We first announced this story way back in February, and at long last it has arrived. Let it be written that on April 21, 2009, the Left 4 Dead Survival Pack was released. If you have been waiting eagerly for this DLC, feel free to start screaming over top of your cubical “Left 4 Dead DLC, hooray!”
Survival Mode will take place at the horde trigger points within each of the 4 campaign modes. You will jump between each of these points, (each more intense than the last) until you reach the finale titled “Last Stand.” Described as being the high point of the Survival Mode, “Last Stand” is a lot like horde - on steroids.
According to Valve “Survival Mode draws on the planning and communication aspects of a successful Finale or Crescendo event, while taking it to another level. It rapidly hits a fever pitch that only a well coordinated team will be able to successfully survive. Everything from simply covering a reviving teammate, to making every shot count to minimize reloads becomes crucial in Survival Mode.”
Infected Spawn Curve
Courtesy of Valve, above is a graph depicting the infected spawn time of Survival Mode. I would suggest tattooing it to your chest. Valve has also provided us with “lull” time. Which was described by Valve as “a short interval of time during which nothing new will spawn.” These are the moments that you can catch your breath, reload your ammo, and heal.
This has been a stellar year for games. Standards have been set, records have been broken, and the game industry has continued to thrive in a sagging economy. Of all the great games we have had the pleasure of playing this year narrowing down a select few to comprise a “top ten list” was no simple task.
Please do not assume because we have not mentioned a game on this list that we do not consider it good, we just simply think that it didn’t have that extra something to be included on the list.
Before we even start I would like to say kudos to all the developers out there! You guys have given us some truly exceptional games this year, and we look forward to 2009!
The Dead WalkRUN The creators of Half LifeValve, have brought us the FPS survival horror title Left 4 Dead. Within this four person co-op title you fend off oceans of the living dead, who certainly don’t drag their feet when the dinner bell rings. There are many reasons why this game stands alone from other survival horror titles, and why it is most likely going to become one of the greats within the genre. Today, Left 4 Dead infects the store shelves (Nov. 18th), and the survival horror genre in a big way.
The Infection The story begins within a city completely annihilated by a zombie infection. You will have the option to play as four separate characters. Bill the Vietnam Vet, Louis the IT guy, Zoey the college student and horror film fanatic, and Francis the bar brawling biker. Each has their own unique skills that aid one another in their survival. The Infected (which you can play as as well) are the living dead creatures that have ransacked the city. They consist of the Horde (your basic zombies that accumulate in large groups and attack any living thing), and then the mutated zombies, such as the Witch (big claws and completely crazy), the Boomer (don’t shoot this one up close), the Tank (which is basically a Mack truck with arms), and other types as well. The game’s plot line is surprisingly simple. The goal is to survive, and the only way to achieve that is through teamwork.
Three Four is the magic number As said before there are four major characters within the game who progress as a team to survive. Each teammate has a colored outline that it visible through walls that changes status to indicate danger or injury so you are able to know where your teammates are at all times and whether they are in need of help. Your teammates will assist you in gunning down zombie, healing your injuries, and helping you recover from attacks. You will want to do the same for them because if you loose any member of your team you will loose firepower. The game is primarily a first person shooter in which you fend of a droves of zombies. The monotony is broken up by the mutated zombies each one with their own unique abilities that are potentially devastating to your team; for example the Hunter which can pin you or anyone one of your teammates. In this instance when mutated zombies attack you or your team you must act quickly or you may loose a teammate, or be killed yourself.
There are four basic phases of the campaign mode of the game; No Mercy (urban Setting), Death Toll (suburban setting), Dead Air (air port), and Blood Harvest (a rural setting). Each has it’s own challenges, and obstacles, in which teamwork is required to survive. The unique thing about Left 4 Dead that sets it apart from other survival horror games is the “AI Director”, which adjusts intensity and frequency of zombie attacks according to your performance. The “AI Director” will change themes, ambiance, and moves zombies, and ammo to different locations within the maps so each mode of the game is never the same when you replay it.
The versus mode will allow up to 8 players; in which you will be able to play as the four survivors, or as four of the infected. Playing as the infected in this mode will allow you to play as the mutated zombies each one with its own unique ability.
Here’s the Deal! The four person co-op is one of the best aspects of this game. I personally believe this is one of the few games within the survival horror genre that has capitalized on it. The other and most unique aspect is the “AI Director” with this you will never play the game the same twice. These are the two strongest pillars of this title and the reason why it is truly great. If you are a fan of FPS or Survival horror you will want to pick this game up you will be getting hours of enjoyment from it. Valve has given us a great title in the survival horror genre. We give Left 4 Dead an A+ rating.
Today the demo for the highly anticipated FPS zombie horror title Left 4 Dead has become available. Any individual who has already purchased the title will be able to access the demo, the full demo will become available to the public Nov. 11th.
Left 4 Dead is the first person Zombie shooter published by Electronic Arts. It has generated a great deal of buzz for it’s concept, and type of game play. The game will feature a four person co-op, and you will have the option to play as the living or the living dead.
For fans of FPS, and Survival Horror games this demo should help curve the hunger for zombie carnage, until the games release date. The full demo goes worldwide Nov. 11th, and will run through till Nov. 18th. Left 4 Dead will hit the shelves Nov. 17th.
These are in my humble opinion the five must have upcoming survival horror games. This is for the zombie slayers, monster hunters, and lovers of mayhem. It was our intention to post this video on Halloween, but better late than never.
