Left 4 Dead
by Chris Davis
reviewed on X360
I’m Not Gonna Let These Damn Vampires Eat Me (cntd)
What makes Survival mode exceedingly difficult isn’t the fact that there is no end to the enemies but rather the spawn rate the enemies adhere to. Depressingly enough, the spawn rate for each type of enemy steadily degrades over time. But what is worse is that the AI Director, as angry and hateful as it can be, does not place a limit on how many of a type of enemy can be on the map. This being the case it is not uncommon to see as many as five Smokers, several Hunters, and even a couple Tanks all on screen at the same time. The Tanks, for example, spawn first at the forty second marker, the 1:55 marker next and then slowly degrades from there on. That sound you are hearing in the background right now? That is me whimpering.
An Abandoned Cabin in the Woods; Yea, I Know How This Movie Ends
The other significant update players will find is the induction of the Death Toll and Dead Air campaigns into the Versus format. Both campaigns were previously only playable in Versus on the PC version and their addition is very welcome to Xbox 360 players. This official release makes the experience for both teams a lot less stressful than it was for them as the unofficial PC version had which was a solid port of both campaigns.
Certain areas such as some rooftops and closets are now inaccessible, some roofs have ledges that prevent instant kills, and various other tweaks have been made based on community feedback. Dead Air in particular is a very friendly venue for the infected as the early levels offer several rooftops to drag survivors off the ledge or provide ample height for massive Hunter pounces. Tank spawns are pretty generous in the new campaigns and almost guarantee a Tank encounter almost every level.
In addition to adding new maps and modes many improvements and changes have been made to the rules of play than even out the playing field. Survivors will find themselves having a much more rough experience this time around. Melee spamming, previous neigh undefeatable, has been neutered thanks to the introduction of a fatigue meter for the survivors. For the most part though the most significant additions in gameplay come on the infected side. Boomer bile now can pass through hordes of infected to hit their intended targets as well as Smoker tongues. One huge game-changing ability comes in the form of an update to the Tank: they can now hit multiple survivors with a single swing of their arms meaning bunching up is now a bad idea. The winning team in Versus will also spawn as the survivors first at the beginning of the next round thereby giving the losing team a chance to prepare for what they will experience when it is their turn to be the hunted.
Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes Francis; You’ll Aim Better
Left 4 Dead was already a great game and this new DLC, while overdue, is something that will definitely expand the lifespan of the game by a good long while. The only regrettably missing feature is the SDK for the PC version that would allow players to create their own maps and campaigns. Otherwise players on the Xbox 360 will find the Survival pack to be a great addition for those looking to keep their wallet in check. What are you waiting for? Go download it now. IT’S FREE!
9.0
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time