Review: Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing (PC, Xbox 360)
4. Review: Dead Space: Extraction (Wii)
5. Modders Re-create Raccoon City in Left 4 Dead

About This Author: Josh Schwartzman

Been into gaming for as long as I can remember and have enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoy playing with everyone and anyone online and I am an avid PS3 and Xbox 360 player.

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