"Normal" should be a difficulty level for somewhat skilled gamers who want a light challenge. If you want a real challenge, that's what Hard and Expert are for. They even added the "Realism" toggle, so why make "Normal" frustrating for many people who were perfectly happy with the Normal difficulty level in the first game?

I feel like I shouldn't need to switch to Easy to have a good time with the game, but unless they patch the difficulty and the AI Director's douchebaggardly tendencies, that may be my only option for wringing entertainment out of this game.

Check out the most recent Joystiq podcast for some good discussion about L4D2 and how Valve tried to fix something that wasn't broken in the first place.

The developer commentary for this is very interesting. They made a lot of changes to counter common strategies in the first game.

Still not getting the difficulty complaints. I don't think Normal is that bad (Advanced is another story). I don't know how much you guys have played, but I still think map familiarity is a big part of it. I remember Dead Air and Death Toll being similarly challenging. There are some parts that could be balanced a little better, like the constant hordes during the soda bottle part of Parish (I think?). But as I play the maps more and more, they get easier and easier. Swamp Fever and Hard Rain in particular.

I mostly play versus though. I realize the campaigns are a bit more challenging for survivors - and I can see how you'd be totally fucked if you were just playing with AI, but who does that?

All pefectly valid points. Honestly I'm chalking up a lot of the stuff for me as just not being use to the environments and new specials. There definitely is an increase in difficulty overall, but for me there are other factors as well. Change of weapons, less linear paths, tougher/more specials, etc. I'm curious to see once I get more play in if it becomes less difficult.

I'll have to check out the Joystiq podcast talk. Don't usually listen, so thanks for the heads up!

With the lag problems, playing on my own is becoming a more attractive option. I'd much rather play with friends, but between the lag and the frustrating experience, I'm not finding a lot of motivation to continue playing and get familiar with the maps. With so many great games out right now, this one just isn't calling out to me.

Took a listen to the Joystiq segment. I definitely didn't have the same "impossible" reaction that they did. We died at a few points and eventually moved it down to Easy, but I didn't ever really get to their point of frustration at all. I can understand the argument of the change to the difficulty scaling, and especially loved the Guitar Hero analogy, but moving down to Easy didn't take my fun away.

It has inspired me though. I really want to give a runthrough on the the game staying on Normal and seeing how it goes now that I've had more time with some of the levels. Maybe I'll change my POV completely.

I've only made it through the 1st map but I have to say that I LOVE that they force you to do something instead of just waiting and shooting it out until help arrives.


Yeah but switching to Easy is an "Ego Buster". I felt ashamed when I did it; but like you, I'm also inspired to finish on Normal.

The lag is out of control. We did a local server last night that was working for us, but it really seems to be hit or miss. They should have fixed this by now. It's not even tolerable-slight-delay lag, it's holy-shit-I-shot-this-gun-8-seconds ago-why-hasn't-it-fired lag.

Not when you have no skill and fully recognize it like I do. I play most games on puss level. I'm there for the experience. I've got enough stuff in real life that can piss me off, I don't need a game to throw it's .02 in.

Map familiarity is part of it, but so is the constant hoard attacks and shooting opponents point blank and it still doesn't register as a hit (not sure if that's a lag issue or bad math based on not having a laser sight). So far the thing I've found that makes it easier is to find a good melee weapon and rely primarily upon that. Good communication is pretty much a must... but let's be real here how many times do you have that amongst 4 strangers. Seriously the last couple of months of L4D pretty much have been silent (as the more experienced players moved on to other games or were waiting for this one). Already I've tried to play through a few levels of L4D2 w/ no one on headsets. I like most of the things they did, but mucking up the difficulty is definitely taking the fun out of it.

Wait till you get to the bridge

Dell has L4D2 for $39 on the 360.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...471&lid=566643

If you're finding no micers, start your own lobby and boot them out. By the way, I'm signing on now for those who want to play.

Last night my mic was messing up, hopefully I don't need a new headset.

I'd rather just be able to drop in and play for a little while and maybe have a decent chance of making it through a level

Well, send me a friend request. I had a lot of fun playing just now. The levels are confusing, but I enjoyed it.

But please, give them a chance to respond. I went into a lobby last night and was muted because I was coughing. The lobby leader said "Groucho, you got a mic?" and booted me five seconds later while I was trying to unmute and respond.

I always play with a mic so if anyone wants to send me an invite go ahead. My GT is "Giantrobo". Also, say you're from dvdtalk so I add you right away.


No shit. I must have spent like 25 minutes trying to figure out how to get out of the motel on the Carnival level.

Fortunately I have a long list of friends from months of L4D sessions. So at least I'll have at least one friend in each game. L4D2 is tough enough as it is without having to adjust to strangers play styles.

I got frustrated at one point tonight and switched to a L4D game. And y'know I have to admit I actually had more fun with the older game. I'm slowly gettign better at 2, but a tt he moment it really is more like work than fun.

I haven't played with my mic on yet, but I haven't had any problems "communicating" with random players so far. There was only one time that I wish I had it on, because I really needed health and this one cat had a pack (along with health in the green), but he didn't give it to me quickly. I didn't die, but I almost did, and had to straggle behind the group for long stretches of time so as to not get hit. Eventually he gave it to me though, so even that worked out.

I think this game is BRILLIANT in how it communicates so much of the stuff you would need to say for you.

About the difficulty, yeah it can be tough, but I like playing on normal. That feels just right to me, especially when you're playing with a decent set of players.

If anyone wants to add me my GT is in my sig. I'm still getting used to these levels (I still haven't played them all), but I'm loving this game.

I do. I remember one day I kept getting booted out of rooms because people couldn't hear me talking. I'm sitting there in front of my girlfriend like an idiot saying "hello hello!" while people are talking about booting me for not having a mic. I'm unplugging and plugging in my mic, switching it back and forth and nothing. After getting booted from three lobbies I realize I had the mic pushed up the side of my head, and not next to my mouth.

I was playing the developer commentary last night, and I swear I spent half the time wondering where the fuck I was going.

I think you need to give yourself time to adjut. I remember when first playing Left 4 Dead that I was confused and frustrated a lot because I just didn't know where the hell to go. Of course when you play now, the levels are second nature so you can run and gun and the navigation doesn't even enter your thoughts. That adds to the enjoyment because you focus on strategy through a map rather than trying to get your bearings.

Is there a way to clear the medals you've earned in survival? I screwed up and got a bronze medal on the bridge level and I want to use that level for my melee only achievement.

I'll be playing within the hour I imagine. Please send me a friend request, and join me. Scorpy Gkar.

Recent Gameinformer issue #200 has a full page review up...9.5

Last two senetences of the review.....

If you are among those who think the sequel is coming to soon, prepare to eat your words like so many brains. Left 4 dead 2 is everything a sequel should be: pefected, expanded, and an absolute riot - Tim Turi

Hopefully my copy arrives on Friday!