Okay so what is so special about this game? I haven't played it yet, I just hate zombies game/movies in general.
Well, 'special' being in the eye of the beholder, I'll just list what I'm loving about L4D demo so far.
-the game artistically is just amazing. Valve imho has taken all the ideas for rendering effects, textures and all other visual effects they've improved the Source engine with over the last few games and damn near perfected them for this game.
-I've seen a couple clipping errors (arms coming through doors etc) but otherwise the arcade like high quality physics is awesome to see through all the hectic action. All the rag-dolling, and reactions even while victims are still alive and rag-dolling is done just beautifully.
-gore galore. Have yet to see more realistic gore in a game.
-The Difficulties feel like they were tailor made to my tastes/skill personally. From what I feel playing the AI director is IN MY HEAD MAN! It gets a lot trickier than just spawning zergs at you. It hits me with boss combos*, partial zergs followed by full on zerg rushes, and a boss thrown in for good measure, etc to keep me on my toes.
*I've been hit with a smoker pulling me with it's tongue, and had a Boomer puke on me mid-pull, I've also had a Boomer Puke on me, aggro'ing the witch nearby who kills in 1 hit. (boomer Puke attracts all zombos to the puke covered, blur-blinded brain buffet.)
- this seems to me to be one of the first games in a LONG time to which it's system requirements really are honest. this runs incredibly well even on my crappy mobo, but otherwise nice mid-range gaming rig.
-I 'fanboy out' for good zombie material, and I pick the bad stuff apart like a ravenous zombie horde. this is great zombie material here. Back story be-darned this is all about the visceral action of it for me.
-friendly fire makes what might otherwise seem like a brainless arcade style shooter a bit deeper than many people might give it credit for.
The only negative things I can say:
-the avg good level UT player is going to think that all but Expert difficulty is too easy.
- I wish the game had lean left/right keys for those of us who get stuck behind retards left praying for some open shots on the incoming hordes in cramped spaces.
Conclusion:
I'd buy this in a heartbeat if me and mine were a bit better off financially atm. But if you're not in to hectic, arcade style game play, or zombies this might not be your cup of blood.
(oh and these aren't the shambling "head shot bait" type zombies, these are those UK style, rabid infected, "run you down like a track star, curb stomp you, THEN maybe eat you" types.)
