Demo’n: Left 4 Dead 2

Less than a year since I previewed the original, Left 4 Dead 2 has already become available in demonstration form. A lot has been made on whether or not the original needed a sequel so soon. Some say the new campaigns could have just been added as DLC, but after getting my hands on the new iteration in the series, it’s clear that more than just new characters,weapons, and maps were added. Don’t get me wrong, all that stuff is new too, but there’s clearly been an effort to add more detail to this zombie infested world, and now the game feels more fleshed out, and less like a mini-game, which is something I had a problem with in the first game.

The demo starts on a campaign called, “The Parish,” where you start on the docks of a presumably Louisiana town, and try to make your way through the hordes of infected. At first, the game will seem way too similar, but after a few run ins with infected, it becomes apparent that the A. I. has stepped it’s game up this time around. Playing Left 4 Dead 2 (or the original for that matter) on any difficulty under Advanced does the game a disservice, and anyone looking for a challenge with their zombie mayhem, should jump right into advanced. The Director is back to his old tricks, and will capitalize on the mistakes of the survivors, so the second your team breaks down, and starts arguing, or worse, firing on one another, the Director will systematically destroy everything you’ve worked towards. Last year the Director was certainly a factor, but it seems to be much more intuitive in the demo.

The music in the new game seems to add a little twang to the themes from the first game, as well as just adding some newer, more creepy tunes. There’s also a section where you can turn a jukebox on, and it will play a few different songs (most notably “Still Alive” from Portal). I feel like the music adds dread to an otherwise sunny landscape, which is also a nice change of pace. There’s very few “horror” games that take place in the day time (Resident Evil 5, and it’s lack of atmosphere comes to mind), but even in the day time, these zombies are creepy enough to keep players on their toes. The flashlight may seem useless, it being day and all, but it comes in handy in every alleyway you come across, of which, there are plenty. I feel, so far, that the new Left 4 Dead provides a less linear campaign than the last. There seems to be more options on routes to the safe house, as well as more side rooms filled with weapons and equipment. This should go a long way in the replay value department.

After playing through the demo a few times, I can see Left 4 Dead 2 will have a greater assortment of tools to disembowel the infected masses. Melee weapons add a clear change of pace, especially if you want each member of your team rocking different weapons, for different zombie killing roles. For instance, we had a member of our team leading the pack with his Machete, with two guys in the middle rocking silenced sub machine guns (which do not disturb zombies at the proper ranges), and a member in the back with a shotgun, making sure none of those pesky zombies would sneak up behind us. Feels like the assortment of equipment adds almost a class system to the game, which certainly adds depth to the squad aspect. For instance you can delve out equipment, such as boomer bile or adrenaline shots to the guy up front, so he doesn’t get bile on the rest of the group, or just so he will melee at a more rapid pace. Personal preference also comes into the mix, and everyone can play the game their own way now, with more than just 6 guns.

I believe I’ve seen 9 different types of guns, 4 different melee weapons, 3 different projectile weapons, and 4 different healing devices, and this is just the demo. That’s already more of everything that was provided in the first game. Another addition, which I prefer in a game about destroying thousands of zombies, is more blood. Blood on your screen when you melee monsters, or just squirting from the recently relinquished limbs of the infected, there’s just buckets and buckets more blood than in the last game. There also seems to be more zombies per square inch of map, which I’m all for, bring on the infinite horde!

The first game was a zombie fan’s wet dream, and the second one looks to be much improved. There’s new gameplay modes, although they aren’t accessible in the demo. This game is going to be the best co-op game on the system upon release, so you’re doing yourself a solid if you go preorder the game, and get the demo ASAP!

Rating: Go to Gamestop, get your preorder on, and download the demo now!

A Great RockBand Offer from MTV Themselves!

If you don’t own RockBand, but want to, now would be a good time to make your move. MTV and Harmonix are selling the original RockBand’s bundle, plus a copy of RockBand 2 for $79 dollars even. No shipping, no tax (unless you live in certain areas I’m sure), and it’s delivered straight to your home. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions are the only options, but that’s probably the majority of console owners at this point anyway. The site is rockband79.com

In Case You Missed It… UFC 2009: Undisputed Review (@gameandplayer)

Here is my review for the best fighting game I’ve come across since the release of Marvel versus Capcom 2. Without further ado my review of UFC 2009: Undisputed.