Left 4 Dead 2

This game was created by Valve, a game developer, who previously brought us popular titles such as Half Life, with the phenomenal character of Gordon Freeman.

Left 4 Dead 2 is, the same as its predecesor, the original Left 4 Dead game, an FPS (first person shooter), meaning that the player doesn´t see the entire character on the screen, but plays in a first person view.

The plot of the game is, despite serving as background for some shameless slaughter, very well figured out.
It takes place in New Orleans, where a virus known as the „green flu“ has escaped into the air. This virus, developed by a military organization called CEDA as a way to enhance the physical capability of american soldiers, has disastrous effect on the local population. It creates various mutations, which turn man and woman alike into bloodthirsty zombies.

The player takes on the role of one of four survivors of this „zombie apocalypse“, who are trying to escape the death trap they had been left in.
Each of the four has a different background and and amazingly well designed personality.
You can choose between a cynical gambler in an expensive suit, Nick. An ever optimistic hillbilly, Ellis, who seems to take the entire situation as one big adventure and a chance to bash some heads. Chocolate, hamburger and shotgun loving Coach. Or the only woman on the team, Rochelle, who serves as a sort of mother figure to the three.
The characters tend to interact with one another during the gameplay and as the game progresses they develop a strong bond, going from anonymous strangers, randomly thrown together by chance to a group as close as family.

The player can choose between four difficulties, from easy to expert.

Also if he wants to play alone in the Single Player mode, where the other three characters are computer controlled bots, or if he´d rather play with other people, using the online interface hosted on Steam.

In each of these modes, teamwork is the most important thing. Players are forced to rely on their teammates, if they want to make it through.
Rushing ahead or staying behind means certain death.

In the multiplayer Versus mode, the player is a part of a team of four who compete against another team.
This mode is perhaps the most popular one, because of the chance to try the game from the point of view of the infected.
While one team plays as the survivors, the other team has to try to keep their opponents from reaching the safe zone.
They need to cooperate and combine their attacks in order to slow down, separate and kill the members of the opposite team, thanks to the wide range of abilities that the individual infected types posses.

You can pounce and rip your opponents to shreds as the Hunter.
Snare and constrict them as the Smoker.
If the survivors are bunched up for safety, just plow through them with the Charger.
Puke blinding vomit and then explode for extra damage as the Boomer.
Jump on them and separate them from the others with the Jockey.
Or spit a pool of corrosive acid under their feet as the Spitter.

The survivors also have a chance to put their skills to the test upon ecountering a Tank, a massive infected, capable of hurling cars and pieces of concrete, which has enough strenght to eliminate the entire group without much effort. Or if they somehow manage to startle the little, harmless looking Witch.

Fans of weapons will also be pleasantly surprised, as Left 4 Dead has a wide range of all weapon types.
Melee, varying from a common frying pan all the way to the trusty chainsaw, which tends to run out of gas when you most need it. Ranged include pistols, rifles and even the good old M16.

Another amazing thing is that the game never gets boring. The developers, in an attempt to keep players from finding the easiest route through an area and using that one over and over, created very large areas and an intelligent AI, which randomly selects paths, blocking others by spawning fences or piles of rubble in the way.
That, along with the special infected spawning in various places keeps players on their toes, looking out for every movement and sound.

So, in conclussion, check it out. If nothing else, atleast it can serve as a neat interactive survival guide, in case of a real zombie apocalypse...

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