My Thoughts on Left 4 Dead

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I thought I'd made my point perfectly fucking clear earlier when I'd rambled, ranted and raved to friends, a teacher and the homeless insane that I didn't like Left 4 Dead. But looking through an XBox magazine today I saw another glowing review of this game with an overall score of 9 . This beat out other games that I loved including Silent Hill: Homecoming and both of the Condemned games.
THIS WILL NOT DO.



I played this game for a total of perhaps 15 minutes at which point I got bored and turned it off. The beginning of the game is...well, there IS no beginning. As soon as you select "new game" and pick your player (disgruntled Vietnam vet, sexy college gal, badass biker and obligitory minority) you are dumped on to a roof top with the other three players. No explanation. No leadup. Just you and a bunch of guns (which are just there). It's clear that the first rule of this game is shut the fuck up and don't ask questions.

Oh, wait, I'm sorry. I forgot to mention there IS a cutscene that shows how they got on the roof - it plays when you don't press any buttons on the title menu. Our heroes are walking down an alleyway 2 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION as the text explains. Then they get chased by some zed heads and run onto the roof.

Okay, so there is no story or character development. Could still be fun. Let's do this.
So I go to the table and off the bat find a shotgun and discover my pistol ammo is unlimited. So the challenge element is lacking, but I can deal. So we proceed into an apartment building and immediately encounter swarms of the undead. Some will be standing on a kitchen counter, and drop to the floor upon discovering you, and proceed to slide along the floor faster than their legs move. The result looks glitchy and takes away from the feel of the game.
When we get outside we discover more enemies. In fact, I think we're shown all of the game's enemies within the first block of the apartment building. When we shoot or way through the zombie hordes we arrive at a safe house. What's in here? Shit loads of ammo and health items. Plus, automatic weapons! How convenient.

This was about as far as I got. What I gathered was that this was a giant gore orgy which consists of moving from A to B, shooting anything that moves. With no characters or particularily interesting environments it's just shooting. Shooting. Shooting - STOP TO GET AMMO - shooting.
This does not sit with me. It doesn't bother me that this game was released - it's the fact that it's getting praise it doesn't deserve. I've only seen one other person on YouTube express dislike of the game, and they recieved nasty comments. Then again, what can you expect from the YouTube community?


This game proves, to me, that the status quo of gaming had been lowered. Imagine if ciritics praised Uwe Boll's movie House of the Dead ? To me, it's very similar. This proves you just need to make a nice looking game packed with violence that you can indulge in with your friends and you have a platinum seller. Unacceptable.

After all of this negativity, I should say something nice. The idea of an online, first person zombie shooter is great. Being in the first person greatly increases the fear factor, and with zombies I think would work very well. The use of flashlights adds variety, and the graphics are quite good. I think the part of the game that I liked the most was the necessity of avoiding cars - get too close to one, and the alarm will go off, alerting the undead hordes to your presence. This adds tension and variety to the game - unnecessary encounters can be avoided and encourage the player to pay more attention to their surroundings. If ammo was more scarce, it would make this aspect of the game more urgent and scary.


So what are my closing comments on Left 4 Dead? This would be a pretty awesome arcade game in the movie theater. But as a home console game, it falls very short.

 

[Robert632]

it can be pretty hard on the harder difficulties, but i agree that it's score should be brought down to 8, for stale and repedative gamelay and to much ammo lying around.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

Thanks for reading and actually giving some feedback, not just ``OMG U DINT LIEK IT FAG!``
This is just a short note I put on FB. I figured TE users might appreciate it.

 

[grimsprice]

Thanks for reading and actually giving some feedback, not just ``OMG U DINT LIEK IT FAG!``
This is just a short note I put on FB. I figured TE users might appreciate it.

Your first mistake was assuming that opinions of games are not subjective. Wrong.

You see, when a person looks at a score, they're not looking at how good the game is, they're looking at how good most people will think the game is. Its not meant to apply to everyone.

Your second mistake was not realizing that your opinion is worthless to everyone but you. Anyone who has played the game will either agree or disagree with shades of grey in between. And people who haven't played the game will hear your one opinion and think its odd that one person out of soooo many thinks its bad, or they'll be frightened away from the game thinking its actually bad.

So, you've either accomplished ABSOLUTELY nothing with this thread. OR, you've actually hindered someones ability to find, play, and make up their own mind about a game that deserves to be played at least once.

So congratulations on thinking your opinion is needed.

I however like the game quite a bit. Play it with friends for a few laughs. Its a party game. So it has its place in my library.

I don't mean this to sound bashing or overly angry. I just think some people don't understand the concept of subjectivity. If i was to write a review telling you all the good things about Left 4 Dead and saying that i actually like some of the things you hate. How much would my opinion influence your own? How much would it matter to you? Probably not very much. Thats what subjectivity means. Left 4 dead is both HORRIBLE and GREAT because of every single individual thing about it.

As i said. Reviews are not looking at how good the game is, they're looking at how good most people will think the game is. Its not meant to apply to everyone.

 

[Soulgaunt]

Thanks for reading and actually giving some feedback, not just ``OMG U DINT LIEK IT FAG!``
This is just a short note I put on FB. I figured TE users might appreciate it.

Your first mistake was assuming that opinions of games are not subjective. Wrong.

You see, when a person looks at a score, they're not looking at how good the game is, they're looking at how good most people will think the game is. Its not meant to apply to everyone.

Your second mistake was not realizing that your opinion is worthless to everyone but you. Anyone who has played the game will either agree or disagree with shades of grey in between. And people who haven't played the game will hear your one opinion and think its odd that one person out of soooo many thinks its bad, or they'll be frightened away from the game thinking its actually bad.

So, you've either accomplished ABSOLUTELY nothing with this thread. OR, you've actually hindered someones ability to find, play, and make up their own mind about a game that deserves to be played at least once.

So congratulations on thinking your opinion is needed.

I however like the game quite a bit. Play it with friends for a few laughs. Its a party game. So it has its place in my library.

That sounded a little angry, I mean, it's just a review.

OT: Nice review, I guess it sounds as if the sequel is more suited for you, as there is apparent character developement, new enemies/different enemies in specific campaigns, etc.
Also, try the online play, it's much more fun.
EDIT:

Overreact much? You didn't like it. The reviewers on Xbox Magazine did. Don't get your panties in a bunch every time somebody likes something you don't.

Also, is it really smart to post something like this at any time, let alone while you're on probation?

Also angry.

 

[Enigmers]

The story is, in typical VALVe fashion, for the people who really want it.

Or, it is in the sequel. In the original Left 4 Dead, you get a bit of a backstory on each character if you read the bios on the internet if you really wanted to. I don't think it deserves a 9/10 either, especially in comparison to the sequel in which case it starts to feel rather unfinished.

And yes, it is repetitive and there isn't very much story, but it was enjoyable and fun to play, the AI director (and the AI as a whole) was well done and the only thing about this game that pissed me off was the tanks taht would throw you of the roof at the No Mercy finale.

 

[Deathkingo]

Meh. Different strokes. I does get harder, though...

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I got probation for bumping. Oops! I didn`t know that was a sin here.

I also didn`t know my opinion didn`t matter here. Sorry for trying to give an alternate point of view!

 

[grimsprice]

I got probation for bumping. Oops! I didn`t know that was a sin here.

I also didn`t know my opinion didn`t matter here. Sorry for trying to give an alternate point of view!

I made an annotation to my comment in case you want to read that... alternative points of view are nice, and appreciated here. TELLING us that it SHOULD have its score lowered because of your opinion is not welcome. And don't tell us were wrong for liking it, thats bad too. (though i don't remember if you said anything like that...)

 

[theironbat46]

I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. The person on youtube received bad comments because he was 11. Now, you have only played fifteen minutes. You just made this so, L4D2 already came out, first get L4D2. Then, I couldn't tell or not from this, get xbox live. Second play a full campaign. I recommend Dark Carnival. Then play a campaign on multi player, then play Versus. Now, some people differ opinions. In your case 85% percent of the world is against you. And actually play it through, That's like taking the first 15 min of SM#. walking out of the theater, knowing it's a good movie. While it gets worse. L4D is like that , starts reg get better.

 

[duchaked]

Thanks for reading and actually giving some feedback, not just ``OMG U DINT LIEK IT FAG!``
This is just a short note I put on FB. I figured TE users might appreciate it.

Your first mistake was assuming that opinions of games are not subjective. Wrong.

You see, when a person looks at a score, they're not looking at how good the game is, they're looking at how good most people will think the game is. Its not meant to apply to everyone.

Your second mistake was not realizing that your opinion is worthless to everyone but you. Anyone who has played the game will either agree or disagree with shades of grey in between. And people who haven't played the game will hear your one opinion and think its odd that one person out of soooo many thinks its bad, or they'll be frightened away from the game thinking its actually bad.

So, you've either accomplished ABSOLUTELY nothing with this thread. OR, you've actually hindered someones ability to find, play, and make up their own mind about a game that deserves to be played at least once.

So congratulations on thinking your opinion is needed.

I however like the game quite a bit. Play it with friends for a few laughs. Its a party game. So it has its place in my library.

That sounded a little angry, I mean, it's just a review.

OT: Nice review, I guess it sounds as if the sequel is more suited for you, as there is apparent character developement, new enemies/different enemies in specific campaigns, etc.
Also, try the online play, it's much more fun.
EDIT:

Overreact much? You didn't like it. The reviewers on Xbox Magazine did. Don't get your panties in a bunch every time somebody likes something you don't.

Also, is it really smart to post something like this at any time, let alone while you're on probation?

Also angry.

angry? I didn't notice, cuz the article itself may have mellowed out any anger found in those comments lol

BUT...as for my opinion, I've played L4D maybe about as much as the author of this article has, and I...well didn't quite get into it, but some friends of mine wanna get a party together and just kill some zombies, so that may be a chance to give it another go (I think they've been watching too many zombie movies, and really wanna try it out on the 360 haha)

 

[Chrissyluky]

I love it when people look for single player in a valve game that doesnt have the letters half life or portal in the title. What makes it more laughable is you went into this thinking it was for a single player experience. You may as well have played team fortress 2 on nothing but a local server.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I got probation for bumping. Oops! I didn`t know that was a sin here.

I also didn`t know my opinion didn`t matter here. Sorry for trying to give an alternate point of view!

I made an annotation to my comment in case you want to read that... alternative points of view are nice, and appreciated here. TELLING us that it SHOULD have its score lowered because of your opinion is not welcome. And don't tell us were wrong for liking it, thats bad too. (though i don't remember if you said anything like that...)

I never said people shouldn`t like it (I only said it gets praise it doesn`t deserve). Make of that what you will. Maybe I just have high expectations­.

I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. The person on youtube received bad comments because he was 11. Now, you have only played fifteen minutes. You just made this so, L4D2 already came out, first get L4D2. Then, I couldn't tell or not from this, get xbox live. Second play a full campaign. I recommend Dark Carnival. Then play a campaign on multi player, then play Versus. Now, some people differ opinions. In your case 85% percent of the world is against you. And actually play it through, That's like taking the first 15 min of SM#. walking out of the theater, knowing it's a good movie. While it gets worse. L4D is like that , starts reg get better.

Perhaps I will try multiplayer. However, I believe a game should be able to stand on it`s own without multiplayer.

 

[Chrissyluky]

you should know this by now. most valve games contrive on one aspect of the game. the half life series contrives on a good main character and good storytelling. portal provides good gameplay and good puzzles. team fortress 2 relies on multiplayer entirely as well as left 4 dead.

 

[theironbat46]

I got probation for bumping. Oops! I didn`t know that was a sin here.

I also didn`t know my opinion didn`t matter here. Sorry for trying to give an alternate point of view!

I made an annotation to my comment in case you want to read that... alternative points of view are nice, and appreciated here. TELLING us that it SHOULD have its score lowered because of your opinion is not welcome. And don't tell us were wrong for liking it, thats bad too. (though i don't remember if you said anything like that...)

I never said people shouldn`t like it (I only said it gets praise it doesn`t deserve). Make of that what you will. Maybe I just have high expectations­.

I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. The person on youtube received bad comments because he was 11. Now, you have only played fifteen minutes. You just made this so, L4D2 already came out, first get L4D2. Then, I couldn't tell or not from this, get xbox live. Second play a full campaign. I recommend Dark Carnival. Then play a campaign on multi player, then play Versus. Now, some people differ opinions. In your case 85% percent of the world is against you. And actually play it through, That's like taking the first 15 min of SM#. walking out of the theater, knowing it's a good movie. While it gets worse. L4D is like that , starts reg get better.

Perhaps I will try multiplayer. However, I believe a game should be able to stand on it`s own without multiplayer.

True,it should, I hate the fact that gaming uses online multiplayer as a crutch for it's short single player, but online multiplayer is fun.

 

[danosaurus]

"...I played this game for a total of perhaps 15 minutes at which point I got bored and turned it off..."

Exactly what I did with your review, except it was 15 seconds.
Why rant when you clearly don't even try to understand the type of game you're reviewing.

 

[Soulgaunt]

I got probation for bumping. Oops! I didn`t know that was a sin here.

I also didn`t know my opinion didn`t matter here. Sorry for trying to give an alternate point of view!

I made an annotation to my comment in case you want to read that... alternative points of view are nice, and appreciated here. TELLING us that it SHOULD have its score lowered because of your opinion is not welcome. And don't tell us were wrong for liking it, thats bad too. (though i don't remember if you said anything like that...)

I never said people shouldn`t like it (I only said it gets praise it doesn`t deserve). Make of that what you will. Maybe I just have high expectations­.

I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. The person on youtube received bad comments because he was 11. Now, you have only played fifteen minutes. You just made this so, L4D2 already came out, first get L4D2. Then, I couldn't tell or not from this, get xbox live. Second play a full campaign. I recommend Dark Carnival. Then play a campaign on multi player, then play Versus. Now, some people differ opinions. In your case 85% percent of the world is against you. And actually play it through, That's like taking the first 15 min of SM#. walking out of the theater, knowing it's a good movie. While it gets worse. L4D is like that , starts reg get better.

Perhaps I will try multiplayer. However, I believe a game should be able to stand on it`s own without multiplayer.

Some games are for single player, and some are for multiplayer, this so happens to be one that's fun due to multiplayer.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

Who wants to hear what I have to say about RE5?

 

[grimsprice]

I never said people shouldn`t like it (I only said it gets praise it doesn`t deserve).

No, but see this is what i'm saying.

"it gets praise it doesn't deserve"

What exactly does that mean? Because when i read it i see ...

"They like it, they say its good, I don't like it, i say its bad, so they should stop saying its good because i say its bad"

Your opinion does not supercede others opinions. Especially if its the opinions of the many against the opinions of the one. Thats what i was trying to say. Its nice to hear another opinion, it makes you think about thinks your own biased might be covering up. But to say that your opinion is more valuable than others is just arrogant. By all means give your opinion. However, don't act like its the word of our lord Kim Jong Il.

 

[Pyode]

I'm not going to argue about whether or not you're opinion of the game is wrong becasue its just that, your opinion. But I will say a few things about the "review".

First of all, dude chill the fuck out. Just because you like other games better doesn't mean other people have to. Your opinion isn't the end all be all and nor is theirs.

Secondly, have you ever heard of a difficulty curve? Just because a game is easy at the start doesn't mean it will stay that way. Also, not every game needs a story. Look at almost every Fighting, Racing, ans Sports game ever.

Also,

This proves you just need to make a nice looking game packed with violence that you can indulge in with your friends and you have a platinum seller. Unacceptable.

Not every painting needs to be the Mona Lisa.