Review: Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing (PC, Xbox 360)
April 23rd, 2010 | Written by Josh Schwartzman | Topic: PC, Reviews, Xbox 360
Left 4 Dead 2 is nearly six months old now, and although the game is loads more fun than its predecessor, the loss of interest by many players has left the servers barren and sometimes empty on many occasions. Not one to lose sight of their fanbase, Valve has released today the first set of DLC which not only brings a new level to the equation, but a brand new multiplayer mode packed with exciting weapons that delivers plenty of awesome new thrills and excitement.
The Passing takes place at the end of the Dead Center chapter and lets players meet up with the cast of the original Left 4 Dead game. It’s a uniquely designed level, with players running through bars, crashing hillbilly weddings full of zombie grooms and brides, alleys full of pawn shops and tattoo parlors and eventually ends with players underneath the city plowing through the tough and deep waters of the New Orleans sewer system. The finale itself is also packed with frantic action, as characters from the first game help hold of zombie hordes as you race to fill up a generator to lower a bridge to safety. It’s not the most original idea ever (as the concept is similar to one of the finales in L4D2), but it does up the ante by throwing two tanks on screen at once with you, torrential downpours and of course, dozens of zombies.
Besides adding two tanks at once to slow down your progress, The Passing also gives players new weapons to use at their disposal, the hands-down favorite being the M60, a mini gun that sprays 150 bullets in one clip. Golf clubs are the new melee weapon of choice and there is something appealing to teeing off on a zombies head and watching it spray into dozens of little pieces.
Mutation mode has been added which allows players to play realism in versus mode. Realism mode typically was only available in the campaign and was for veteran players only as it got rid of friendly HUD indicators, such as the location of your friends (they generally glow green so you can easily spot them) and the removal of messages letting you know when an enemy is attacking your teammate. Mutation mode is tons of fun for the Infected as it allows you to truly feel dominating, but the real adrenaline rush is for the Survivors, who have to communicate and have fast reflexes in order to survive.
The Passing is a worthy addition to Left 4 Dead 2 and at only $7 (560 MP, free for PC owners) you simply cannot find a better bargain to get a fresh, new level for you to enjoy. More zombies, new weapons and a frantic new Mutation mode all make The Passing well worth the price of admissions and receive a passing grade.
Final Score: 8.5 | Recommendation: Buy It (only $7!)
