"LEFT 4 DEAD"

• Released: Nov. 18, 2008
• Genre: Cooperative, horror shooter
• Platforms: PC, Xbox 360
• Publisher: Valve Corporation
• Developer: Valve Corporation
• ESRB: M (Mature 17+)
• Price: $50 for PC, $60 for Xbox 360

VALVE CORPORATION, MAKER of the highly popular "Team Fortress 2," "Half Life 2," and "Portal," has done it again with "Left 4 Dead," a four-player cooperative survival horror game for the PC and Xbox 360.

In the game, players choose to play as one of four survivors who try to escape from a zombie-infested environment. The game plays out from a first-person perspective and is designed around standard shooter gameplay.

In "Left 4 Dead," there are two different cooperative modes of play: campaign and versus. The campaign mode involves four survivors battling their way through several environments, including a highway, wilderness, and hospital.

On the surface, the campaign mode is rather short, only containing four different “movies,” each divided into five "chapters." Each movie took us about 40-60 minutes to complete, leaving the total play time at under five hours.

However, the versus mode makes up for the short campaign mode and adds a competitive element to "Left 4 Dead." In this mode, up to four additional players may take control of special zombies and fight against the survivors. The versus mode is only available in two of the four "movies."

A big boon to both the quality and the length of the game is a new AI (Artificial Intelligence) system called the "Director." The Director monitors player statistics such as health, ammo, and gun-aim accuracy, and it dynamically adjusts the pace of the game to always keep players on the edge.

In addition, the Director controls music, visual effects, and the hundreds of unique lines that each survivor has at their disposal. While the game does not take long to play through once, the Director creates a different experience each time the game is played.

"Left 4 Dead" continues Valve's tradition of excellent linear-level design. Despite giving gamers a clear route to the goal, each scenario presents multiple approaches to solving the current problem. The layout of the world facilitates complex group tactics to progress through the infested environments. Unfortunately, Valve only includes a small number of maps. However, the Director ensures that no two play-throughs will be alike, greatly extending the replay value of the game.

"Left 4 Dead" is designed primarily as a multiplayer game. If you choose to play with less than four people, the Director takes control of the remaining survivors. The survivor AI is surprisingly competent, capable of making up for the loss of human-controlled players. However, playing with your friends or others on the Internet is much more enjoyable due to the high degree of sociability possible.

Valve has worked hard to make the interaction between players streamlined and fun. Teamwork is essential to survival, especially on the harder difficulties, where those who stray from the group will soon perish. Coordination is also important when playing as the Infected. Teamwork between the four special zombies is necessary to bring down the heavily armed survivors.

To keep team members aware of each other, the HUD (heads up display) contains health bars for each player, as well as whatever weapons and health items they are carrying. Both survivors and zombies can see bright outlines of their team members through walls, and Valve has included integrated VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for easy communication. For example, if players do not have microphones, they can call out when they find health or ammo, see one of the five types of special zombies, or during other special events.

"Left 4 Dead" has an atmosphere that almost parodies horror and suspense movies like "28 Days Later." This is created by small touches like a film-grain effect that mimics a low-budget movie, a credit sequence that lists the number of zombies "harmed in the making," and promotional posters portraying the survivors as "actors" in a campy zombie film from Hollywood, complete with a dramatic background photo and a snappy tag line.

The atmosphere, gameplay, AI, and social dynamic are integrated into a tight package that keeps the game fresh even after many replays. Mowing down the ranks of the undead with your shotgun never gets old, especially when you are doing it with friends.

With "Left 4 Dead," Valve has created a satisfying experience that is greatly enhanced by the social interaction possible. Experienced gamers and newcomers alike will find this game accessible and fun. If there's one game you and your friends should spend your free time on this Thanksgiving break, it's "Left 4 Dead."

"Left 4 Dead" is available for $50 for PC and $60 for Xbox 360 at electronics retailers. The PC version can be found as a digital download online at Steampowered.com. Free "Steam" registration is required to play. The game is rated M (Mature 17+) for blood and gore.

Survivor Zoey attacks a tank. (Valve Corporation; click any image to create slideshow)

One of the many dark environments in "Left 4 Dead."

Survivor Francis is attacked by a smoker.

One of the many zombie hordes found in the game.

A boomer spits bile on one of the survivors.

The four survivors.