Zero Punctuation: Left 4 Dead
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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He didn't seem to utter despise this game, yet wasn't exactly thrilled either. So, it might actually be worth buying.
Zombie games can't really have a story, because, let face it, all zombie plots are now overly clichéd. Either it's a government plot, aliens, nuclear waste/virus, or a government plot using nuclear waste/virus and aliens. The only thing left would be if mother Earth decided that our decaying dead bodies were a toxin, and spat out all our corpses in order to clean herself. Unfortunately, even there, the government would find a use for it, and it would loop right back to a government plot.
Simple fact is that zombie movies and games can't really have an original plot. If you're tired of the repetition, don't play it. If you're just looking for a mindless game (pun intended), then with the rest of the review, it should be worth the purchase.
Unless, you have something better to play that is.
Zombie games can't really have a story, because, let face it, all zombie plots are now overly clichéd. Either it's a government plot, aliens, nuclear waste/virus, or a government plot using nuclear waste/virus and aliens. The only thing left would be if mother Earth decided that our decaying dead bodies were a toxin, and spat out all our corpses in order to clean herself. Unfortunately, even there, the government would find a use for it, and it would loop right back to a government plot.
Simple fact is that zombie movies and games can't really have an original plot. If you're tired of the repetition, don't play it. If you're just looking for a mindless game (pun intended), then with the rest of the review, it should be worth the purchase.
Unless, you have something better to play that is.
I totally agree.mda said:
I started off on CSS zombie mods, moved onto Zombie Panic! Source, and whilst I find them both fun, Left 4 Dead really takes the cake.
I've been trying to do the campaigns on Expert with some friends (the hardest setting), its such a thrill, you really need to work together in order to survive.
Now if you're going to tell me the various US publications that employ Yahtzee multiply his paycheck by .65, then he might have a reason to *****, but I somehow doubt that.Major Tom said:
I didn't at first realize he meant 100 dollars in crocodile teeth, but even then he's getting the same deal we get here in America, so if 100 bucks AUD = 60 bucks USD why doesn't he just say "paid for this game"? He's either being actively disingenuous or just isn't aware his currency is in the toilet. If the AUD was up then my points about how he should be importing before bitching would be valid.
So I've scrolled through the comments and I seem to be the only one OCD enough (or perhaps just slow enough not to get the joke) to point out that Yahtzee used the wrong cover shot for L4D.
The actual cover has a "left" hand on it ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Left4Dead_Windows_cover.jpg ), Yahtzee's is the old pre-release teaser cover with the right hand ( http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/07/21/left-4-dead-cover-art-revealed/ ).
So is it I'm just OCD or dense? I.E. am I missing some sort of injoke here?
Either way, thank you for this review. From one of the folks who spaz out over zombies. ^_^
The actual cover has a "left" hand on it ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Left4Dead_Windows_cover.jpg ), Yahtzee's is the old pre-release teaser cover with the right hand ( http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/07/21/left-4-dead-cover-art-revealed/ ).
So is it I'm just OCD or dense? I.E. am I missing some sort of injoke here?
Either way, thank you for this review. From one of the folks who spaz out over zombies. ^_^
About the end comment: Smoker was the chosen name back when the smoker could emit poisonous gas on will, and it stuck until, during the demo, they changed him into the worthless-in-most-scenarios long range infected with the (slight) benefit of making it impossible to see any zombies for about a half second after he dies (along with messing up voice chat, and provided the smoker was, for no apparant reason, in the middle of the survivors or pulling them towards their next objective). So... yeah.
Good review, although not as venomous as some have been.
I did like his point about nerds talking about zombies WAY TOO MUCH. They're like vampires (another horror theme which has been overdone the last few years) except with no intellect or personality. Maybe people just like all the gory zombie movies . .
I did like his point about nerds talking about zombies WAY TOO MUCH. They're like vampires (another horror theme which has been overdone the last few years) except with no intellect or personality. Maybe people just like all the gory zombie movies . .
This game is so much fun! I love mowing down the horde with the auto shottie! I hear rumors of more "movies" being released via steam or xbla sometime in the future, and I can't wait! Many, many kudos to Valve on this one 
Oh and I liked the slick obama reference he put in there. I'll have to think twice now about helping louis when he gets incapped by the tank
Oh and I liked the slick obama reference he put in there. I'll have to think twice now about helping louis when he gets incapped by the tank
I can't believe that no one else mentioned the bit about "pour walnuts over your shoulders and shampoo with BARBEQUE SAUCE!" Hardest I've laughed at a ZP review for a while.
As to the substance of the review, I think he is pretty reasonable in his assessment, althought I would have thought he would've given them more praise for essentially pioneering a required co-op element. I cannot think of another non-team game where you can't either run off from your teammates or kill them, and still have a reasonable chance of solo success. It's a very subtle point, but it's there. Combine that with an element that not only does not reward but actually penalizes the slow, methodical player-- unlike almost every other FPS out there-- I felt L4D was, in fact, very refreshing and innovative. Furthermore, as Yahtzee pointed out, the ability to interact with your friends in a simulated crisis situation (just FYI: make sure you use 'open mike' and not 'push to talk' voice comm), and...
Well, there you go: in a single paragraph, three ways that Left 4 Dead is not only very well executed, but substantially refreshing. More than I can say about most games these days.
As to the substance of the review, I think he is pretty reasonable in his assessment, althought I would have thought he would've given them more praise for essentially pioneering a required co-op element. I cannot think of another non-team game where you can't either run off from your teammates or kill them, and still have a reasonable chance of solo success. It's a very subtle point, but it's there. Combine that with an element that not only does not reward but actually penalizes the slow, methodical player-- unlike almost every other FPS out there-- I felt L4D was, in fact, very refreshing and innovative. Furthermore, as Yahtzee pointed out, the ability to interact with your friends in a simulated crisis situation (just FYI: make sure you use 'open mike' and not 'push to talk' voice comm), and...
Well, there you go: in a single paragraph, three ways that Left 4 Dead is not only very well executed, but substantially refreshing. More than I can say about most games these days.
While I agree with Yahtzee's assessment of the game, it almost feels like a review of the demo. Doesn't really mention the versus mode in any great detail and the resulting glee that ensues from playing as the infected.
Personally I love the game, but that's probably a measured enjoyment based upon playing with friends more often than with a pug.
Personally I love the game, but that's probably a measured enjoyment based upon playing with friends more often than with a pug.
I thought he did that pretty well with this:Thermal Ions said:
"You can also opt to play as the special zombies themselves which transforms the game from tense survival horror into hilarious griefing engine. It's nice to see creative thinking rewarded when you successfuly leap on a human player and start pulling his nipples out, and it's also curiously satisfying for me in ways I should probably tell my psychiatrist about."
But yeah there are probably a few more things that could have been said about it.
