The Lowdown on Left 4 Dead 2

Although lacking in story and character depth, Valve got the right idea with Left 4 Dead. There is currently a boycott petition signed by over 20,000 people circulating right now for Left 4 Dead 2 to become a download update only. I think a whole new game is exactly what Valve needs to do to fully hook and reel the franchise fans. According to recent news about the game, they are doing all the right things, and this is why.

The first major difference I have heard about this game is the fact that most (if not all) of this game takes place during the day. This will have a major impact on the different infected and will change the habits and familiarity from the the first game. L4D2 will also take place in four different areas of the dirty south, starting in Savannah, GA, and ending in New Orleans, LA. Unlike the first game, the campaign stories will go in sequence of five campaigns to create an entire storyline rather than four individual stories. The cast will be a completely different line-up than the first game. They have been replaced by Nick the gambler, Ellis the mechanic, Michelle the reporter, and Coach the gym coach. (Left to Right at the top.)

There will also be the inclusion of melee weapons in this game. They can be frying pans, fire axes, the ever-anticipated chainsaw and more. These can be used to break parts of the environment, or possibly just sneak up on an infected and give them a nice helping of axe in the face. Incendiary rounds have been added to the game, and are rumored to be applied to any of the guns available. Remember throwing moltov cocktails in L4D? Try shooting a machine gun with flame rounds into a hungry horde.

The levels in campaign mode will also be available in versus mode, survival mode, and a new mode that has not been announced as of yet! This is intriguing! With all of these new additions to the game it seems like we are forgetting something. Oh yes! The addition of the new infected! Not much has been released about the new infected, but Valve has confirmed that there will be new enemies. Oh…except for this guy. He is called a Charger, can plow through hordes, knock down players in run, and makes the tank look like a sissy.

To say the least, I’m a huge fan of the first one. I agree that it was short and should have come with a butt-load of down-loadable content, but it was the first in the series, and it was almost like a taste into a series that I feel is going to sky rocket after the sequel is released. I’m looking forward to once again teaming up with my friends and destroying the undead…are you?

Tags: E3 First-Person Shooters Infected Left 4 Dead Left 4 Dead 2 PC Previews Xbox 360