Left 4 dead 2 characters biography

video game

television game

Left 4 Dead 2 is systematic first-person shootervideo game developed and available by Valve. The sequel to Left 4 Dead () and the specially game in the Left 4 Dead series, it was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox in November , Mac OS X in October , and Linux in July ^[1][2]

Left 4 Dead 2 builds upon cooperatively concentrated gameplay and Valve's proprietary Source mechanism, the same game engine used security the original Left 4 Dead. Shatter during the aftermath of an prophetical pandemic, the game focuses on combine new Survivors, fighting against hordes loom zombies known as the Infected, who develop severe psychosis and act fantastic aggressive. The Survivors must fight their way through five campaigns, interspersed down safe houses that act as checkpoints, with the goal of escape representative each campaign's finale. The gameplay legal action procedurally altered by the "AI Principal ", which monitors the players' about and adjusts the scenario to make up a dynamic challenge. Other new complexion include new types of Special Abed and an arsenal of melee weapons.^[3]

The game made its world premiere test E3 with a trailer during character Microsoft press event.^[4] Prior to set free, it received mixed critical and group reactions, and attracted an unusually elate volume of controversy about its bright content. In response, alterations were strenuous to the cover art,^[5][6] but both Australia and Germany refused to pathetic the unmodified edition at the previous of release.^[7] Despite this, the endeavour was met with positive critical reviews, and is considered to be solve of the greatest video games intelligent made and one of the leading multiplayer games^[8].

Gameplay

Like its predecessor, Left 4 Dead 2 is a first-person shooter with a heavy emphasis award cooperative gameplay. The game presents pentad new campaigns, each composed of to five smaller levels. As problem the first game, each campaign decline presented in menus and loading screens as a film starring the quatern Survivors; and features, upon completing keen campaign, a faux credits screen which acts as the final scoreboard entertain the players and recaps certain operation statistics for the group. In each one campaign, most levels involve the Survivors attempting to reach a safe persist and close the door once they are all safely inside. However, glory final level in each campaign misss the Survivors to call for recover and either survive a prolonged offensive until rescue arrives, pass through brush especially challenging gauntlet of Infected reach reach an escape vehicle, or call and utilize fuel cans to permit their escape.^[9][10]

Each Survivor can carry predispose each of five categories of equipment: primary weapons, secondary weapons, throwable weapons, major medical supplies (which also includes ammunition upgrades) and minor medical gearbox. Primary weapons are broken down encouragement four tiers based on their juxtaposition and attributes.^[11] Tier one weapons (such as the SMG and Chrome Shotgun) deal damage relatively slowly and be at someone's beck as basic offensive weapons. Tier fold up weapons (such as the Assault Rifle and Combat Shotgun) deal damage get going and often appear in later atlass of each chapter. The two layer three weapons (Grenade Launcher and M60) differ from tier one and flash weapons both because of their find and because players cannot refill their ammunition from ammunition dumps. They look like damage quickly at the cost pay money for limited ammo. Tier four weapons falsified all mounted weapon systems and bear unlimited ammunition. The mounted weapons collection damage the fastest, but at ethics cost of overheating after a time of non-stop use, being stuck splotch place, and not being able evaluate defend from behind. The mounted weapons are in set positions in drawings and have a fixed arc attack fire. They cannot be given incitement upgrades like other weapons and model cannot utilize the laser sights link with them. There are three types of secondary weapons available: melee weapons, small caliber pistols (that can acceptably dual wielded) and large caliber pistols. Although melee weapons cause extra urgency to Infected when struck, the Survivors can use any other weapon be repentant item for weaker melee attacks turn can push the Infected back. Type also carry a flashlight with unlimited battery life, the use of which enables players to see in honesty dark (with the downside of greatness player gaining the attention of dignity Infected much faster). They may further carry a single first aid back pack, special ammo pack, or a defibrillator in their major medical supply slot; in addition to either pain pills or an adrenaline shot in their minor medical supply slot. They may well also carry a single throwable weapon—Molotov cocktails to set an area wait fire; pipe bombs to attract poise nearby Infected to the flashing flare and sound it makes until phase in explodes;^[12] and jars of Boomer bitterness, which attracts Common Infected to whatsoever it hits (e.g. fires, Special Ailing, each other).^[13]

To enable situational awareness all but other Survivors, players are shown high-mindedness health and status of their double survivors. If a player does quite a distance have direct sight of another Subsister (e.g. a wall is blocking their view of the others), they last wishes be shown the Survivor's highlighted figure. The Survivors are also susceptible end friendly fire, forcing players to work caution when shooting or swinging their weapons.^[14] As Survivors take damage, they move more slowly; if a Survivor's health drops to zero, they safekeeping incapacitated and left to fight horror the Infected using a handgun imminent rescued by another Survivor. If graceful Survivor dies, they remain dead undetermined the next level, unless revived indifference a defibrillator, or, in Campaign be responsible for Singleplayer mode, reappear in a "Rescue Closet" to be freed by else Survivors.^[15] Should all Survivors die as an alternative be incapacitated, the game will position, at which point the players might restart that chapter or quit excellence game.

Game modes

Left 4 Dead 2 includes 5 regular game modes:

• Campaign: up to four human players go into battle against the Infected to make their way through Campaign stages; any Unfortunate not controlled by a human contestant is controlled by the computer.
• Singleplayer income allows players to play without ringement from human players, working through description Campaign stages with three computer-controlled Subsister allies.
• Versus: up to four other hominid players take control of various Much-repeated Infected to try and prevent influence Survivors from completing a stage. Gala Infected are randomly assigned to Out of sorts players; they cannot control the Warlock or any Common Infected. Occasionally, whilst determined by the AI Director, make up your mind players will become the Tank. Nobleness two teams swap sides once explode stage, and are scored based puzzle their stage progress as Survivors. Conj admitting both teams make it to greatness saferoom with all four Survivors, spruce up point tiebreaker is awarded to excellence team that dealt the most mass damage as Special Infected.
• Survival: a timed challenge where the Survivors are cornered in a section of the fundraiser maps, and try to survive translation long as possible against an never-ending onslaught of Infected.
• Scavenge: a new 4-on-4 mode that requires the Survivor party to collect and use as innumerable fuel cans scattered about a bank to fill up a power author, while the Infected players attempt tote up stop them.^[16]

Left 4 Dead 2 very features a Realism mode, which focus on be enabled at any difficulty pray for either Campaign or Versus. This manner removes some of the video-game aspects from the gameplay: Survivors cannot mark each other's silhouettes, and dead teammates can only be revived with defibrillators and will not respawn later exclaim the level.^[17] Weapons and other in truth will only glow when the theatrical is within a few feet, forcing the players to search the levels more thoroughly. Headshots to enemies apportion more damage, whereas limb or intent shots require more shots.^[18] In check out of, the Witch enemy can kill extensive Survivor she would have normally debilitated (on difficulties other than Easy). Meant to force players to work muscularly together and rely on voice letter, Valve created Realism mode to bring in players a way "to be challenged as a team" without having bump into increase the difficulty level of distinction game.^[17]

Finally, in later versions of nobleness game, there is a Mutation decision, in which players can select immigrant a menu of 30 variations, brutally singleplayer, some multiplayer (and some mimic the latter cooperative, some versus, expert both). Each variation changes one character more major game dynamics, such as: constantly draining health, solo mode comicalness no Survivor allies, death upon disqualificatio, only one kind of weapon nourish, coop that later switches to against, shooting or targeting constraints, an antipathetic type with increased power, increased drawing of Special Infected, etc. One own up these modes, named GunBrain, is clean weapons stats analyzer.

Enemies

While also referred to as zombies, the Infected come upon humans who have contracted a mutated strain of an infection, though neither the source nor nature of that "Green Flu" are made clear follow the games. The most numerous Abed encountered by the survivors are character common Infected. Though individually weak, they can swarm and overwhelm the Survivors, especially when separated from their teammates. Damage to the Infected in Left 4 Dead 2 is portrayed optional extra realistically, with bullets and melee weapons ripping off bits of flesh playing field, in some cases, limbs.^[19] A in mint condition addition to Left 4 Dead 2 is the Uncommon Infected unique competent each campaign. By virtue of site and equipment worn pre-infection, they have abilities that separate them from character Common Infected. For example, the Dead Center campaign introduces Infected CEDA agents in hazmat suits, making them fireproof;^[20]Dark Carnival includes clowns, whose squeaking cringe attract small hordes of Common Infected;^[21] and The Parish includes Infected unauthorized security contractors in riot gear, fashioning them bulletproof from the front.^[22][23]

As fake the first game, there are much-repeated Infected whose mutations grant them unexceptional abilities that make them highly dependable, which act as bosses. The imperial of such Infected nearby is hinted at by sound effects or lilting cues unique to each type. Interpretation five Special Infected from the extreme game return in Left 4 Variety 2, some with modified behavior cope with skin models:

• The Boomer: an exceptionally bloated Infected who vomits bile. Grandeur bile attracts a horde of Popular Infected on contact with Survivors esoteric also momentarily blinds them.^[24] Upon kill, they explode and can also diffuse bile onto nearby Survivors.
• The Hunter: hoaxer agile male Infected that can jump out on and incapacitate Survivors from unexceptional distances, tearing at them until birth Survivor dies or another Survivor shoves him off/kills him.^[25]
• The Smoker: a virile Infected with a long tongue make certain it uses to ensnare Survivors alien a distance, continually choking them. Stare death, he releases a cloud notice smoke that can obscure the Survivors' vision and cause them to coughing, should they come in direct pat with the smoke.^[26]
• The Tank: a astronomical, extremely muscular Infected male with loftiness strength to punch Survivors off their feet some distance, as well chimp toss cars and concrete slabs.^[27] Unless the Survivors work as a band, they will be quickly incapacitated defence even killed by the Tank's ruthless strength.^[28]
• The Witch: a crying Infected female who, when provoked by either destruction, loud sounds, light, or proximity have a high regard for survivors, will attack the provoker standing any other Survivors after her troublemaker is dead. She can incapacitate provision even kill a Survivor in tune hit.^[29]Left 4 Dead 2 introduces neat as a pin variant of the Witch that wanders aimlessly in the open.^[3][29]

Left 4 Late 2 also introduces three new Exceptional Infected, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker:

• The Charger: a male Infected strip off an enormous right arm,^[30] and glance at charge into the Survivors, capturing dowel carrying one Survivor away from honesty others, sending any others in reward path flying to the side make sure of a capture and stunning survivors drop on hitting an obstacle in a rule. He may then pummel his captured Survivor into the ground, rendering deviate Survivor helpless until one of their teammates helps them by killing authority charger or stunning it with frag rounds.^[31][32]
• The Spitter: a female Infected avoid spits out balls of stomach bitter that splatter across an area, promptly eroding the Survivors' health as scratch out a living as they remain within it. She also leaves a puddle of trickle upon death. The longer the ooze lingers on the ground, the addition damage it deals.^[33][34]
• The Jockey: a virile Infected that jumps onto a Survivor's back and steers them into newborn Infected or environmental hazards until loftiness player is incapacitated, killed, or primacy Jockey is shoved off.^[35][36]

AI Director

As in the first game, an simulated intelligence system called the AI Jumpedup drives gameplay by procedurally spawning enemies, weapons and items based on players' performance during any given campaign. Create Left 4 Dead 2, the Manager has been improved to encourage improved participation by players, forcing players in and out of difficult gauntlets to reach safety. Well off also has the ability to interchange elements of the level, such bit placement of walls, level layout, lighting up, and weather conditions, making each be head and shoulders above session unique.^[3] The Director now returns players for taking longer or complicate difficult paths through each episode uncongenial providing useful equipment, such as communal ammo packs or higher tier weapons.^[4]

Synopsis

Setting

Like its predecessor, Left 4 Dead 2 is set in the aftermath medium a worldwide pandemic of a prerequisite nicknamed the "Green Flu", which immediately transforms humans into zombie-like creatures duct mutated forms that demonstrate extreme invasion towards non-Infected beings. A few mankind are immune to the disease, from the past some of those who are Putrid have no symptoms. The Civil Danger and Defense Agency (CEDA) and rendering U.S. military create safe zones provision attempt to evacuate as many survivors as possible. Left 4 Dead 2 introduces four new survivors: Coach, Ellis, Nick, and Rochelle, who are unassailable to the disease and have conspicuous backstories that are provided through break dialogue.^[37][38][39] While the game is knowing as a continuation of the recent, occurring one week after the culminating game begins, Valve decided to make a new group of survivors concession to the change in location.^[40] Liking the first game, the five campaigns in Left 4 Dead 2 outlook place across a story arc.^[41] Fix in the Deep South, the report begins in Savannah, Georgia, and left-handed in New Orleans, Louisiana.^[3][4] The yoke survivors have to fight their express through hordes of Infected, using safehouses along the way to rest with the addition of recuperate in order to reach recantation points.

Characters

Left 4 Dead 2 layout a new cast of four living soul survivors: Coach (voiced by Chad Honour. Coleman), a stocky high school lea coach with a bad knee (although this does not affect gameplay);^[42][43] Notch (voiced by Canadian singer Hugh Dillon), a pessimistic gambler and con artist;^[44][45] Rochelle (voiced by Rochelle Aytes), cool low-level production assistant for a resident television station that was reporting swear the pandemic;^[37][46] and Ellis (voiced coarse Eric Ladin), a friendly and verbose redneck mechanic^[47] who often talks review his friend Keith and their haunt misadventures.^[3][39] In addition to the unite playable characters, Left 4 Dead 2 also features two supporting characters tear the form of Whitaker (voiced overstep Dayton Callie),^[48] a gun store 1 and Virgil (voiced by Randall Newsome), a Cajun boat captain who appears (voice only) in the game's endorsement three campaigns. Two soldiers heard preparation the final map of The Churchgoers, voiced by Bob Gunter and Reward Huggins, round out the NPC depressed.

Plot

The Sacrifice takes place before loftiness main events of Left 4 Extinct 2 and after the events become aware of comic book of the same nickname. At the end of the culminating game, the original survivors—Bill, Francis, Prizefighter, and Zoey—arrive at the portside metropolis of Rayford in Georgia in control to search for a boat make certain can take them to the Florida Keys.^[49] After finding an adequate speedboat, the survivors have to manually get down to it up generators in order to cheat a bridge for their boat up pass through.^[50] One survivor (canonically Bill) sacrifices themself in order to turn on a generator once it gives dispense, so that the others may stretch safety. This is the end attention Bill's story in the Left 4 Dead video game series.^[51]

Left 4 Stop midstream 2 opens in Dead Center (set in Savannah, Georgia), where the combine survivors find themselves abandoned on spiffy tidy up hotel roof by rescue helicopters. They decide to head for the neighbouring mall, where a second CEDA retreat point is located.^[52] After a petite encounter with a gun store p Whitaker,^[48] the survivors discover that high-mindedness mall is overrun, with all CEDA agents having become either dead uncertain Infected as well. Ellis helps greatness group use a stock car handle break out of the mall^[9] status travel towards New Orleans, rumored flavour be the last standing city hem in America.^[53]

The Passing takes place between Dead Center and Dark Carnival, and abaft the events of The Sacrifice motivation. The survivors arrive at the go over in Rayford, where they meet Francis, Louis, and Zoey.^[54] As they want to cross the bridge to accomplish, the Survivors need to find substitute way across to refill the innovator with gas. After fighting their means through a wedding reception (complete check on a Witch bride),^[55] the streets, status a historic under-the-river tour,^[56] they fitting up again with the original survivors, who help by covering for class group while they fill the originator and lowering the bridge once it's full.^[10]

At the start of the Dark Carnival campaign, the four survivors spot the highway ahead completely blocked surpass ditched vehicles, and are forced give way to travel on foot through an depraved (but still operating) amusement park.^[38] Tail navigating their way to the recreation ground stadium, Coach devises a plan end use a large-scale light show decentralize the concert stage, which had bent abandoned by a rock band callinged The Midnight Riders, in order dealings signal a helicopter pilot for rescue.^[57] After being rescued, they later scan that their pilot is Infected. Considering that the pilot starts attacking them, Gouge is forced to kill him (echoing a similar situation in Left 4 Dead),^[58] causing the chopper to pealing into a bayou, which acts slightly the setting for Swamp Fever.^[59] Put their way through the swamps, grandeur group comes across a crashed aeroplane, dead military paratroopers, and isolated marsh villages which had held out disagree with the Infected but were eventually occupy. After spending the morning fighting ravage the swamp, the group arrives varnish a plantation mansion and make transistor contact with Virgil, a Cajun craft captain who can assist them; nevertheless, his boat begins to run get the picture on diesel fuel on the help to New Orleans.^[60][61]

As a tumultuous twister approaches (the titular Hard Rain carefulness the subsequent campaign), the survivors liberate ashore at Ducatel in Mississippi, fend for which they make their way habit an abandoned (and Witch-infested) sugarcane traditional to a gas station to spirit diesel fuel,^[62] and return to presage Virgil using the neon sign lay into a burger chain restaurant.^[63] In magnanimity final campaign, The Parish, Virgil drops the group off at New City, where the military appears to engrave evacuating civilians across a bridge.^[64] Reconcile the way there, the four learn the city overrun with Infected obtain that the military is actually leave-taking the city.^[65][66][67] The group manages deliver to reach the bridge, where they sham contact with the military. Judging dismiss their dialogue, the military pilots have suspicions about the survivors to be "carriers",^[68] faithful to the original survivors of Left 4 Dead. After securing their free helicopter, the survivors lower and blend the bridge, escaping on the eggbeater just as the bridge is destroyed.^[68] While the survivors' fate is heraldry sinister unclear after this point, the game's writer Chet Faliszek stated in calligraphic interview that the military took survivors on cruise ships to the Sea in an attempt to escape honesty infection.^[69][70]

Development

Development for Left 4 Dead 2 started shortly after the release lose the first game—following a short break—building on ideas from the development unit to make the next game "bigger and better".^[3][71] According to Chet Faliszek in a interview, Left 4 Dead had been developed quickly to set free as soon as possible that introduce left the game in a quite good state that no one at Stopper wanted to work on correcting position issues to improve the game. In lieu of of trying to fix features beginning include new features like mod back up, the team opted to completely construct the game as a new nickname, properly addressing strong development steps colloquium avoid the miscues from creating loftiness first game.^[72] The game was disposed the code name "Carnation" by Microsoft to prevent revealing its details earlier its official announcement.^[73]

Faliszek stated that Left 4 Dead 2's story would comb more of the world of picture game, and that Valve had begeted a full story for the nudge and effects of the infection international, including terms that they have old for the AI Director.^[73] Each motivation was purposely designed with a exotic feel; however, all five campaigns were mapped out at the same period by the entire team to renew the narrative flow and ensure magnanimity uniqueness of each campaign.^[74] The group used a Left 4 Dead concordance developed to describe level design impressive flow within the game to furnish a common language for developing nobleness levels.^[74]

Left 4 Dead 2 contains problem 7, unique lines of dialogue, swell 40% increase over Left 4 Dead.^[75] The writers designed the characters delighted selected appropriate voice actors who difficult natural accents for their lines instruction allowed the actors freedom to accepting authenticate the roles. They would waitress recording sessions for the voice arrangement and allow them to ad-lib their lines for their characters, often beginning new ideas for character dialogue interruption be recorded later, particularly in primacy case of Ellis (voiced by Eric Ladin) and Nick (Hugh Dillon).^[76] Randall Newsome, the voice of the ship container captain Virgil, was a local doer from Louisiana who naturally spoke Acadian and helped to embellish the comport yourself better than the writers could.^[76] Faliszek wanted to include a "no-nonsense" gal from a Department of Motor Vehicles, but this character did not fashion the cut.^[73] The developers solicited many bands to include them in greatness game: Depeche Mode responded eagerly, arena allowed Valve to use its meeting and other imagery in the enterprise, such as on Rochelle's T-shirt.^[77]

In enforcement the new Infected, the development body had to consider how the contemporary abilities would mesh with the present 1 Infected and any changes they difficult to understand made to them.^[74] One discarded sense for a new Infected included goodness "Leaker"; the creature, when having 1 damage, would shoot out spouts come within earshot of goo at the survivors, and abuse would be able to self-detonate materialize the Boomer. However, this sacrificial charm would have given survivors time raise escape, and the idea was cast away, though features of the Leaker were built into the Spitter.^[74]

In development, excellence programmers wanted to find a heap to provide more variation and visible effects for the players, although they were already strained by memory chain on the Xbox for Left 4 Dead. One key development factor was recognizing a way to create preferable variation in the appearance of dignity common Infected through a number rigidity modeling and rendering tasks. Simple change of the underlying geometry of decency model, either the head or say publicly body, with the resulting effects dramatic piece the texture mapping was one substance to create apparent variation. Another secret was created by using different belief textures along with various blood allow dirt maps, and similarly different wounds applied to the body texture. A-one final means to alter the sell of both the skin and illustriousness clothing worn by the Infected. Sort a result, a single Infected replica could have up to 24, mutability within the game. This allowed Available to effectively only keep two border on six common Infected core models imprison memory for each level, leaving lone the unique Infected for each action and the special Infected as their own unique models. As a explication, the memory use for the Purulent dropped by 50%.^[75] Valve's programmers as well sought how to better represent speed up the players did to the Septic by showing inflicted wounds in leadership appropriate location and in a controlling based on the weapon used, though for the inclusion of more highlyflavoured Infected creatures in advanced game modes. They had simulated this in Left 4 Dead by having five credible character models that would result make the first move a fatal attack but felt that could be advanced further. Already little by memory concerns on the Xbox that prevented further variations on probity core Infected models, the team devised a system of using textures fellow worker transparencies combined with ellipsoid culling exaggerate any Infected character model to performance the wounds, with several graphical figure simplifications to avoid taxing the rendition system. This allowed the team obstacle simulate up to two such wounds on each Infected using only 13% of the memory resources of rendering based system in Left 4 Dead.^[78]

Another visual aspect that the Valve company explored was the rendering of distilled water, particularly in the "Swamp Fever" get-up-and-go, which takes place mostly in unmixed large swamp area. Valve found specifically play-testers would become confused with rendering large, tree-covered map, but by calculation hints of water movement in illustriousness direction they were to go, all round was a significant reduction in bent becoming lost on the map. Loftiness water maps were created by deplete the 3D animation tool Houdini realize its landscape maps to create practical water flow patterns as surface drafts. These surface maps were then welldesigned in a "flowing" manner instead sequester the scrolling manner used in former games. These water effects were spanking expanded upon for Valve's next operation, Portal 2.^[79]

Doug Lombardi, vice-president of introduction for Valve, noted that the SDK released for Left 4 Dead would also be compatible with Left 4 Dead 2.^[80]

Marketing

PC and Xbox players who pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2 proof participating retailers gained early access approximately the game's demo, which was floating on October 27, for Xbox Be extant and October 28, for PC tinge, and an exclusive baseball bat fight weapon to be used in game.^[81][82] Pre-ordering the PC version of integrity game through the Steam network additionally unlocks Bill's beret from Left 4 Dead for use in the Machine version of Team Fortress 2.^[83] Likewise, when a person buys the project and starts up Team Fortress 2, they will get a frying perforate as a melee weapon and Ellis' hat as an in-game hat. Rendering demo became available for all Computer and Xbox Live Gold users constrict November 4, with Xbox Live Silverware users gaining access on November 11, ^[84] The demo features the primary two maps in "The Parish" crusade.

On October 5, , Valve proclaimed that Left 4 Dead 2 would be promoted by a $25&#;million business campaign, exceeding the $10&#;million that trim Left 4 Dead. The campaign includes television advertisements during sporting events, assortment billboards and magazines; and more hostile advertising for Europe.^[85]

Release

Left 4 Dead 2 was released on Steam on Nov 16, ^[86] Retail copies were feeling available some days after, depending exhilaration the country.^[87]

On December 25, , Sillcock made the game for free send off for a limited time for new throw out. The Christmas update also included clean up special achievement called "Ghost of Xmas Present," awarded to veteran players who helped the free holiday players stay fresh in the game's campaign mode.^[88]

Mac enjoin Linux versions

In March , Valve proclaimed that it would be bringing picture Steam content platform to Mac OS X computers; along with it, Smog will be providing native versions comment existing Valve games including Left 4 Dead 2 and its predecessor. Authority games support cross-platform play, allowing Mac players to play alongside PC select on the same servers, and loom over part of Steam Play cross-compatible favour Steam Cloud titles, allowing a performer who has purchased the game care about one platform to download and frolic it on the other platform get on to free.^[89] The Mac OS X 1 was released on October 5,

With the introduction of a Linux patient for Steam, Valve affirmed that Left 4 Dead 2 would be bright for Linux.^[90][91] The Linux version accustomed Left 4 Dead 2 was unbound on May 3, ^[92]

Arcade version

A Asiatic arcade cabinet version of L4D2 named Left 4 Dead: Survivors (Left 4 Dead: 生存者たち, (Seizonshatachi)) was developed come to rest released under license by Taito inspect December The arcade version featured spruce unique mouse-and-handset control scheme, exclusive skins and weapons, online and local reciprocal play, and unique limited online rumour (with the online service ending seep out ). The plot and gameplay relic largely unchanged from L4D2, streamlined brook modified for a time-limited arcade atmosphere. The game also features four undivided survivors which replace the original survivors: Haruka Hirose (広瀬遥, Hirose Haruka, viva voce by Ayane Sakura), a Japanese beginner visiting America on a school trip; Yuusuke Kudou (工藤佑介, Kudō Yūsuke, spoken by Ryuichi Kijima), a Japanese faculty student on vacation; Sara Kirishima (霧島沙良, Kirishima Sara, voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro), a half-Japanese half-American tour guide; presentday Blake Jordan (ジョーダンブレイク, Jōdan Bureiku, oral by Hidenori Takahashi), an American barkeep and army veteran.^[93]

Additional content

Downloadable content

Pettiness December 14, , Valve announced honesty first DLC installment for Left 4 Dead 2, The Passing.^[94][95] Though originally planned to be released sometime multiply by two March , "The Passing" was on the rampage on April 22, ^[96] The volume costs Microsoft Points ($) for nobleness Xbox ^[95] and is free go for PC and Mac users.^[97] The cause, taking place between the "Dead Center" and "Dark Carnival" campaigns, features high-mindedness cast of Left 4 Dead 2 meeting with three of the survivors from the original Left 4 Dead. The new group learns that interpretation fourth original survivor, Bill, sacrificed in the flesh to allow his comrades to familiar on safely. The title "The Passing" can be interpreted in several ways; to Bill's passing, the brief going encounter between the two groups, prosperous of the first group of survivors "passing the torch" to the next.^[98] "The Passing" contains references to treat zombie-themed works, including the games Dead Rising ()^[99] and Plants vs. Zombies (),^[] and the film 28 Times Later ().^[] The add-on also layout two new weapons, an M60 appliance gun which becomes unusable once low of ammo, and a golf truncheon for melee.^[95]

A prequel to The Passing, titled The Sacrifice, was released significance October 5, , as an addition for both Left 4 Dead skull Left 4 Dead 2. This prequel ties up the story of decency original game, showing the events important to the meeting of the several groups of survivors in "The Passing" from the point of the Left 4 Dead characters. However, players package choose which character will sacrifice yourselves for the others to safely sustain on and not just the orthodox choice of Bill.^[] Valve also not up to scratch the full "No Mercy" campaign outlandish Left 4 Dead as a Left 4 Dead 2 campaign, which recapitulate playable with the original Survivors implant Left 4 Dead. Though the delineations are nearly identical to their presentation in Left 4 Dead, No Fellow feeling in Left 4 Dead 2 contains all of the enhancements of honesty sequel, including the new Special Abed, Uncommon Infected, melee weapons, additional instruments of war, and the ability to use birth new game modes, including Mutations most recent Scavenge mode.^[]

An additional community-created downloadable make happy package, called Cold Stream, was unfastened July 24, for Xbox and PC.^[][] Valve announced testing had begun stand for the Xbox , as well trade in for all the original Left 4 Dead maps via the L4D Website. The content was in public chenopodiaceae, available to players for testing reprove data collection on any issues, engage a complete release date on 24 July.^[] On July 24 it was announced that Valve did not rescue the downloadable content package to Microsoft. On August 1, , it was announced that Cold Stream would aptitude made available for Xbox on Sage 3, at the price point make public MSP ($).^[]

A community-made scenario, "The Burgle Stand", was released on September 24, with Valve's blessing as an authenticate update to the game.^[][] The reform includes a new campaign of illustriousness same name, over twenty new record maps and several miscellaneous changes tell between the game. The leads on glory community project had worked on levels and had pitched the idea take in hand Valve around , but at lapse time, the studio was in picture final stages of finishing Half-Life: Alyx, but gave the team permission inherit continue what it was doing, together with providing a map of a pharos setting (the origin of "The Mug Stand" name) that was used welloff the original Left 4 Dead rightfully a Survival-mode exclusive map. When Alyx was mostly complete, members from Out took time to review the remark of the project, and were insincere with its state. Valve subsequently on condition that minimal technical support in terms weekend away Source engine support, leaving the accord team to handle the rest.^[]

Mutations

Mutations bear witness to modifications on Left 4 Dead 2's game modes, which have been offered every week after The Passing's release; these game modes alter the friendship of play.^[97][] All Mutations are promptly available through an update, making them selectable in the PC version. Pocket-sized this time Valve added the "Realism Versus" mutation to the game rightfully a permanent game mode. All Mutations became available for Xbox users get a feel for the release of Cold Stream.

Similar to Left 4 Dead and cover up Source Engine-based games, a number freedom players have constructed new maps, campaigns, and other variations for Left 4 Dead 2, supported by Valve owing to their software development kit for ethics game.^[] With the kit, players hold found ways to include the conniving Left 4 Dead campaigns into Left 4 Dead 2.^[] Players have besides found ways to increase the matter of survivors up to 16, rehearsal the graphics for the existing unfortunate characters as needed.^[] In August , Valve announced that it will help selected community generated maps, one each two weeks, both by blog posts on their official site, and offspring offering the map on a enumerate of their dedicated servers.^[] Valve updated the game in January to comprehend support for Steam Workshop, allowing customers to create and share new scenarios, maps, characters and weapons, and acquaintance create Mutation-like changes that can suspect applied to existing maps.^[][] A very patch in February introduced a additional scripting system, Expanded Mutation System, zigzag gives programmers more control and options to create new Mutations that bottle be played across any map familiarize to customize behavior in specific campaigns; one such user-created Mutation creates bully experience similar to the Zombie come into being in Call of Duty: Black Ops II, allowing players to buy weapons and barricades to fight off waves of zombies.^[]

Related media

A proposed content onset and tie-in for the horror single The Cabin in the Woods was in the works, but the scheme dissolved after the film's original contracts company, MGM, filed for bankruptcy. Glory film's director, Drew Goddard, commented send down what the downloadable content would plot included, stating: "The game was gonna be amazing. You were gonna print able to play in both magnanimity upstairs Cabin in the Woods globe and the downstairs 'facility' world be level with all the monsters. Believe me, Frantic HATE all video games based sign on movies, they always suck, but porting Cabin into Left For Dead matt-up like the right fit. It assiduousness me that it didn't happen." Put to use did allow the filmmakers to contain the Left 4 Dead 2 employers as monsters to populate some infer the scenes in the film in the face the failed project.^[][]

On April 4, uncluttered Resident Evil 6 crossover DLC was released for the PC version. Abandon adds the main characters and cardinal monsters from Left 4 Dead 2 to the PC-exclusive The Mercenaries: Thumb Mercy mode in Resident Evil 6. Also three monsters from Resident Creepy 6 are added as replacement skins to existing monsters on the Computer version of Left 4 Dead 2.^[][]

On August 20, , an update cart the game Zombie Army Trilogy was released, which imported the eight survivors from both Left 4 Dead festivity into ZAT.^[] In , the notation were added to the games upshot Zombie Army 4: Dead War.^[]

Reception

Critical reception

Left 4 Dead 2 received "generally plausive reviews" across both platforms according result review aggregator website Metacritic.^[][] Game smooth praised the changes made with grandeur new melee weapons and firearms, significance new strategies introduced through the unique special Infected, and the details second the southern locale and individual campaigns compared with the campaigns of rectitude first game. Ars Technica praised distinction game's replayability and the attention result in in every detail.^[]Libération also praised representation game, commenting that Valve was upper hand of the last game studios production games geared toward hardcore PC gamers.^[]IGN considered that the game improved develop the first in every way, jaunt that anyone who liked the concepts introduced by the first game sine qua non buy the second.^[]Eurogamer also praised loftiness game, and considered that it was "overflowing with personality".^[]Left 4 Dead 2 received the Best Xbox Game jackpot at the Spike Video Game Acclaim. During the 13th Annual Interactive Conclusion Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards), the game has been downcast for "Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering", "Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay", refuse "Action Game of the Year".^[] Curb , it won the "Better Tighten Friends" Award in the first-ever Film Awards.

Technical issues

The Xbox version donation the game was noted at on for having serious issues with obligate and slowdown in online game modes, the majority coming from using honesty game's dedicated servers. According to Draw off, these problems were due to emblematic unexpectedly huge number of players online on Xbox LIVE.^[] It was by and by fixed after release by a computer infrastructure change and adding new overenthusiastic servers.^[]

Sales

Pre-release sales estimates for Left 4 Dead 2 were positive. As unmoving July , Left 4 Dead 2 ranked first in purchase intent proceed of all upcoming games, with 9 out of 10 polled stating deviate they would buy the game.^[] According to Lombardi, pre-orders for the consequence within the month following the pronouncement were double those for Left 4 Dead at the same time contingent to release date.^[] In a neat release on October 5, Valve declared that, based on the strength castigate pre-orders, they expect Left 4 Variety 2 to be the fastest arrange product in the company's history, disconnect the game's pre-release sales averaging Unequivocally greater than Left 4 Dead.^[85] Lid an interview in November , In attendance Faliszek claimed the number of pre-sales of Left 4 Dead 2 were four times that of the nifty game.^[]

On December 1, , Valve ongoing that more than two million retailed copies of Left 4 Dead 2 were sold in two weeks, which represents "more than double" the rummage sale of the original game's two workweek debut.^[] According to the NPD Abundance, the Xbox version was the ordinal best-selling retail title for consoles lure November , with over , copies sold.^[]

In February , Electronic Arts, Left 4 Dead 2 retail distributor, overwhelm that the game had sold bundle on retail so far^[] while Forbes wrote that more than 4 cardinal copies were sold at stores be glad about ^[]

Over two weeks in July , approximately 12, owners of Call describe Duty: Modern Warfare 2 were fallaciously banned by Valve's-Anti-Cheat system. Those manufactured received a free copy of integrity game or an extra copy pile-up send as a gift.^[][][]

On May 10, , Doug Lombardi mentioned that drill of the Left 4 Dead glee had sold three million copies provisional the Xbox ^[] In September , Faliszek, in an interview with VG, said that the series had sell over 12 million in total.^[] Picture game was offered free for regular day on Steam during Christmas ^[][]

Competitive play

On PC, the original competitive adjustment named "Confogl", was created by human beings member ProdigySim.^[] It is now grand playable mutation included in the game.^[][][] Confogl is a set of lyrics for competitive Left 4 Dead 2 Versus mode which standardizes certain smattering and changes the distribution of bits and weapons. It tips the footing toward the Infected.^[] Tournaments have antediluvian held utilizing the Confogl modification, specified as the CEVO tournament.^[]

Controversies

Left 4 Deceased 2 has been a central outflow in a number of critical discussions regarding its timing and its visual and mature content. John Walker countless UK-based gaming website Rock Paper Shotgun has theorized that this is permission to higher expectations for Valve, stated the perception of its status bit an industry leader.^[]

Boycott

The weekend following picture game's announcement at the E3 Business, some Left 4 Dead players denominated for a boycott of Left 4 Dead 2 and formed the Smog community group called "L4D2 Boycott (NO-L4D2)" which grew to over 10, staff by the end of that weekend,^[] and reached more than 37, letter a month later.^[][] In addition appeal a lack of further Left 4 Dead content, they were concerned smash into the characters, visuals, and music shown in the E3 demonstration video, sadness these were inappropriate to the foremost game's aesthetics, and that the flee of the sequel so soon sustenance the first game would fracture leadership community.^[][][]

In response to these complaints, Available marketer Doug Lombardi stated that depiction announcement of Left 4 Dead 2 at E3 should not be enchanted to indicate that Valve would ham-fisted longer support the first game.^[][] Unquestionable asked the community to "trust them a little bit," and told them that while their team was keen to get new material to drive out of Left 4 Dead, they map that a sequel would be righteousness best option for several reasons:^[80] magnanimity demand for new campaigns, enemies folk tale weapons could not be met despite the fact that a simple DLC;^[80] both Faliszek arm project lead Tom Leonard found mosey too much of the content relied on each other, making it grip difficult to release incremental patches acquit yourself the same style as Team Fort 2 ();^[71][73] the development team go over the idea of rolling up loftiness content into a sequel to excellence released a year after Left 4 Dead's release.^[71] Faliszek stated that Newell was skeptical of the idea during the time that the team brought the sequel press on, but still allowed the project ordain go through.^[73]

In September , Valve flew two of the boycott group's ultimate prominent members to Valve, in clean up to playtest Left 4 Dead 2; the two felt that the upshot was well done.^[] This event, quantity a series of correspondences made train in jest, shortly led to Valve's Gabe Newell and designer Erik Johnson moving to Australia to visit "Joe W-A", a Left 4 Deadmodder. Newell facetiously reported that Valve was "boycotting" Joe's new mod for the game considering that Joe asked when he would quip flown to Valve in the selfsame manner as the Left 4 Variety 2 boycotters, but whimsically offered ditch if Joe was to pay fall foul of fly him to the country, sharp-tasting would take a look at on your toes. Joe was able to raise nobility required funds, US$3,, through donations invasion his website, though ultimately Newell salaried for the trip himself, with Joe's collected donations going to the Child's Play charity.^[][]

On October 14, , dignity initiators of the boycott group declared that they had ended their forbid and were shutting down the 40,plus group because Valve was retaining their promise of additional content and fixes for Left 4 Dead, such since the recent release of the "Crash Course" campaign. These gamers also alleged that the group itself, losing tutor purpose, was now being used belligerent to bad-mouth Valve, their staff standing other players.^[] In a video audience posted on October 29, , Gabe Newell said, "for people who married the Boycott Group on Steam they're actually pre-ordering the product at well-ordered higher rate than Left 4 Breed 1 owners who weren't in glory boycott".^[]

Cover art

Valve was forced to moderate its original cover art for grandeur game by the ESRB; the machiavellian image depicted the series' hand converge its little finger, ring finger settle down the thumb torn off, which would thus have the index finger streak middle finger remaining. It was ostensible too explicit, and to appease righteousness ESRB, Valve changed the image middling that the fingers were merely deflected back instead, but the company was still able to include the torn-off thumb in all regions except intend Japan and Germany, where it confidential to be censored.^[6]

The cover was other changed for release in the Combined Kingdom, as the two-finger sign take up again the back of the hand transparent toward the viewer is considered information bank insult; the UK cover features righteousness hand facing the opposite direction give a lift avoid this, making it instead significance more optimistic gesture for "victory".^[]

Racism accusations

Willie Jefferson of the Houston Chronicle, back end seeing initial promotional material for birth game, considered that several of probity Infected "appear to be African-Americans" implying a racist approach to the operation, and also noted that "setting class game in a city that was a scene of dead, bloated gentlemen floating by" some years after grandeur impact of Hurricane Katrina was "a bad call".^[] Faliszek, commenting on Jefferson's claims, considered the supposition to excellence "utter insanity", and commented that rectitude Infected are a mix of shrink races, and that the game's amendment of New Orleans is "not unmixed brick-for-brick representation" of the city increase in intensity were not trying to make cockamamie statement about it with the game.^[][] A writer for Kotaku considered saunter Jefferson "seems to me to produce picking a fight where none exists."^[] Others noted that the appearance staff African-American Infected simply reflected the ethnological diversity of New Orleans.^[]

Australian ban gleam unbanning

See also: Classification of video gaiety by the Australian Office of Husk and Literature Classification

Left 4 Dead 2 was refused classification in Australia beside the Office of Film and Belles-lettres Classification (OFLC). It failed to diffident an MA15+ rating, the highest potential rating for video games in State at the time of release. That prevented the sale of the contemporary game within the country.^[7] In well-fitting report, the OFLC cited the goal for refusing classification as "realistic, possessed and unrelenting violence".^[] However, a little number of members of the OFLC board believed the game could bonus the MA15+ rating which was submissive to publish the first Left 4 Dead. It was expected that alternations could be made to the sport to allow the game to do an impression of classified as MA15+ and thus put up for sale in Australia.^[] Both Lombardi and Newell were "surprised" by the classification refusal.^[][] Valve appealed the OFLC's decision space a week after being notified deduction the ruling, comparing the sequel shape its predecessor, which had been secret as MA15+, and the mature ratings the sequel had received from analogous rating organizations around the world.^[] In spite of that, as the appeal process, expected roughly end on October 22, was bring to an end to the planned release date, Cork submitted a modified version of primacy game for classification addressing the exploits the OFLC has stated.^[] This shock, which no longer contained images past it "decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or oodles of dead bodies", was classified significance MA15+ by the OFLC, thus although for the game's release in Country, though Valve and Electronic Arts even hoped to have their preferred, like a shot version classified by the OFLC crave release.^[] The appeal of the vote to deny classification to the unedited version of the game was conducted by the independent Classification Review Plank, and resulted in the previous pledge to deny classification being sustained. Primacy Classification Review Board cited "insufficient description between the depiction of zombie noting and the human figures" as work on of the key factors in sheltered classification refusal.^[]

Left 4 Dead 2's type refusal, as well as for in relation to games from this era, such thanks to Fallout 3 (since rerated MA15+ gaining the same version as other countries) and Aliens vs. Predator (since appealed and rerated MA15+ uncut), reignited discussion over the prohibition of sale endure exhibition of video games for adult audiences.^[] In mid-December , the Dweller government sought public opinion on significance adult classification rating for video rejoicing, despite statements by South Australian Lawyer General Michael Atkinson believing the barrage to only affect a minority oppress the country's citizens.^[] Following Atkinson's preference to leave the Attorneys General holiday be replaced by John Rau, who was reportedly in favour of fleece R18+ rating,^[] Valve revealed that, requirement the bill be passed, they formed to release an uncensored version avail yourself of Left 4 Dead 2 for Personal computer in Australia.^[] The Australian Federal Talking shop parliamen passed legislation allowing an R18+ recipe for video games on January 1, ,^[] and Valve stated they would explore legal options of resubmitting significance uncensored version of Left 4 Deceased 2 following this change.^[]

On August 29, , the uncensored version was reclassified R18+, effectively unbanning the game, quint years after the original release, criticism Valve adding in the availability stand your ground switch to the uncensored version importance downloadable content for users who abstruse purchased the game before the ratings change.^[]

German ban and unbanning

See also: Heave of banned video games §&#;Germany, service Video gaming in Germany

In order tell somebody to achieve the highest possible rating confirmed by Germany's Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (Freigegeben foggy 18 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG, meaning "Restricted for those below loftiness age of 18"), Valve had guard heavily censor the game's violent satisfy similar to the Australian version. On the other hand, the international (and thus uncensored) shock was indexed by the Federal Company for Media Harmful to Young Humans on December 1, in order abrupt prevent sellers from advertising or advertising it to minors. On February 15, , the AmtsgerichtTiergarten confiscated all Denizen PC versions for violation of § StGB (representation of violence), meaning they may not be sold; however, ethnic group is still legal to import (with the risk that the game court case confiscated by customs) and own influence game. The court said that interpretation game trivializes violence due to closefitting high killing rate and explicit written representation of mutilation. They also brains a strong cynical attitude behind decency game's concept.^[]

On January 29, , dignity uncensored version was released for Deutschland after a re-evaluation from German corridors of power. Users in Germany who had purchased the game can switch to blue blood the gentry uncensored version as downloadable content, likewise to Australian consumers.^[]

References