Story driven zombie apocalypse?

[zombiejoe]

I do not have Left 4 Dead 2, but I heared each chapter is conected, unlike L4D. So dose this mean that L4D2 has more of a story then the last one did, and if so, is it any good. Now I am not saying zombie games can't have good stories, just look at Dead Rising or Stubs. And if there is a story for L4D2, dose it make you think that Valuve will make any other L4D games story driven?

 

[Flos]

The chapters being connected doesn't mean the game has a story.

The story is simply, 'Four survivors try to make it to an evacuation point.' There's subtext and hints towards a deeper plot (

Spoiler

CEDA executing civilians

, for one), but most of it is fill in the blank stuff.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

The game is all about the gameplay with things thrown in that weren't fully thought out and are basically there to make players question them. Valve are pretty sneaky in the way they really didn't explain anything, and simply put in a bunch of nonsensical 'plot points' and left it to the players to discuss.

 

[Kasawd]

As long as they're selling the games without a clear and complex plot, there's no reason, from a business perspective, that they should start to do so. I found L4D rather boring after the first level and would have liked some story but I can see where it would only serve to muddy the aspect and style of game that it is.

 

[Kiefer13]

The chapters are connected, yes, which each campaign following on from the last, but the game is no more story-driven than its predecessor was.

As before, there are little details in the maps like the scribbling on the saferoom walls and such to provide a bit of atmosphere and there is a bit of subtext hinting towards things, but there's nothing really concrete. What attempts that are made to hint towards a deeper story are all very unobtrustive and can easily be ignored if you are so inclined.

I speak as someone that loves a good story in a game, and actually thinks that a good story is one of the most important things for a game to have (besides gameplay, obviously), but the L4D series does not suffer in the slightest for not having a deep story. In fact, I'm pretty sure it would detract from the experience that Valve have aimed to provide with the games. And that is the pure and simple fun that comes with getting from A to B, cutting a swath through hordes of zombies as you go.

 

[mrjinx]

L4D2's campaigns flow together better but there is not any more story than the original. There are no cutscenes and it's still basically, go from point A to point B.

I don't think story driven games work very well for a co-op game. A good single player RPG in a Zombie apocalypse setting sounds interesting though.