Sunday, November 22, 2009

'We're Kings of the World' as quoted from Ellis from Left 4 Dead 2

Ignoring the fact that my past post was screwed,Im gonna give the green lights to myself and review Left 4 Dead 2.If u dun wanna be spoiled then dun read on.No pics at the moment but I'll snap a few when I can later on tonight.Enjoy~ :)

Left 4 Dead 2
Retail price : Rm 250 for Xbox 360 and most likely the same for PC *Yeah,its crappo*
*Cough cough version retail price comes at Rm10 per piece and is available at the Atria gamestation,Gamepoint*

Released : 17th Nov 2009 by VAVLe and plays as 1st person or 3rd person thru console command

Whats new :
5 new campaigns
a)Dead Center *Mall/shopping complex style campaign* 1-4 stage
b)Dark Carnival *Basically a carnival with an awesome finale,the best by far* 1-5 stage
c)Swamp Fever *Jungle type* 1-4 stage
d)Hard Rain *Shud be renamed as Hard Shit,this stage is difficult* 1-5 stage
e)The Parish *French quarter apartments anyone? :) * 1-5 stage

4 New survivors (Coach,Rochelle,Nick and Ellis)

A new scavenge mode where u actually look for gas cans to fill up a certain machine to win
*Er...ok....this doesnt really appeal to me in my humble opinion,playing with AI? No thx.Always go for multiplayer.*

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Right,for u all grumpy out there the REAL review starts now

I've tried Dead Center,Dark Carnival and a little of The Parish.Generally speaking,the stages are really creative and well constructed.Graphic is a little upgraded compared to L4D 1.My Xbox had to install some sort of graphic upgrade b4 it will run thus explaining the improved graphic.
The zombies look rather 'fresh'.Shoot em in the tummy if u wanna see their ribcage.If u wondered how humans look like fleshwise from the back then go ahead ;) Using melee will slice their heads of CLEAN and if u aim for the tummy,watch their guts spill out Harakiri style.
The story is kinda present now rather than in L4D 1 where u dun even know where the eff did Bill or Francis come from.The campaigns start off well and are linked hence enhancing the story.

Much like the Bill<==>Francis Hate and vice versa,we have the Coach vs Nick vs Ellis hate.The lines are hillarious and funny especially when Nick uses sarcasm during reply lines.Though the relationship could've been further hyped up much like in L4D 1,I do hope VALVe adds more connection between them during future FREE Downloadable Content. :/

Weapons are interesting and well balanced for Versus mode and Scavenge mode online gameplay.There's no 'imba weapon of godly destruction' in L4D2.U either get high firepower for long reload time,low firepower but fast fire rates or standard power with burst shots etc etc..
Very well done I must say.I do have a hard time choosing between the 3 rifles given at the same location and it very much boils down to ur preference.

The new boomer bile jar while fun to use does have risky prospects as players need to take care of the 'summoned infected' once the effect is over.The chest paddles/defibrilator is also known as the mobile closet where u can revive ur teammate within roughly 25 secs.Revived player gains 50 permanent hp.Melee weapons also vaary in swing speed,damage and swing arc so choose carefully.My favourite is none other than the guitar and pan.The axe is nice too xD

Alright,nuff said bout Pros..now,the dissapointments.

1)The AI are still damn F*CKING stupid.Yes,sadly they are.Try getting constricted by a smoker only to see ur AI teammates stand beside u clearing the hordes.Nope,not 1 will help u up,all of 'em will be shooting the zombies while u have a chit chat with the Smoker.They are also very slow in terms of reaction.Sure this can be debated,but considering how fast they shoot and their pin-point accuracy,I find their "good samaritan" spirit to help others rather retarded.They take awhile to notice u getting pounced on,they take even longer to go after the Jockey thats head-humping u. Yes...very very retarded.

2)The dissapointment that VALVe dished out includes the so called A.I. 2.0 that apparently sucks as hard as it's predecessor.VALVe promised weather change and random paths to increased replayability but so far those are exclusive to only The Parish (Garden section) and Hard Rain (Back and forth around sugar mill). A great lie they told to consumers saying that the AI can change weather and waypoints.

3)An AI will rarely use melee weapons.I find that sad as they took an axe and it was bloodless till the finale ending.Occasionally they'll hold it but I guess its juz too precious for them to get blood on it huh? :(

4)Game is buggy.Yes,very! Try standing at a certain point in the safe room and u'll be instantly incapicated.Seriously,theres a lot of bugs including game glitch,errors on zombies etc.The game looked like it was rushed through in haste for the 1 year annivesary of Left4Dead 1.Playtesters weren't much help either as more stuff was suppose to be included but were removed at the urge of those beta testers.My TV was playing a funny sound that sounded like a goat with a bottlecap in its windpipe will loading The Parish for the 1st time.

Overall,I had a nice time slaying 15 witches in the Sugar mill. *Yes,15 goddamn witches* And the Boss infected do spawn more than usual.Watch 2 Hunters work together,2 Smokers high-5 each other when they snapped 2 of your pals etc...the Boss AI's power is potentially near limitless.Sadly,the Human AI had no buff but instead became more retarded from Down syndrome.

The survivors maybe immune to zombie flu shit but are nonetheless paralysed by down syndrome and retardness.I give it a 8.5/10. Worth the buy for Ori? Only if ur a hardcore VALVe freak or Zombie fps geek.Worth the price for Rm10? Hell yeah.

Till then,
I'll get the pics asap ;)



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