Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, 2009)

Whether or not Left 4 Dead 2 is for you really depends on your level of exposure and affinity for the style of hardcore team-focused gameplay Valve is offering here. If you’re still interested in the gameplay, then you’re going to enjoy every aspect of the sequel since it’s improved in all areas, from available game modes to strength of character and personality to replayability and its visual style. After playing, you’ll find it impossible to go back to the first game. Though plenty of other games offer co-operative gameplay against mobs of computer-controlled foes, no other game emphasizes teamwork as strongly as this, and few other games are as satisfying when you’re able to pull through successfully, particularly when competing in Versus mode against four human-controlled boss zombies. If you saw the original and were always curious to try it out, then by all means get the sequel. It is, without a doubt, the better game. Yet despite all the advancements and additions, it’s still very familiar, and something meant to appeal to those who are already sold on the concept. If you’re someone never cared for the game, Left 4 Dead 2 isn’t going to change your mind. Even so, it remains one of the most distinctive co-operative titles out there, and allows for some of the most nerve-searing team-based multiplayer gaming on the market.

9.0 Presentation
Better characterization and personality this time, both with the survivor characters and the environments. A great HUD keeps the frantic action comprehensible, and the game retains its B-movie tone.
8.5 Graphics
The game isn’t the sharpest out there, but it’s still a great looking product. The sunnier environments and improved animations contribute heavily to this. Xbox 360 users will run into some slowdown.
9.0 Sound
Excellent sound design throughout. Audio alerts you to waiting boss zombies, the weapons and groans and screams all contribute to the atmosphere, and the character voice-overs are appropriately campy.
9.0 Gameplay
It’s a style of game that won’t appeal to everyone, but for what it’s going for, this sequel hits all the right notes. Better combat and superior campaign design.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
With an AI Director that keeps the campaigns interesting and a host of modes that weren’t in the original at launch, there’s plenty more here for fans to enjoy.
9.0
Outstanding OVERALL

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For quintessential zombie killing mayhem, there is no other game like L4D2. The characters are fun to play and funny to listen to. Like me, you may enjoy kicking zombie butt as the sleight African-American woman Rochelle, or listening to the outlandish stories of the resident mechanic Ellis. The gameplay is amazing, particularly the meelee combat. My favorite meelee weapon is the baseball bat, but you'll have plenty of others to choose from, such as the ax, crowbar, paddle bat, golf club,and chainsaw. Getting up close and personal with the zombies is at first quite scarey and anxiety-producing. But after knocking off a few heads with the bat-or weapon of your choice-you'll be hooked. I can't say much about the guns, not because there aren't cool new ones, but because I'm a shotgun guy and that's pretty much all I use. There are single shot shotguns, the auto-shotty, and a new combat shotgun. I prefer the auto-shotty, but the combat shotgun is great against the Tank, other Specials, and hordes of Zombies. For me, the single shot works best only as compared to the other weapons available that early in the game, and because I like that "reach out and touch someone" feeling that only the shotgun can give. It also helps to have a good meelee weapon and know how to use it. I find that when I use the chainsaw I cause more damage to my teammates than the zombies. Speaking of the chainsaw (and everything else), the effects are as gruesome and realistic and amazing as anyone could want, and the the AI gets to know you all too quickly. A good player in a game with some mediocre players will get hit early on with one special infected after another. Nice to get noticed, I guess. That's when you understand the importance and necessity of team play in this game. If the other players don't have your back, and you theirs, there will be a whole lot of dying going on. Trust me, as much as I love this game, it gets really boring playing the same finale for the 27th time because another player keeps running off and getting killed, or doesn't pay attention while you're getting shredded by the Hunter. Remember, there's no "I" in Team (although there is an "m" and an "e"). The "special infected" include all those from L4D1-Boomer, Hunter, Smoker, Witch and Tank- plus the new ones Jockey, Spitter and Charger. In my opionion, the worst is the Jockey. You'll know why once he rides your head and directs you into fire or Spitter goo. As for the Spitter, she's not too smart or too fast, but she sure is ugly and she spits green acid. And once she spits on you, any nearby zombies will do their best to trap you in her goo. The Charger...well...charges. He's like a smaller version of the Tank, with a deformed hand which has grown huge enough to grab you and pound you into the ground. Literally. There is only one downside to this game (well, maybe two if you count its addictive quality). I say this only for the Xbox 360 version which is the one I play the most. There are those on xbox live that only want to gather up all the incendiaries-gas cans, propane tanks, acetylene tanks-and blow them up, or blow you up, or kill you in some way, or kill other teammates in other ways. >>Yawn<< Boring. But if you keep at it and make some good friends (and find the right time of the day and stage of the moon to actually connect with them online) you'll have endless hours of fun with L4D2.

just what i wanted, very fast shipping.Here we are roughly one year after the release of Left 4 Dead, and its sequel is already out. For Valve, Left 4 Dead 2 represents an unusually speedy turnaround time considering the delays and release date fuzziness generally associated with its games, notably in the years leading up to Team Fortress 2 and the still mysterious status of Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Despite that history and the potential concerns associated with how soon this game is showing up after the first, Left 4 Dead 2 is very much a complete game, much more so than the original, and is without a doubt the better product. If you're still in the mood to group up with friends and slay packs of ravenous undead, then it doesn't get any better than this.

L4D2 is constant with all the things that made L4D great; smooth, performance-based graphics, fluid gameplay, and a small learning curve. Massacring zombies is as exciting in this one as it was in the first, more so actually with the wider range of weapons. The campaigns are very similar in style, but each is different in it's own way keeping things fresh. The tactical side of the game is also more highlighted by the fact that there are a few more special infected to save your teammates from (or for them to save you from). They also added in more game modes to play, like survival and realistic mode, to offer a little more variation.

I don't really get the criticism that has been pinned to L4D2. Some have complained about the graphics being poor, and thus that makes the game complete trash. First of all there is nothing wrong with the graphics, they're not equal to modern warfare 2, but they're still good. Other criticisms include the difficulty. It is true that this game is more challenging than the first, at least I found it to be. But some have gone on to say that it's TOO difficult. Which is ridiculous. If you find this game too difficult to play you should go back to playing Mario Bros. 3. It's just like the first one: once you get familiar with each level by playing it multiple times it gets much easier. Most people who are writing these reviews, criticizing the game, probably haven't played this game enough.

If your a parent looking for a game for a child, you might want to overlook this one. their is a lot of blood and gore in this game (arms fly off, heads roll, blood splatters, etc.). So you should really stick to the ratings on this one.

As a fan of Left for Dead, I was pleasantly surprised by the new features in Left for Dead 2. Game play is smooth and the graphics are still great. The game still has the same basic controls as the first one, which are pretty easy to master, but it's more challenging than the first one. More levels to play, and each campaign is more obviously linked to the last one in series. A few more special infected make everything more challenging, and you have more of a selection when it comes to guns, each with it's own benefits over the others. Teamwork is an absolute must in this game...if your character gets separated from the group and you get grabbed by a special infected, you're definitely in trouble. There are more modes to play in (campaign, realism, survival, vs, etc.) The music and sound effects make for some pretty intense game play, and it's considerably gorier than the first one - which is good news for any dedicated zombie slayer. :) I recommend it to anyone who loved the first game, and you won't be disappointed.