Left 4 Dead 2 came out of nowhere. Going to E3, I knew I was going to see something from Valve, and there were some rumblings that it might be a zombie hunting sequel, but it seemed more likely that we'd be getting a Portal 2 or Half-Life 2 Episode 3 than a Left 4 Dead 2. When it was finally announced the outcry was immediate, with many choosing sides and either furious with the sequel's existence or excited at the new additions to the game. After playing it at E3, I can confidently say that there's no real reason for the hate, and everyone should give Left 4 Dead 2 a chance before condemning it.


I mean, I definitely get the confusion. Valve's legacy is in supporting their titles for years after release with free updates - Team Fortress 2 is still expanding to this day. Left 4 Dead isn't even cold yet and Valve seems ready to discontinue support in favor of asking gamers to drop another $60 for a new version, which looks at first glance to be an incremental upgrade. Fans expected more maps, more game modes, and more reasons to continue playing one of the best games of last year, and instead they are getting a new game in an unfamiliar location. However, most of those complaints are baseless, since much of L4D2 is still shrouded in secrecy. The first trailer only revealed a few things: it is going to take place during the day, in the south, with four new characters. These new characters will have access to, among other new weapons, melee attacks, with tools such as axes and frying pans.



But beyond that, much was a mystery. After sitting down with the game and producer Chet Faliszek much, much more was quickly revealed. For instance, did you know there was going to be another game mode? They aren't able to release any details just yet, but beyond being able to play all five (see: more than four) campaigns in singleplayer, co-op, versus, and Survival Mode, there's a fifth way to play Left 4 Dead 2. Not only that, but Chet confirmed that custom levels made with the PC version's SDK will work in Left4Dead 2. This means anyone currently working on a custom campaign for the game will simply be able to convert it over to the upgraded engine and take advantage of the enhancements. Technically, it means Valve could possibly bring over Left 4 Dead's campaigns as DLC to L4D2 with all of the engine's improvements.

Speaking of an improved engine, L4D2 sports many enhancements that seem like they would have been hard to simply patch into the original game. The graphics are improved across the board, with better dismemberment and gore. Zombies caught in the chest with a shotgun blast can have a hole blown through them, exposing their rib cage as they tumble to the ground. On top of that, new and modified infected wander the south. It's been a few weeks since the original title, and the infection that has turned humans into the walking dead, tongue-shooting dead, and exploding dead has continued to evolve. This means the zombies we know and love may behave slightly differently (the smoker, for instance, has a new, frightening scream), while new types wander New Orleans. In the demo, only the Charger was shown, which was featured earlier in the first trailer. This new type of enemy will charge through infected and survivors alike to find himself standing over his target, who he will grab by the chest and slam into the ground over and over again. He's easier to defeat than the tank, but works well as another thing to fear.



Besides those changes, the addition of melee weapons is likely the biggest update from the original. In the demo, I was able to use a baseball bat, fire axe, and frying pan, all of which did an admirable job of smashing undead. Characters swing the weapons with a large arc, though, meaning it's tricky to use and requires a certain level of finesse. Luckily, it's a bit easier to see what's going on thanks to the fact that L4D2 takes place during the day. All of the game's five campaigns will be a bit brighter than the original's, and will also share a bit of continuity between them. It's still possible to jump from one level to another without problem, but Valve wanted to give players a little more story this time around.

I can't really talk too much about the new characters because, well, I don't know them too well. It took a week or two to really learn Zoey, Louis, Francis, and Bill, and it will likely take the same amount of time to learn the new four characters. Nevertheless, it feels like a much improved, much expanded Left 4 Dead, and anyone who truly feels that hurt about it should reserve judgment until they get their hands on the title. Before they're able to make a frown the infection will spread, and they'll be laughing along with friends for months to come.