I played the original L4D from Valve when it came out… Well, I played the demo version. The game itself was a newer twist on the FPS genre where you act as one of four survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The key is travel with your group (this is key) and get to various locations and cities without the hordes of zombies catching up with you.
The game had a good bit of depth in the area of creating different zombie classes with different skills, speeds, and God-awful ways of making you die. This kept the strategy ever changing as you and the other three players tried to formulate a winning play based on the scenario’s terrain, zombie types, and goals. Valve released the Survival Pack months later so that players got the full Versus experience as well as the now-standard timed Survival mode.
When L4D2 came out, my first thought was wow, that was fast. I said that because Valve has a propensity to take their time when it comes to sequels. I got the game and anxiously waited to see if it brought out new dimensions to the game play. It didn’t. Although it had five all new campaigns, this game was more like an aesthetic patch and enhancement of existing features than a whole new type of game. With that said, if you have L4D, keep it and wait for L4D2 to hit the bargain bin (or at least go below $30).
If you have been waiting for an excuse to try L4D2, then the MSRP is well worth the price. It will provide you with hours of single player enjoyment as you master the various levels, weapons, zombies, etc. By all means, please play the single player missions first. It’s not like CoDMW2 in that if you familiar with WWII shooters you can pretty much kick it multiplayer without much more than a couple training missions. L4D2 has five new campaigns and, compared to the first version, has enhanced settings, more modes, and more responsibilities needed to win the level.
Bottom line, if you don’t have it and are a fan of group RPG’s and zombies, by all means get the darn thing! If you have L4D, I would give a solid “M’eh” as to whether or not you should upgrade (at the current price).