Left 4 Dead (demo) review

November 13, 12:28 PMPC Game ExaminerBryan Edge-Salois

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"Here they come..."

The Left 4 Dead demo is now available as a free download from Valve's Steam service.  The full retail version of Left 4 Dead is due in stores on November 18th -- and based on this demo, I can't wait.

Left 4 Dead is essentially a 4-player, co-op, first person shooter in which you team up with three other online players and fight your way through zombie-infested streets.

"Get ready..."

While zombies and team-based play aren't new to first person shooters, Left 4 Dead adds many unique elements -- many of which enhance the team-based nature of the game -- that make playing it  a very different experience from typical FPS games.

For example, some zombies can basically grapple you and prevent you from shooting or knocking them away. In these situations, the only way to escape is for a friend to kill the attacker, and in some cases help you up off the ground by holding down the 'E' (use) key for a short period (although that 'short period' can feel like an eternity when a flesh-eating horde is charging at you).

In the event that someone does die, they re-spawn as a 'trapped survivor' that you can rescue by opening the door to the room in which they're trapped.

The demo features machine guns, two types of shotgun (pump and automatic), 9mm pistols (with unlimited ammo), and Molotov cocktails for all your zombie-blasting needs. Generally, your goal is move from safe house to safe house, where caches of health and ammo await.  That's a few hundred yards you'll never fight harder to get through.

The demo only contains two levels, but I found them to be some of the most fun and exciting online multi-player gaming I've experienced.  The full-featured game will offer more weapons, enemies, and 20 levels of mayhem. ( Based on the demo, I think it's all but certain that Left 4 Dead will be a monster hit and launch to rave reviews.)

Visit the Left 4 Dead home page 

Download the Demo from Valve's Steam Service