Forums > Submission Feedback > Lewis's Left 4 Dead review

Excellent review! Here's a sentence that stuck out at me:

While ever you're not making direct progress towards the finish line, The Director isn't happy.

How about 'whenever' instead of 'while ever' at the start?

But back to why the review was excellent... You really did a good job of pulling me into the experience and even feeling a certain degree of tension. The part about playing with an inexperienced player was somehow chilling, and your other examples were high-quality, as well.

I got to feeling as if I'd experienced the game--just a little--and that made me want to experience the full thing... just a little (because I'm rubbish at freaky games like this). Maybe I'll find a way to play it, even though we weren't sent a copy. I'd go with the Xbox 360 version, though. Console gaming all the way for me!

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality

"What if everything you see is more than what you see--the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a secret door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. Perhaps it really is a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things." - Shigeru Miyamoto on secret doors to another world2

I cry every time I read a good review of this game, simply because I know I'll probably never get to play it. I'm not an Xbox or PC fan, so unless it gets ported to PS3 or MAC, I'm sunk.

Totally unfair... I was one of the project's earliest fans.

Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."

Man, with how awesome you make this game sound, I'm surprised you didn't give it a 10. Not that that means much.

Anyway, this is a game I'd been looking forward to myself, only I know I'll probably never get it because I probably won't have a decent enough PC and internet connection to run it for years to come. It really sounds like its strongest point is online, and that's something I haven't gotten fully into yet. I blame lame dial-up connections.

Anyhow, so is what you played the real released game or just a demo? You said there were only four missions upon release... Does that mean they'll add more and just make them downloadable or something or is that the total period? Also, are they/have they fixed the server issue? And if not by actual release, how will they do that? Or will they at all?

Though I will say that maybe the whole random server thing could add to the panicky suspense thing you describe, since being thrown into a completely unknown place with (almost) no one you know would really rachet up the emotion, the way I see it.

This was a great review, by the way. I think I'm starting to get the hang of your style more. Or maybe you're adapting in your own way somewhat. Either way, keep it up. I like it.

I did find one typo, though:

I'd be more than happy to play continuously, fighting the hoards, until there were no zombies left.

Should be hordes. You need to stop hanging out with EmP so much. =P

The only other complaint I could make with this review, really, is that it's a bit long, but you make it interesting enough to where that doesn't matter so much. Plus I'm one to think that quality is way more important than the length of the review, anyway.

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

JV: I knew that sentence didn't read that well. Feel free to edit it.

WQ: You're absolutely right. JV can feel free to edit that as well, if he wants. I used the one as in 'to hoarde food' didn't I? Or maybe I just made up a word.

LANGUAGE SHIFT!

Anyway, cheers for the feedback, all. The version I played was the review code, but since it was sent to me a day before release and is perfectly compatible with everyone's retail copies, I assume it's the same.

Valve has always been a fan of releasing multiplayer games with a limited number of maps and adding free downloadable content as the months pass. Plus I'm sure the huge Source Engine community will start modding it soon enough, adding tonnes more levels. In fact, they already have. Someone's tweaked the code to add TF2 maps - I'm not sure whether that's strictly allowed or not, but it sounds like fun.

Regarding the score, it's funny you should mention that. I had the review open to one side for hours, intermittently changing the score, being about to submit it, then deciding I'd sit on it for a while longer. In the end, I decided that the fact it took me so long to reach that decision meant it probably didn't quite warrant a 10, but it's probably the best 9 I've ever awarded. If this were IGN, we'd have been talking 9.4 territory, while Fallout would have probably scraped a 9.5.

Still, what a joy to write about two games this good in just three weeks.

EDIT: one more thing. The PC version will definitely be more satisfying in the long run. Valve already have an enormous player community on the PC, whereas it's smaller on the XBox. My thoughts are that, like TF2, the PC community support will me much stronger in the months to come.

Not sure how to make a sig? While logged into your account, you can edit it and your other public and private information from the Settings page.

You didn't make up a word. You're right: "hoard" means to stash, like how you used it in that example.

Anyway, it's good to know that there might be mods and additions added to the game. I'm definitely one to prefer FPSs on PC than on console, so hopefully I'll be able to get around to this sometime in the future depending on how circumstances turn out. Hm... Will they fix the server thing with those sorts of updates, too? If it really matters that much.

Oh, and I just remembered something I wanted to ask before.... How exactly does the Witch kill you? Like, I know it's first-person, so you won't really be able to see the effects on your person, but with a one-hit kill, I'd imagine it's pretty gruesome. I also find it hard to believe that she only uses her claws to do it, though maybe she does.

I really should check out this game sometime. I'm surprised EmP hasn't said anything about it, or complained that he'll never have a powerful enough system to run it on. Since he loves zombies so much. I'd imagine this game would be like heaven to him or something.

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

The witch launches at you, pins you to the ground, then claws you to death at such a rate it's practically impossible for someone to save you in time.

You're left staring up at her gruesome face, but the blood and guts are there for everyone else to see, if they dare to get close enough.

Also, her claws are pretty big:

Not sure how to make a sig? While logged into your account, you can edit it and your other public and private information from the Settings page.

Wow. That's frightening. ...they're like knives....

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QRFBWQU_yJ0 - you don't get a good glimpse, really, but watch the guy's health bar. Almost full health down to below 20% in one hit, followed by a two-second struggle before death.

Actually, this one sums it up very nicely:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rmBiN2hceJc

Not sure how to make a sig? While logged into your account, you can edit it and your other public and private information from the Settings page.

Yep. That's definitely freaky. I wonder what playing this game must be like in the middle of the night with the lights off and all that ambient creepy noise. Talk about immersive. And I only just watched those videos.

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

Stop Lewis. Stop it before my heart explodes with envy.

Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."

I was fooling around on expert on the demo and shined the flashlight on the witch for the hell of it. The game ended no more than five seconds later.

IF YOU WANT MORE BEATS FOR YOUR BUCK THERE'S NO LUCK.

Yeah. I was looking at those videos Lewis linked to and found one linked to them which has a witch confrontation in a more lit area.

That was pretty freaky. One person would get its attention and it would just sprint like a bat out of hell at him until it knocked him down and then it was up to everyone else to blow it to hell before it utterly slaughtered the poor sap. Good stuff!

I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle

Most wanted game that I can't play. So so so so so sad. I'll have to hold out for a PS3 release. Or go over to Phasma's house, he'll understand.

And he's got an Xbox 360.

Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."

For Black Friday this game is only $19.95 on Amazon. I'd say it's worth it!

EDIT: Game might've sold out already in a total of ten minutes. It's being sold from somewhere else and I think Amazon is out.

IF YOU WANT MORE BEATS FOR YOUR BUCK THERE'S NO LUCK.

I've poured more time into this than anything else for ages. It's worth it, whatever the price (within reason).

Not sure how to make a sig? While logged into your account, you can edit it and your other public and private information from the Settings page.

I've been holding it off for some time because I wanted to try Crysis Warhead's multiplayer first and I know once I start L4D I won't stop. I was about to start yesterday but for some reason busted out Serious Sam instead. Finally I broke down and played it last last night.

IF YOU WANT MORE BEATS FOR YOUR BUCK THERE'S NO LUCK.