Left 4 Dead

"Have 3 Friends? Then grab this."

Left 4 Dead is, quite simply put, good, clean, multiplayer fun. It's a simple FPS, with many extra and confusing features from other FPS's, such as Halo, dumbed down to a basic yet very satisfying format. It can require a little to a lot of skill, making it a good choice for people of all skill levels, and, best of all, it's a lot of fun.

The basic story is simple: There are 4 scenarios, called campaigns, each seeming to happen in it's own world (so the stories aren't affected by the other scenarios) In each, 4 survivors, Zoey, Bill, Louis, and Francis must battle through a horde of zombies while trying to reach safety. The only way for them to be safe is to contact an emergency number and have them send a rescue vehicle. It's your basic "zombies are attacking" story, but it's just enough to flesh out a full game.

In each campaign, the area being traversed is different: It ranges from busy city streets to a huge cornfield. The rescue vehicle is also different, and could be anything from a helicopter to an army tank. The campaigns are fairly short, each being able to beat in 30-60 minutes, but are very different from each other and always interesting.

Zombies spawn in different places, making every run through different. While a huge monster zombie may appear in a staircase during one run through, it could be on the roof of a building in the next. Couple that randomness with the very difficult-to-attain achievements, and you've got an interesting and exciting experience every time.

The controls are very easy to learn. The stick moves, one button switches your weapon, the d-pad switches your tools, and the right trigger button shoots. Very simple. You don't have to keep up with a hundred different weapons, either. You have the pistol, your basic weapon, which has an infinite supply of ammo, and you can carry one other weapon, with about 4 or 5 to choose from, which must restore ammo at the ammo piles you'll find. The game is very simple and easy for any beginner FPS player, yet it can provided a great challenge at the higher difficulty levels for even FPS experts.

The multiplayer aspect is where this game really shines. Four people can play simultaneously against the hordes of zombies, speaking directly into the headset to give each other important information on where to go and what to get. You can heal each other or shoot each other, if that's what you so choose.

If you don't have any friends, then don't fret! You can play it online with 3 other people, or play it alone with 3 computer-controlled characters, and don't worry: This is one of the few games I've played where the computer's AI is actually not bad!

So if you like multiplayer games and you're looking for something to do with your friends during those late-night gaming sessions, this game is the ultimate choice. Even those who aren't big into FPS's will appreciate this game. It's a lot of fun and a great experience for all.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/03/09

Game Release: Left 4 Dead (US, 11/17/08)