Release Date:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Game Platform:
Xbox 360, PC
Price: $49.99–59.99
The Skinny: Four "Survivors" are stranded in regions overrun by a fast-moving rabies virus. It's up to them to fight through the hordes of zombies together, or go at it alone and perish. Ohhh, epic-sounding, indeed!
The Good: You won't find another game out there that forces you to play as a team as much as Left 4 Dead. It's definitely something to get used to, especially if you're coming off a grueling session of Gears of War 2, but once you get the tactics down, there's a lot of fun to be had. The four campaigns are diverse and provide sufficient replayability, especially with achievements challenging you to pull off some wicked kill maneuvers. While it's exponentionally better to play with others online, you'll find that the computer-controlled characters in singleplayer—at least up to the Normal level—can hold their own. For shits and giggles, turn it up to Expert and see how quickly you turn into an undead fart—our record is 3.7 seconds.
The Bad: It almost feels like a group project in seventh grade Science. If you've got three other willing and able players on your team, you should be able to breeze through the four campaigns on Normal in about four hours. But get stuck with Snot-Nosed Sam and the 'Tard Trio and you'll be in for a very long and frustrating experience.
Maxim Tip: If you want a snowball in hell's chance of winning on Expert, you need a) mastery of the Left Trigger or melee, b) three friends who have sufficient skills, and c) a direct line to whichever deity you pray to for special favors.
Buy, Rent, or Disembowel? Buy it and get infected.
The Skinny: Four "Survivors" are stranded in regions overrun by a fast-moving rabies virus. It's up to them to fight through the hordes of zombies together, or go at it alone and perish. Ohhh, epic-sounding, indeed!
The Good: You won't find another game out there that forces you to play as a team as much as Left 4 Dead. It's definitely something to get used to, especially if you're coming off a grueling session of Gears of War 2, but once you get the tactics down, there's a lot of fun to be had. The four campaigns are diverse and provide sufficient replayability, especially with achievements challenging you to pull off some wicked kill maneuvers. While it's exponentionally better to play with others online, you'll find that the computer-controlled characters in singleplayer—at least up to the Normal level—can hold their own. For shits and giggles, turn it up to Expert and see how quickly you turn into an undead fart—our record is 3.7 seconds.
The Bad: It almost feels like a group project in seventh grade Science. If you've got three other willing and able players on your team, you should be able to breeze through the four campaigns on Normal in about four hours. But get stuck with Snot-Nosed Sam and the 'Tard Trio and you'll be in for a very long and frustrating experience.
Maxim Tip: If you want a snowball in hell's chance of winning on Expert, you need a) mastery of the Left Trigger or melee, b) three friends who have sufficient skills, and c) a direct line to whichever deity you pray to for special favors.
Buy, Rent, or Disembowel? Buy it and get infected.