It’s amazing to me how simple some games appear to be, but are filled with so much enjoyment that I want to play the game all day; Left 4 Dead is one of these few games.  On the surface the game seems like another zombie shooter where you run around and attempt not to die.  However, when you look deeper… well that’s really all it is.  But it’s not the overall idea of the game, the originality of the game, or the streamlined effects of the game; it’s how the game as a whole is actually played.  The co-op feature is what drives Left 4 Dead, and what, in my opinion, makes the game a home run.

The graphics aren’t anything too crazy; lots of zombies and dark maps, basic guns, lots of empty rooms.  The story is interesting because it’s not really a story, it’s supposed to be portrayed as a movie where you play the four characters.  The story is basic; survive from the beginning to your escape vessel; fun (thumbs up).  Further, there are four different stories, which you can play in any order, and they are each a little different, and a little harder than the others.  Now the graphics might not be anything to shake a stick at, but the music and sound effects, at times, are.  The game works very well with a surround sound system, and the music tones, and slight cries allow you to know which zombies are around you.  For instance, if a witch is nearby (and you do not want to mess with her), you can hear her crying, and figure out which direction she is in, therefore which direction you should go.  Each of the special infected characters has a distinct sound, or music, which allows you to prepare and watch out for them.

The best feature of the game is the online co-op, which you can play with up to four friends (you can also play offline with two people).  This is the most fun because, in part, of the Achievements the game has you earn.  Some of these Achievements are insane, yet possible if you play enough and with people you trust.  This feature of the game has not gotten old, boring, or monotonous, although it would be, and is, when you play solo.  A very cool feature is the ability to put your character on idle and allow it to continue along with the others in your group.  This is nice because if someone has to go to the bathroom, eat dinner, kill your spouse, it allows the game to not be paused, and allows all four players help each other.

Within the game itself, there are a lot of great features.  Left 4 Dead offers a variety of weapons; shotgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, pistols (which never run out of ammunition), etc.  There are also pipe bombs (which the zombies are attracted to), and Molotov cocktails (great for lighting zombies on fire).  Other things you are able to carry are pain pills and health packs; you can carry one of each.  The pain pills are a cool feature because they only temporarily heal you (your health continues to decline until you are able to receive a health pack).  The health packs repair most of the damage you take from the zombies.  Also a good feature is the ability to give your health pack and pain pills to others in your squad.  This is very helpful when one of your team goes astray and is attacked.  You can become incapacitated and have a teammate revive you, granted they get to you in time.  But, don’t be afraid, if you die, you will get rescued shortly afterward; usually hiding in a closet.

However, as with most games there are some faults in Left 4 Dead.  One thing, in my opinion, is the multiplayer section.  Here you can either be one of the four survivors, or a zombie; Tank, Boomer, Smoker, Hunter, etc, and fight it out in one of the co-op levels.  However, this section never seems to end, and if you’re a zombie, it takes a very long time to respawn, and it’s very, very difficult to actually kill the survivors.  There is an obvious strategy to the game itself, but in the multiplayer section it becomes very difficult to maintain the strategy.  Ironically the multiplayer section becomes boring and monotonous, where the co-op section does not.  Another issue I have is the Smoker and Hunter’s length of attack.  There are times throughout the game where the Smokers grab me from so far away; it becomes impossible for my team to save me.  Also, I wish there were a feasible way to fight these two infected by yourself.  If the rest of your team dies, and either a Smoker or Hunter attacks you, regardless of how much health you have, you’re dead.

Do I think Left 4 Dead deserves to be game of the year?  Not really because, although this game has done many things correctly and very well, it’s not the most substantial game out there.  But I do believe the game is definitely worth a buy, and worth a decent amount of time to be played.

Overall: 8.5 out of 10

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