So ho ho ho ho, 2 am in the morning and I felt like writing this. About time too. Reason for the review being postponed so much? Well first, couldn’t be arsed. Second, I wanted to try all the nifty features which I didn’t really because finding a decent group for realism is like finding a gazillion pound check on the streets. (That’s no chance by the way). On with the review 
Left 4 Dead 2, for those who don’t know, is set in a zombie apocalypse where you take control of either one of four survivors (Ellis, Coach, Nick or Rochelle) or of one of seven infected (Hunter, Boomer, Smoker, Jockey, Charger, Spitter, Tank). I will explain game modes and such further down.
As with the original, bots are dumb as shit, heck they’re probably dumber. They have a slow reaction time coupled with their inability to shoot at the big thing strangling you with its tongue behind you. Which is quite lame for people who just want to play it single player to get used to, but you will probably have to do easy/normal. Any higher and you’ll be smashing your face on your keyboard. So, online is, of course, where this game is at.
Game modes include campaign, versus, survival and the two new modes, scavenger and realism. Scavenger is when 2 teams of 4 pit off against each other, taking turns to be survivors and infected, just like in versus. Except, unlike in versus, survivors need to hunt fuel canisters to fuel up [insert some sort of object which runs on fuel] and the infected hunt the survivors, trying to gobble them all up. Realism is just campaign, but a lot lot harder. It isn’t a separate difficulty; it just changes certain aspects of the game. For example, there are no outlines around team mates making sound a, more than ever, valuable asset to you. Tough stuff with randoms as voice communication is a MUST for this mode. Versus mode I think is the best out of all the game modes. Scavenger is also great for those quick matches if you can’t play the usually hour long games of versus. Scavenger tends to last for about 5-15 minutes.
Also new in the game are the new infected. Jockey, which jumps on a survivor and pulls them in any direction. Spitter, which spits some acid goo to cause an AoE on wherever she spat. And the charger (the most fun in my opinion to play) which charges at the survivors, picking up one and knocking back others, and finally smashing the recently acquired bloke into the ground with your real big arm. They all are pointed at reducing camping which is fantastic and all can really do some damage (aside from jockey which I think should do some more). All are balanced and incorporated into the game well. And all are fun to play
Maps are simply amazing. Probably could argue not enough maps, but they are all so diverse they create a lot of replay value to the game. And with the inclusion of user created maps, which are beginning to crop up here and there, replay value will just keep increasing. Daylight maps are just a no from me. They take out a lot of the fear in the game, or maybe that’s just my personal phobia of the dark… Though don’t get me wrong, the maps are still brilliant.
New weapons are BRILLIANT, fun to use and abuse. Melee weapons cause satisfying dismemberments and noises. And with the chainsaw, the horde runs from you! …Well not really, but you just run into them and watch the blood blind your view. The new guns are fresh, grenade launcher being completely useless though with its immense friendly fire capabilities. Leading me into graphic wise, they’re really good, even on the low/medium settings I’m running the game on. Looks ace.
I LOVE COACH AND NICK. Those characters really are brilliant. Voice acting top notch. Ellis too, but to a lesser degree and Rochelle….she feels out of place sometimes. And her red fingernails on the gun are just ANNOYING. BLAAAARGH. REMOVE HAND PLEASE.
AI director is practically the same as the first game. Sure it locks a few doors here and there, but it just generates a 2 second delay where you go around the door. Weather changes aren’t random either. Rather disappointing with all the hype surrounding this supposed to be ULTRA AWESOME REVOLOUTIONARY BIT OF STUFF.
Gameplay is frantic and chaotic and with the new infected, the chaos never ends! Although it is bloody annoying with the infected being so dependent on boomers. A bit more balancing tweaks, vast improvements needed on the tank and witch most noticeably, as they have both lost the fear they created when playing the first L4D. Survivors usually make it 70% of the time, unless there’s a gauntlet in the map. Gauntlet’s are a great addition to the game. They force the survivors to move against a constant oncoming horde to a certain point. The chaos never ends!
Online community is quite bad to be honest though. Quitters round every corner, people who REALLY can’t play. This game needs to be played with friends if you want to win.
And that’s all I can think of writing about.
The game overall, is nothing new. It simply adds to an already well made game. If you didn’t like the first, you won’t like the second, but if you loved the first, the second is a must. Simple as. In my opinion, this game is worth its price tag hands down. IT IS NOT AN EXPANSION!
7/10
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