For those unfamiliar with Left 4 Dead 2 or its predecessor, Left 4 Dead introduced gamers to a co-op tale that followed the story of four survivors with one common goal - trying to escape a zombie invasion. Left 4 Dead 2 retains the same formula as the original, while also adding a number of new features such as more weapons, deadlier special Infected and more levels than the original title.
But for Australian copies of the title, it's more of a case of what has been left out than what has been added to the title with all of the game's improvements seemingly null and void with the removal of the game’s high impact material, which effectively takes away all the tense thrills of trying to escape the zombie horde. The removal of the title's aesthetic quality also removes many traces of Valve's animating effort from the title which included the addition of dismemberment, decapitations and enough brain matter to keep the living dead snacking for decades. While Valve's effort in creating a tense, ultra-violent zombie experience comparative to its celluloid counterparts was impressive enough to titillate the senses of many gamers, it was unfortunately deemed too much for Australian gamers.
No gore for you Australia.
In a knee-jerk reaction to appease the Classification Board, all of the gore has been deleted from the Australian version of the title - and we're not exaggerating when we say all of it. Even more astounding is the fact that Valve didn’t just remove the gory content from Left 4 Dead 2, it also removed any appearance 'undead' bodies from our screens. This heavy handed action is quite disconcerting for players of the original title which allowed the body count to pile up as players put down packs of zombies. Instead we are left scratching our heads when we shoot a zombie and watch it fade away like a zombified Casper. Not only does this look like you're playing a ridiculously buggy test copy of the game, it pulls all of the dramatic tension out of the title, which is a crying shame as the game is peppered with some brilliantly tense setups such as fighting your way through a flaming building or gathering enough gas cans to fill up your getaway car.
Aside from the atmospheric losses, the game also suffers in the gameplay department thanks to its heavy handed censorship, particularly the use of melee weaponry. Melee combat was a big-ticket upgrade in this title with many fans salivating over the prospect of belting zombies to bits with cricket bats, katanas and highly-anticipated addition - the chainsaw. But without the gore there is little reason to drop the guns and get involved in close quarter combat with your zombie foes because attacking your enemies doesn't leave any noticeable damage, instead looking like your weapon is 'clipping' straight though your enemy. Not only does it look cheap, it makes it quite difficult to gauge whether your melee attack has been successful or not. On top of this is the crazy On top of this is the crazy notion of incendiary ammunition which is nothing more than a fruitless exercise as Left 4 Dead 2's zombies don't catch fire - which also leaves many gamers scratching their heads in confusion as this practice which was quite acceptable in the original title. On the plus side there are some great new additions to the weaponry of Left 4 Dead 2 - many of which will be familiar to those who've played a round or two of Counter-Strike in their time. Additional magnum pistols, shotguns and assault rifles do a good job of mixing up the action, though they can create some ammunition shortage issues. Our favourite feature was the addition of laser sights which not only makes aiming more accurate, it makes it easier to not accidentally shoot one of your co-operative buddies.
Putting all of the annoying censorship issues aside, there is a genuinely amazing game screaming to get out, with Left 4 Dead 2 boasting many improvements over its older sibling. Most notable is the well thought out campaign levels. Not only are the levels longer (a major plus over the original title), they can at times, give you multiple ways to complete a level which will keep the gameplay fresh as players will have multiple avenues to successfully complete certain stages. The other plus is that the title does an even better job than its predecessor at creating dramatic tension. While some levels have wide open spaces, these usually tend to bottleneck, forcing you into a very tight situation that requires all of your twitchy reflexes. The other mechanism for building tension is the 'climax' sections of each level where players will be forced to bunker down and take on a barrage of deadly enemies in order to progress further into the level. Not only do these sections of game do well to build up the atmosphere of the title, they also break up the longer stretches of each level. One such moment is when the players are forced to enter a tiny, zombie infested convenience store in order to retrieve a six pack of cola so that the crazy gun shop owner will clear your team's path down the road.
Mall parking has never been easier.
Another thing we loved about this title over the drab looking urban setting of the original is the diversity of the campaigns. This time around the game is set in the dirty south of the US of A. Unlike the dark, gritty cityscape of the original, the five new campaigns of Left 4 Dead 2 are bright and varied. Players will find themselves fighting their way through shopping malls (an awesome nod to Dawn of the Dead), a burning building, grocery store, swamp and an abandoned carnival. More often than not you'll find yourself getting ripped to shreds by the zombie horde as you stop to gaze at the amazing scenery before you.
Another great addition is the new range of special Infected who do a great job of ramping up the title's difficulty. Just when you think you've got yourself into a comfortable situation the AI director will throw in a Charger (an Infected character will a deadly shoulder charge) to throw off your tight-knit unit or a Jockey who jumps onto the shoulders of a character which ultimately leads that player away from the team and into harms way.
For those that tire of the traditional campaign mode (which like its predecessor is available for both online and offline play), there are plenty of other modes around to keep you busy. The two new modes, Realism and Scavenge are a welcome addition to the game. Realism is almost the Left 4 Dead 2 equivalent of Call of Duty's hardcore mode as it removes the glowing outline around items and your fellow players, making friendly fire shootings even more prevalent. Scavenge mode is the other worthy addition to the product, this time making players pick up items against a time limit all whilst trying to avoid their Infected opponents. Versus and survival modes also make a welcome return to round out the multiplayer experience.
Scavenge mode in action.
At its heart, Left 4 Dead 2 is very much the same game that Valve released one year ago in Left 4 Dead, with the crux of the gameplay remaining unchanged. Again, even with its refinements, you'll find that the lifespan of this title is comparable to that of Left 4 Dead. Essentially, if you're tired of Left 4 Dead, you will most likely tire of Left 4 Dead 2 in a similar fashion.
Though there is much to like about the refinements made to the title, in short, Left 4 Dead 2 is ultimately a compromised experience of Valve's original vision. While many of the elements of the first title have been improved upon in almost every way, this watered down effort is a bitter pill to swallow for even the most hardcore of Left 4 Dead gamers out there that we find it extremely difficult to recommend the title. Until common sense prevails, Australian gamers will just have to ponder what might have been.
Loading...
