With Broke November arriving, people are hyped for all the new and exciting titles. Unfortunately, with new games comes new disappointments, as companies cut promises for cheaper alternatives. Older games don’t make any new promises and, in fact, can bring more to the table from being fully developed. One game I had the luxury of buying seven years late to the party was Left 4 Dead 2, a movie style zombie survival horror game by Valve Corporation.

Left 4 Dead 2, the sequel in one of Valve’s most renowned video game series turns eight this year. This time around our new heroes (Nick, Rochelle, Coach, and Ellis) travel through the swampy south towards safety from those infected with a disease known as the ‘Green Flu’. Is it time to look back at the titles that made modern video games what they are? Quite possibly, as this game is a real refreshment to the zombie survival genre.

When asked about the zombie genre, a Senior, Brenna Kilpatrick stated, “I think it’s very interesting because it has so much potential. Although it has been done a lot, and some do tend to be too cliche, they can be very fun.” The Left 4 Dead series definitely uses this potential in a way not seen often in gaming. Not only do you have to watch out for swarms of zombies but there are also ‘Special Infected’ such as (but not limited to) the Charger who pins survivors to the ground, the Jockey who takes control from your movement until a teammate stops them, or the Tank who is a beefy zombie that can pick up cars and even take chunks of the road out to throw at you. The experience gained by learning the different zombies and their sounds adds to the immersion of the game.

Another feature that makes this game unique is its modability. You can genuinely play as a squad of velociraptors who throw fried shrimp at zombies if you want to. The modding community is still vibrant and living which is especially useful if you can’t stand eight year old graphics.

Even though the game has aged well, some may prefer newer titles. For a good story, I recommend The Last Of Us on PlayStation which has a sequel coming soon. For similar zombie style gameplay, I recommend The Evil Within 2. For more horror, see Resident Evil 7.

For updates and other news on the game, visit www.l4d.com.