While thousands of fans are signing a petition forcing themselves from buying the latest sequel to Left 4 Dead, the rest of us will be jumping into the new levels come November 17.  Valve has never released a sequel to a popular franchise this quickly (less than a year!), leaving many to doubt if Left 4 Dead 2 is just a glorified expansion (hence the petition).  But after seeing much of what is being changed, enhanced and more importantly added to Left 4 Dead 2, we can only confirm that this game is bigger, scarier, and A LOT more frantic than Left 4 Dead ever was.

Last year’s Left 4 Dead thrived on multiplayer but there was a substantial campaign mode that let you slay zombies both online and off.  Left 4 Dead 2 has five brand new campaign maps, which already matches the amount Left 4 Dead has after the latest downloadable content.  In any case, expect the locations and characters you see in left 4 Dead 2 to have more diversity than in the first game.  Locations will not all focus on interior hallways, city streets and underground chasms that Left 4 Dead seemed to repeat often, instead, Left 4 Dead 2 will have players running amok in a carnival, fighting for their lives in a bayou near New Orleans and taking stage for a massive showdown at a concert.

But perhaps the biggest intrigue of Left 4 Dead has always been the Versus mode and Valve has dedicated the year long gap between the games to give the multiplayer component a complete overhaul.  Already off the bat everything looks crisper; the infected move better, the on-screen commands such as reviving teammates and healing are smoother and less clunky looking and zombies look as revolting as ever.   Levels perform identically to the first game in that players must move from one safe house to another, fighting off zombies in the process.  While the core concept is the same, Valve has made significant changes to allow the game to be more accessible to all gamers and rid the Versus mode of various gameplay mechanics players exploited for months.

For starters, players can no longer bunch in a corner and mow down zombies as they rush at you in groups.  Valve has stated that each player has their own personal space, meaning all four players cannot take up one small space as it is realistically impossible in the modern world.  Providing this, it should help alleviate tensions in versus maps when teams playing as the Infected could not hit any of the survivors since all four were grouped so close together.  Also new to Left 4 Dead 2 are “roaming hordes,” which basically helps get rid of one other major problem in Left 4 Dead 2, horde camping.  In these instances, players must activate an object, one that usually makes a lot of noise, and move constantly in order to turn it off. These horde moments are everlasting and will continue until the players shut off the source of the noise.  Unlike in the first game where players just had to hold out until help arrived, these “roaming horde” moments should add a new brand of excitement in Versus mode.

Because Left 4 Dead 2 is guaranteed to throw more zombies at you, players can now be equipped with melee weapons that will make zombie slaying much easier.  Besides bats and frying pans which were seen in trailers of the game, Left 4 Dead will also see blowtorches, hammers, chainsaws, guitars and even kitanas.  Like the guns in the game, the melee weapons only work for so long before they break but you can kill a good fifty or so before you have to pump the rest full of lead.

Probably the biggest surprise of Left 4 Dead 2 is the addition of new Special Infected zombies, mainly the ones you get to control in Versus mode.  The first game had a total of five Special Infected zombies (Hunter, Smoker, Boomer, Tank, and Witch), only four of which you got to control, however.  Valve seeks to remedy that problem by adding three brand new Special Infected zombies that will surely shake things up.  First up is the Charger, a massive zombie similar in size to the Tank who has one bulging right arm good for pounding the crap out of anything it grabs.  By pressing the RT button, players charge at one of the human characters, pick them up and begin plowing them into the ground without mercy.  The charger is also useful for knocking the survivors down, as his charge move looks similar to a bowling ball knocking down pins.

The Spitter is a more unique zombie due to the fact that she is relatively weak and can be killed with one or two shots like the Boomer.  However, used to her potential and she can be the most fearsome Special Infected yet.  The Spitter does exactly what the name states, spits acid at the Survivors.  This acid acts like a poison that slowly drains away at the Survivors health when they come into contact with it.  This acid spit can also be placed in entrances to doorways and hallways, acting as a trap that weakens up the enemy before everyone else attacks.  Last but surely not least is the Jockey, a small, agile zombie whose main purpose is to jump on top of a Survivor and ride him into danger.  The Jockey’s sole purpose is to steer the startled Survivor away from his group or steer him into the hands of an incoming zombie horde.  Unlike the other Special Infected, players can actually counteract the Jockey’s movements by matching the analog stick movements shown on screen.  The Jockey may be small and weak, but if used correctly he could mean the difference between life and death.

With so many new additions to an already exciting multiplayer experience, Left 4 Dead 2 looks to be even more addicting than last year’s game.  The new Special Infected zombies add more depth to versus mode, melee weapons should make zombie killing much more personal and the new roaming hordes will make teams rethink their every move as they fight to survive.  Left 4 Dead 2 is already looking to capitalize on the success of the first game and from what we have already seen, this game is far more than just a standard expansion, it is a worthy sequel and fans should be pleased to only wait one year for it to arrive.

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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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