Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

Unless you're the sort who thinks Expert level is boring, prepare for a surprise when you start L4D2. I tend to play Advanced/Expert on one, but my team and I got our asses handed to us on just the first campaign of L4D2. They've really upped the difficulty in the sequel. I like it. It's challenging again.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

Yeah, this game is amazing. It really builds on the best aspects of the original while retaining the core gameplay. The addition of melee is probably my favorite. Samurai swords, chainsaws, and bats? Too awesome.

All of the new campaigns are excellent as well. There's much much more variety than the original, and they are all considerably longer with more branching pathways and nooks to get lost in. I like that they mixed up the objectives (gas cans, running across the bombed out bridge, wandering witches, etc.), so it isn't always just run and gun until you hole up during a 'stand off' in the final chapter.

Valve also did a great job experimenting with atmospheric effects that impact the gameplay. Most dramatically in Hard Rain, which is probably the strongest new campaign - starting out on a sunny day that slowly turns into a heavy storm. Making your way back through the maps with heavy rain pouring down on the flooded environments is awesome.

The new special infected are a blast to play on versus. My favorite has to be the jockey, or maybe the spitter. But it's just too fun latching on to some poor sap and taking him away far from his team.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

It's definitely a lot harder than the previous game, no question. And there's no way that this could have been done as an "expansion pack" to the original game, it adds a lot of new features.

Gotta love the chainsaw.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

I rejoined Gamefly for the winter, and put this in my queueueeue. Hopefully, I will get this soon and be able to have a few sessions with some dvdtalkers.

I suck at using the melee weapons. I'm always too far away or turned in the wrong direction.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

It's the best weapon in the game! You can literally run through and take down entire hordes without getting touched.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

Exactly. Finished L4D on Expert (co-op), took several months. Could not beat the final level of crash course, gave up. First level of l4d2 we actually finshed on our second try but got stuck on level 2 for numerous hours last night. 2nd level is looonng

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

So what is the deal with the 'exclusive' bat? Unless you buy L4D2 from GS its not in the game?

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

You're not missing out on anything. There is a normal bat in game, but the exclusive one just looks different - nothing special.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

I think if you pre-ordered the game you got the bat.

Don't worry though. The way its set up, if even one person on your team pre-ordered, then everyone gets access to the bat for that session.

I like it personally. Swings fast and hits hard.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

I assume the code you put in is unique? ... is it unlocking something on the disc or downloading an add-on? I'm just wondering how this is an 'exclusive' bat since anyone could post the code and everyone be using it by now.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

My wife saw the commerical for l4d2, and she thought it was some comic style zombie killer (Like Zombie land). I don't think she quite understands how brutal/intense the game is lol.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

Uh-huh. We were getting destroyed on Normal and knocked it back to Easy and were still running into problems once in awhile. Yikes. (But it was awesome!)

I've only played the first two levels thus far, but they've been nothing short of great. Dark Carnival was absolutely insanely fantastic! What a finale! And the gnome was rescued! It was so hilarious us going through 4 levels trying to hold onto that thing. :lol:

"FUCK CARL, let him die! Do you have the gnome?!" :lol:

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I tried to go for the gnome achievement on my first run through the level. That didn't work out so well. After taking care to carry him for quite a while, I set him down somewhere in the funhouse to fight the horde and the next thing I know I've fallen through some hole in the floor to a lower level. No way back up and the bots of course don't grab the gnome. I'm going to have to retry this one once I've memorized where the 'no way back' points are on the map so I can take special precautions at those points.

So far I'm loving the variety of the levels. The only disappointment so far was the mall. I was hoping for something that really captured that mall essence, like Dawn of the Dead '78 or Dead Rising. Instead it just felt like the airport from the first game with a few small touches thrown in to make it more 'mall-like'. It's a sharp contrast to the amusement park, which just oozes carnival flavor in every nook and cranny.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I really liked this game so far, the chainsaw is awesome in particular. Nothing beats running through a horde of zombies with that. I also really like the explosive rounds in the swamp level, so much fun to fire off. Difficulty from the first game is way harder.

the mall did remind me of the dead air level I agree

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Well I think L4D2 might have cured me of my L4D addiction (or maybe I'll just go back to the original). WTF is the point of amping up the difficulty that much? I played w/ 6 different groups tonight and not a single game finished. Were people really complaining about the difficulty of the original one that much?

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Alright, so I really want to get in on the Best Buy black friday deal of $34.99 for this game. Is my best bet to purchase it this weekend, and then just return and rebuy during the Doorbuster promotion? Anyone have luck with this stuff before?

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Besides the dumbass who kept running ahead or dragging behind we finished Dark Carnival on easy and it was... easy. I have yet to try VS yet but damn...lots of places to fuck around with the Survivors.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Me and my friends rented the game and are going to give it a run through tomorrow. From the people that have it, approximately how long do you guys think it would take to go through on normal?

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

In single player mode on normal it's taken me about an hour to get through most of them. So I guess that's not too different than the first one. Except for the Carnival one which was about an hour and half due to the "sprint" part (you'll know what I mean when you get there ;)) which took several attempts to get through.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

It's hard, but it's not that much worse than the original. People just need to get used to the longer maps and new content. You can't just corner up so easily like in the original. People in VS mode are already starting to get the hang of things, although it's still quite difficult to complete the maps. It will get easier once the layouts are more familiar. I think it's good that it's challenging though. This game gets boring when it's too easy.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Yeah, it was too hard for me and my buddy tonight. Got to the mall but holy fuck getting those gas cans was a bitch and a half. Had to pull the plug after a while, which was VERY disappointing. As much as I hate to break out Easy mode, once I get to the stock car, I think I very well might.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I disagree. On normal before w/ an avg "team" you could get through a level in about 50-60 mins and be successful 8 or 9 out of 10 times. That was about right IMHO since there were still two levels above normal for those that want more of a challenge. I played maybe 10 rounds or so yesterday and the only time we were successful was when we played on easy (and even then there were times when most of the team was dead/knocked down -- which shouldn't happen on easy IMHO). From the comments other people were making I wasn't alone in thinking things were a bit ridiculous. It's also not just the layout of the maps IMHO... There seems to be very few breaks in the game, it is pretty much non-stop attacks and the "random" hoard attacks are more back to back than previously. The other thing I noticed last night is that it might work out better to rely on the hand-to-hand weapons primarily and then use the firearms for the specials. At least that's how we got through the easy level, I'll have to try the same approach on normal and see how that works.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

That is certainly one of the more curious statements I have read on this forum.
I assume you are joking?

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

phrased it wrong because I was typing fast- what I meant is difficulty compared to the first game is harder.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Add to the fact that hordes now come out of all sides, sometimes it feels like they fall out of the sky.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I've seen them spawn (while Infected) in mid-air.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Also was there some sort of aim assist in the first that wasn't carried over to the second? I swear sometimes I've shot some of the common ones at a medium to close range and it either missed or took several shots whereas before they would have been put down w/ one shot.

Still enjoying it overall... but it's going to get more frustrating restarting time after time (or just having to give up) if they don't change it w/ an update. JMO

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Having finally played all five scenarios, I really appreciate the variety this game offers in terms of level design. L4D1 had some minor differentation here and there, but for the most part the scenarios were based on the same formula. L4D2's scenarios are full of twists on that formula. The backtracking on Hard Rain is an interesting change. The Bridge at the end of the Parish is a brutal marathon. Dead Center's finale is a mini fetch mission. It's great that you have to change up your strategy time-to-time from the simple 'find a defensible spot and stick it out'. Even the relatively traditional Dark Carnival finale offers a changing landing spot for the helicopter to throw you off.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Seconded. They did some really great stuff this time around.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Damn, I just finished playing a Parish session, and we got stuck on the bridge. We tried to get through about 7 times, but we just couldn't make it. This was on normal. It didn't help that we had one bot playing with us, but damn. There are certain choke points in the bridge section were they throw every special infected at you that are just a bear. I know everyone talked about the witch from the first game, but I cannot stand the charger. Hate that sumbitch.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I saw one of those "behind the scenes" shorts that they post on LIVE and I'm pretty sure I heard them say that they made it harder to kill the regular Infected. It sounded like one of the things they changed for this game due to bitching that it was too easy to kill them or some shit like that.

I haven't picked this up yet.. :(

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Well I'll say this....normal in this version is not "normal" in the first version. But to me that's a good thing. Why spend $60.00 for a cakewalk and then end up complaining it was to easy and has no replay value. No doubt some frustration has set in tha wasn't with the first game. With four players survial and getting thru does depend on just that....coop a.k.a team play.

My gripes so far is the teamate AI....they're stupid some times and still see some lagging. But loving all the weapons especially the Bat, Frying Pan, and chainsaw.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

I played through the Mall last night with 3 other random players (on PC). All 4 of us ended up being on headset so that helped. We played through on normal, and I honestly thought it was easier than the first L4D, until the gas tank part at the end. I thought the gas tank part made up for the lack of challenge most of the rest of the game.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

Well Gamestop finally emailed me a code (2 of them actually), several days after I had already given up and returned the game to the store and repurchased from Best Buy who doesn't lie about having an exclusive for something. But the dumb fucks sent codes for the XBOX....Gamestop really is a clueless fucking operation. So basically I have 2 XBOX Live codes for the Louisville slugger for whoever wants them. I will PM them to the first 2 members to post here asking for them.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 - Demo Oct 27th
 

I'd like one please! Thanks very much!

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Maxflier I wouldn't mind the other one. Thanks!

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Sent you both PM's.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Thanks again! I didn't think I was going to get this game anytime soon due to $$$. But I took advantage of Gamestop's Trade 2 for $20 deal and picked it up tonight. I can't wait to use the fancy bat! :lol:

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Wow, this game really makes you work your ass off this time around.

Re: Left 4 dead 2 thread of zombie action
 

Thank you very much! I'll kill some zombies with it in your honor.