So we’ve been meaning to start reviewing games here for a while now, and what better game to review than one that involves endless ‘pwning’ of Zombies? Anyone that knows me, and listens to the show, knows that we luurve Zombies. Now Daddytank joins rank and shows his love for bashing the drooling bastards into oblivion in this awesome review…
I would have submitted this review weeks ago, but I haven’t been able to do anything since discovering this game but maintain a basic relationship with my family (yes/no answers only) and shuffle through my working day, while waiting for night to fall…and the zombies to come.
Left 4 Dead is a zombie apocalypse, experienced through the eyes of a gang of survivors who are trying to get from a place that is infested with the un-dead to one of four rescue points. Between the start and the rescue point are a number of “safe houses” stacked with weapons and first aid, and as you travel towards your objective searching through the large maps, you will find helpful items every now and then, but not as often as you find zombies. And don’t expect “old school” zombies because these are the new zombies as seen in 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead (the fine remake) which seem to have become the industry standard. They’re quite happy to stumble about like Mogadon-ed tramps until they notice you (or you put a misguided bullet into an arm or leg) but once they’re riled they sprint and weave like Lt. Richard Winters in a rage.
The single player is an enjoyable introduction but the only way to get the most from this game is with three headset-ted friends and a supply of macho catchphrases lifted from Bruce Campbell’s secret journal. Listen to the bitter recriminations fly, as you mow down a horde of zombies alerted by your dim-witted mate, as he sets off every car alarm on the street. Cover your ears as your large testosterone infused chums make high pitched squeal-y noises as they’re dragged off into the woods by Smokers. Fire blindly, spinning in circles, as decaying faces leer at you through the fine sheen of Boomer vomit on your face. Feel your spirit crumble as you hear the distant sound of a Tank approaching, while you hobble around looking for somewhere that’s vaguely defensible. Moan in a dispirited fashion as you realise that you are not going to make it to the boat/plane/helicopter/truck, you are in fact going to provide your intestines as an improvised zombie hat.
This game is easily one of the smoothest and most fun multiplayer games I’ve ever played on my PC. Not since Call of Duty have I spent so much time immersed in fantasy violence against strangers and bots. It looks beautiful, it’s simple and you can even play as one of the zombie bosses in the Versus mode, where you alternate playing stages as Survivors and Zombies. If you have been spending a lot of time with a console or even with actual people, it’s time for a change. You need to have the dreams I have, dreams of the snarling undead lit up by the flashing barrels of my double pistols. It’s time to go and buy Left 4 Dead.
DaddyTank
Comments
so getting this after Xmas!