A quick thought on Left for Dead 2 . . .

[Detective Keaton]

First thing, when I'm playing a horror game, I want to be scared. I mean, hell, why else would I pick that genre?


And that, to me is the only problem in this game, it just doesn't take itself seriously enough.

In the opening scene to Left 4 Dead, it made itself look pretty serious, and when I first played through the No Mercy campaign, I was creeped out by the lighting, the zombie noises and especially that creepy music that comes on when you approach a witch. I thought it told a decent survival story, and was looking forward towards playing the next campaign.

But that's when I started to get disappointed, as right off the bat a character says "next time don't get in a chopper with a zombie" and then another one says "I think I see sunny skies ahead of us!" It was these character comments that really ruined the creepy atmosphere of the game for me. This is also the issue with COD Zombies, I mean if I was in their shoes I would be scared out of my wits, and be slowly breaking down mentally over the course of time. THAT'S how I think the characters thould be portrayed, rather then yelling "let's get em!" while fighting hundreds of zombies.

Now, that was Left 4 Dead, but Left 4 Dead 2 just takes this to a whole new level. The absurdity of the cutscene was ridiculous, and I knew from the start that it wasn't going to take itself seriously, at all. However it still tried to tell a serious story, but it failed to captivate me when the characters were howling cheesy one liners about zombies and Boomer sh!t the whole way through the entire game.

Overall, maybe the L4D series wasn't meant to be taken seriously, but why? As I said before, why play a horror game if I'm not going to be scared. What's more is that the atmosphere of the game was near perfect, the characters however were not (and don't even let me begin with the repetition of the campaigns . . .)

I still have loads of fun with it primarily co-op, but it's just these little things that keep me from being fully immersed in the game.

Save your comedy for Portal and such, Valve (as it was clearly fitting for it), and keep it out of the zombie games (which just feels out of place).


What do you guys think? Post your thoughts in the comments!

[MunkeyThrust]

I dunno, I don't see why it has to take itself so seriously, its fun. I see it as an action shooter.
I had no expectations when I bought it for 5 bucks, so I was pleasantly surprised.

[SillyGoose]

Actually that "comedy" factor have been related to the zombie theme frem quite some time, and not just in games but also in films.

But I think I get what you mean. While the game is still a great action shooter it isn't scary in the slightest (specially L4D2).

[Nosfrat]

Implying L4D2 is an horror game...

[Detective Keaton]

The Sentinel původně napsal:

Implying L4D2 is an horror game...

Ah well, I guess it could and couldn't be, I can also just get abunch of workshop mods to make it scary if that is truly what I want

[Stark Raven]

Left 4 Dead had atmosphere. Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't. It makes the Survivors' banter seem like an outright comedic attempt rather than trying to stay sane in a zombie apocalypse. That and the Tank is a giant tomato. Kinda hard to get scared of that.

[g.c.f.p.b.]

Indeed, I was never fond of Crash Course.

The map was lovely, but I'm afraid the dialogue was somewhat lackluster.

[Visi]

Those Dirty Blues původně napsal:

Left 4 Dead had atmosphere. Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't. It makes the Survivors' banter seem like an outright comedic attempt rather than trying to stay sane in a zombie apocalypse. That and the Tank is a giant tomato. Kinda hard to get scared of that.

Tomatoes are terrifying.

[dustin]

Totally forgot about this, but when I first purchased this game, I kind of thought the same thing. I was especially curious why the zombies run so fast.

Although this game may not be scary, it's addictive for other reasons. It's the only fps game I know of where individual skill and teamwork combine so well. I'm still looking for another game to start playing where teamwork is so important, yet individual performance / skill is equally important.

[tmwichy]

[Detective Keaton]

-RF-dustinandband původně napsal:

Although this game may not be scary, it's addictive for other reasons. It's the only fps game I know of where individual skill and teamwork combine so well. I'm still looking for another game to start playing where teamwork is so important, yet individual performance / skill is equally important.

Your point is very true, as I still love the game and let's face it, slashing zombies with a katana never gets old (especially in co-op).

I just think that for an idea so serious as the whole world being wiped out by a single germ, that someone should do a bit more serious take on it

[Roler42]

Considering how many other games tried to do a "serious gritty" mood to it, the L4D series still comes as a breath of fresh air after all these years

[coaghoul]

FH avanmonsjou původně napsal:

As I said before, why play a horror game if I'm not going to be scared.

L4D series is not about horror as genre, it's about zombie-movie. The style of the first one was based on dark and grim, hopeless atmosphere of older movies, like 28 days later.

L4D2 is about modern tendencies in that movie genre, half-serious, almost comedy adventure with couple of tragic moments, like Zombieland, Shaun of the dead or Dawn of the dead.