Left 4 Dead Review

The zombie apocalypse is here at last. Valve's latest multiplayer game is a 4 to 8 player co-op adventure that's packed full of finely tuned suspense. Featuring the fast zombies popularized in films like 28 Days Later, Left 4 Dead pits four survivors against an endless horde of crazed "infected." At its very core, the game provides one seemingly simple goal for its players: survive, from one safe house to the next. Yet to do so will not only test your first-person shooter reflexes, but also your ability to communicate, work with your team, and even sacrifice your own (virtual) safety for that of your fellow survivors.

Having to decide whether or not to put your own character into danger for the benefit of your teammates is a fairly groundbreaking gameplay mechanism in this or any genre. Imagine standing behind a fortified door, watching a teammate being beaten mercilessly by zombies only a few yards away. Do you risk opening the door and rushing to his side, where you may be ambushed and killed by any number of zombies hiding nearby? Or do you choose to leave him to the mercy of the horde? This and many other terrifying scenarios are common in Left 4 Dead.

Of course, life or death decisions aren't as immersive when there isn't a real person playing that character in desperate need of help. Left 4 Dead does offer bots to complement its multiplayer mode and to provide a strictly single-player experience. Make no mistake, though: this is a multiplayer-oriented game. The bots are alright, and it is nice that they will never friendly fire you, but if you expect to defeat the game's impressively difficult expert mode you will need human help. And it's great fun with some buddies. You can easily join a friend's game or, if you're finding yourself a little friend-impaired, use the matchmaking system to find the perfect zombie hunting mates. If you go for versus mode, the opposing team can even take control of the "special infected," which are particularly dangerous-and ugly-zombies with extra painful abilities like superhuman strength.

The game looks surprisingly good for being built on an engine that is over four years old. The Source engine has been dramatically updated and optimized for multi-core processors. Flashlights and muzzle flashes accentuate each dark and gory scene. Even better is the audio, with extensive voice work for every character and plenty of creepy music. Each special infected has its own signature sounds to help your team prepare for its brutal attacks.

Left 4 Dead doesn't try to provide much of a back-story, as is characteristic of many of Valve's games. What it concentrates on is engaging the player in its very dangerous and dynamic environments. The "director," powered by artificial intelligence, shapes every game to provide the maximum adrenaline rush. What's this? Your team is leisurely strolling around at full health, with several health packs to spare? Then here comes the horde. Similarly, if you're all clinging to life, the director may have mercy by providing some weapon upgrades or pain pills just around that next turn. This assures a unique experience each play through. And when enjoyed with the camaraderie of your teammates-as well as the sneakiness of your opponents in versus mode-it also means you won't be escaping this zombie apocalypse anytime soon.