User Score
8.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1571 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. [anonymous]
    Dec 21, 2009
    10
    Very good game and much better than the first one. Of course the boycotters downvotes the game, without even trying it first. Let this game live and the first one die.
  2. JonathanM
    Dec 20, 2009
    9
    -I cannot believe people give this game a 0. I don't understand the rational of them! Take the voter below me: "expansion horribly overpriced and obviously rushed" -First off, it is a sequal and $35 was a fair price! "same zombie model over and over again" -What? There are many more models than the original and if you can't see the UCI then you must be blind? "level design is atrocious...near impossible to navigate on half the levels...i got stuck on every...friggin stage because level design sucks." -Uhm what? The game is so linear that a MAJORITY of the community wants BETTER dynamic director paths to alter the gameplay! You must just suck at the game. Go play Tetris. "AI is pants on head retarded" -The AI is, indeed pretty stupid, and hopefully they'll update it as needed (they already updated a little in scavenge mode). "You can no longer enjoy the environments on anything above easy because the game spawns the mini hordes like the Director is having a seizure..." -Are you just straight-out lying? Maybe this game isn't for you. Really. Find one person that agrees with you. "All of the new items are stuff that you can get in the first one...extra guns are just different designs...All melee weapons do the same thing and could have...been a dlc into the first one." -Why do people think and keep telling themselves that melee weapons, more guns, more items in the first game should be DLC? That would be GAME-changing. Melee weapons in l4d? God, that would SUCK! FYI, the weapons DO differ, and people DO have preferences on what weapons they like. I do agree that the melee weapons should have a LITTLE more noticeable differences though. ----- -Anyway, users that enjoyed the first game will enjoy this game, but they might feel nostalgic to the 'creepy' feeling from the original. I recommend it for people seeking more zombie killing. The levels are nicely designed with subtle dynamic changes. The UCI add a touch of uniqueness to each campaign. I can go on, but I feel my post is too long, so all-in-all, I recommend this game as a full fledged sequal, and enjoy zombie killing! Expand
  3. NickL
    Dec 2, 2009
    10
    Mario X absolutely doesn't know anything. This is an amazing game. New weapons and maps make this a great game. The new characters are great as well. It would of been better if they made it an expansion pack or add on though. I'd say wait till a lower price because it's not worth $60, wait till it's $40.
  4. JimB
    Dec 20, 2009
    8
    No save function in Single player marks this way down. I'm sick of playing the same levels over and over. Zombies materialize out of no where in parts of the game. The saving grace is the co-op play. If not for that I would have rated it much much lower.
  5. PeterM
    Dec 22, 2009
    10
    New characters, New weapons, New Infected, New campaign... People calling this game an expansion pack is completely wrong. And quoting a guy called Dick S complaining about the poster where your name "should come up", well you should really care about the fun factor not about presentation ... idiots. They may have spent not alot of time, but thats because they know what to do, they got actors to voice the characters which take a while to do, and the zombies being decapitated in many different ways is spectacular to watch. They have tried to make this game more realistic in which sometimes they have achieved this by introducing daylight, which i think Dick S has not seen. The levels are also very realistic in which you have to FIND your way around not just and easy sprint and you've found your way to the saferoom. This game has introduced new tactics and new concepts in which the player has to think of a way around obstacles and work much more of a team. So it is a must have game. And do not listen to single minded people that say this game is an "expansion" because well it isn't Expand
  6. ChrisB
    Dec 22, 2009
    10
    After playing this the first one is boring now. this is NOT an expansion its about 20 expansions tbh. if this is an expansion then so is Modern Warfare 2 and Assassins Creed 2 etc but nobody complains about them when they bring about a 10th of the amount of new stuff l4d2 brings. everything is improved SO MANY EXTRAS good level design, nice new infected, plenty of the uncommon infected everything is so fun. Buy this game, game of the year by far. (p.s. i played l4d1 for 7 months so YES i have had enough experience to say this) Expand
  7. D.S.
    Dec 20, 2009
    10
    Congrats Dick S. , for being the dumbest dick of the day! First, your review seems as if you have only played the Demo; why do you rant over things that barely affect the gameplay? Its a COOP game. That means you're NOT SUPPOSED to play with all bots. Also, what was that bullshit about enjoying the environments? Completely illegitimate review. Second, learn better English; your reading is horrible. Expand
  8. KevinZ
    Dec 24, 2009
    10
    It baffles me that people are downrating this game because "it doesn't add anything." Let me address some of the concerns of Dick S: The extra guns do in fact add a lot to the game- who could you say that they don't vary from the first one, which had 7 weapons? The new one has an AK-47, which, for example, fires slower than the M16 but has more stopping power. It also adds things like the tactical Desert Rifle, a very accurate gun that fires 3 bullet bursts, and a more powerful shotgun that reloads more quickly. It is equally ridiculous to say the melee weapons are all the same, as the frying pan, for example, has a wider swing but does much less damage than the machete. Oh yeah, and how about the freaking CHAINSAW??? I love the new campaigns- Valve makes very interesting design choices, such as having you make move through two maps, get fuel on the third, and come back through the same beginning maps (this time in a storm). Since you must pass through each safe house twice, you must consider whether to take medkits and grenades now, or save them for next time. The game is filled with such interesting tweaks, and how anyone could call for all this to be released as free DLC is beyond me. Oh yeah, and Dick- there isn't any incendiary ammo or laser sights in the first game, what are you even talking about? Expand
  9. RossKiller
    Dec 25, 2009
    10
    Ive played l4d1 on PC since release, loved it to bits. The second they released L4D1 they started on L4D2, valve costantly improve everything (currently working on human-like AI) But this game is everything l4d1 has BUT improved, you dont buy left 4 dead 1 then left 4 dead 2, you just buy the second one as its just perfected almost completely. The scenery is amazing, there are hundreds of ways for zombies to die (though you dont think it) and never the same common zombie, the new guns are different the melee weapons dont do the same damage, there is a t1 and t2 and "special" melee weapon(s) if you cant find your way through a level then well you've never played l4d1 the map design is AMAZING this game has given me the most replay value EVER you can never get bored with it. I played it for Xbox and i must say, its not half as good as on PC, PC is faster paced more challenging its so much better. It sucks that germany and australia dont get to experiance the amazing gore (You can see almost every organ in the zombies body, or even see a zombie stumble holding his gut while his intestines are rolling on the floor). The AI sucks yes but its a team game and if you buy the game, play single player / campaign your missing out on 99% of the game which is versus. Expand
  10. EricG
    Dec 27, 2009
    9
    how can any1 think this much content would be dlc? are you kidding me? this game is much better than the first and adds something the original LFD was missing, difficulty. longer more intricate levels, new weapons, more character personality and etc. There's no reason to down rate this game , and i bet half the people that rated it with zeros never played the game. KF better than LFD2? LOL, good one. don't believe all the haters , buy this game Expand
  11. DarrylC
    Dec 31, 2009
    0
    This game is the worst I've bought in a long time. Metacritic ahs lost any respect I've ever had for them. This game could have been written by anyone 10 year's ago and it would still have been dreadful. And Valve is done in my book. HL2 and then this stinking pile of dung.
  12. ConnorS
    Dec 30, 2009
    7
    First off, I want to point out the bad bits. The AI is the worst I have ever seen, They stand there and let you get shredded. The new Specials are just lazy since they use more or less the same coding as the first one (I.E: Boomer -> Spitter, Hunter -> Jockey) with new skins. Now the good bits. The multiplayer is a blast, VS is better and more refined, and the Director is more desisive. This game is good for a fun run through a zombie apocolypse with friends. Just, don't play single player too much. Expand
  13. JustinR
    Dec 6, 2009
    9
    Very little to complain about this game. I feel as though it is a worthy successor to the original and introduces a great deal of new content as well as an improved graphical experience. Gameplay strategies have changed enough to create a very new multiplayer experience as well as introducing completely new modes which provide the user with more options on the play style their interested in playing during their session. If I have one complaint, is that the second game directly cannibalizes the community from the first game which leaves many players of the original game bitter towards the second. That, among some lack of originality as a game overall compared to the first prevent me from giving it a 10 rating. Overall a great game and worth the price Valve charges. Expand
  14. Stivob
    Dec 7, 2009
    7
    Don't get me wrong, the game is great, it would be a 10 if it didn't have to be a sequel to one of the best survival fps of all time. To be honest, I was hoping valve would stay true to their word and immerse you more in the left 4 dead world, they did the opposite it seems, theres more to the original than the second. To the people giving 0's because they live in aus or ger...i give YOU a 0. Expand
  15. tibetanpunk
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    Compared to the first l4d game, this one is a much more refined experience, greatly improved graphics, insane levels of gore, many more weapons (guns + really satisfying melee weapons), larger levels, new (and very fun) special infected, the new scavenge vs game-type is great fun and easy to just jump into for a few quick games if you don't have the time for a full on campaign vs mode match. The game is overall, much more fun than the original, with more content out of the box in terms of campaigns, game modes, variety of weapons and special infected. Lastly, the people voting this game with 0s or 1s are not giving balanced opinions and seem to merely be trying to 'sabotage' the games meta-score. I have played killing floor and found it to be a really boring experience and every game I played was full of players with 'l33t' attitudes, nerd-dictators, that take computer games way to seriously and like to shout at and order other people around... I encountered plenty of them in l4d, but strangely, none in l4d2 yet... Hopefully they won't buy the game. Expand
  16. JP
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    Best game ever, very intense. Tons of replay value as well. Do not miss this game!
  17. NikoJ
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    I dont think I have ever had more fun with a computer game than I have had with this. A blast from beginning to end!!
  18. JimmyD
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    Tons of fun. I like Killing Floor and L4D1 as well. Killing Floor has different gameplay. Yeah, you shoot zombies in both and both are fun. L4D2 has been fun, I've played it non-stop since the release with absolutely no issues on a three-year old computer with a mid-range video card (9800GT).
  19. BryanC
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    Fantastic evolution of the original game. The new special infected add some much needed tactical prowess to the infected team in VS, allowing them to attack survivors in situations where they'd normally be completely secure in the first game. The crescendo events are much more varied and intense, relying less on the now stale "hit a button and camp" situations that dominated l4d1. Environments are much more detailed and varied, with some nice interactive touches (carnival games, anyone?) L4D1 was a great game, but felt a little more like a "proof of concept" than a fully matured title. This game takes everything and dials it up to 11, fleshing out the concept and providing a robust and matured gameplay experience. Hate all you want on the 1 year dev cycle or the price (easily mitigated by getting a 4 pack with friends), this game beats the first in all categories. Expand
  20. BrettL
    Dec 7, 2009
    6
    This game had some huge potential to be bigger than the original L4D, however, when I played the game, major show stopper bugs reared their heads quickly, and frequently. The most glaring problem involves the Charger's charge ability, which has the potential to cause Survivors to be unable to move. This is a game breaker bug, since a player getting bugged in that manner has no real alternative except to leave the game. Maybe if VALVe fixes the major issues with the game, it might be worthy of a higher score. Expand
  21. AdamS
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    The game is Superb! A whole new apocalypse, more weapons, new Infected types that change the game play completely, L4D2 is NOTHING compared to L4D1, I must admit I miss the atmosphere of L4D1, although it's a whole new game with a whole new set of weapons to 0wn Zombies with, from Chainsaws to Magnum Pistols, it doesn't get any better than this! -- A note to BOYCOTTERS: The game is already out, and Valve is selling copies at least each week, Besides, half of the members of the BOYCOTT group already own a copy of L4D2, so what's the point of BoyCotting it? Expand
  22. JamesB
    Dec 8, 2009
    5
    To start off, Left 4 Dead 1 was an amazing release, although there were few weapons, few campaigns and of course few Special Infected types to kill. Left 4 Dead 2 has changed the whole game, They've improved and added a new build of the Source Engine, Added Tons of new weapons such as the Magnum Pistol, and Melee weapons such as the chainsaw, new game modes that give Special Infected a chance to overwhelm the Survivors, such as Scavenge Mode, the Witch doesn't sit in a corner moaning for hours, instead she is wandering around the map, hoping to bump into you, so she could put an end to her misery! Overall, it's not too bad, it's not too good, it's in between, Valve could have done a better Job, but overall, it's the best Zombie Survival game of all time... Collapse
  23. TronkerP
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    I really enjoyed playing this game everything is better , and the new weapons/upgrades are very good and the uncommon common infected was a very good idea....I'm with ya l4d2
  24. SeanM
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    Anyone who actually thinks that Valve is going to "sabotage" their reputation with this game is in need of a brain transplant, and needs to stop being a zombie *haha*. I was a skeptic at first, being completely upset by the release of a sequel so soon after the original, but you have to take the game for what it is, as a game.. This turned out to be so much better than I had anticipated, and yes its really similar to L4D but thats not such a bad thing, you dont have to mess with a winning strategy. Its vastly improved on many aspects, and the sunlight isn't as nearly as bad as some people complain about. If anything, just get L4D2 for Hard Rain, it is awesome and is by far my favourite level out of all L4D and L4D2 campaigns. And a note to people who say this game stole KF weapons... have you ever watched a zombie movie in your life? Most of those weapons are cliched, thats why they use 'em, like the chainsaw... (and L4D2 > L4D > KF ) I like KF don't get me wrong, but lets be honest here... Anyways, my verdict is go get L4D2, valve has another go-buy-it title under their belts. Expand
  25. Keither
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    Amazing action and improved in nearly every way! If you're a horror or zombie movie fan, especially, you simply MUST play this game. L4D was my favorite game of last year and now L4D2 is my fav game of 2009! Highly recommended.
  26. TedF-D
    Nov 17, 2009
    9
    Anyone who is concerned that L4D2 is simply a mod of L4D with no major content which couldn't have been DLC, need not worry. L4D2 stands tall on it's own two feet and feels like the sequel we all wanted it to be. Valve clearly took on board all the concerns about it being too similar to it's predecesor and ensured it was it's own game. In truth L4D2 makes the origional feel like a beta or even alpha test, the three new special infected fit into the roles beautifully and add a whole new dimension to versus. The one major complaint from many in the world of L4D was the corner or closet camping. They have addressed this big time. 2 of the 3 new infected specialise in breaking up a crowd. The events which used to involve starting a switch and waiting in a corner are gone, mostly. Now almost every event requires the team to move on to another switch or to go back and forth collecting items to end the event. The weapons are solid and all have their role, people will have a favourite. Melee weapons can be used instead of a pistol, which range from a Freeman style crowbar, to a "ninja" Katana. the new item system means people have to choose wisely between a defib unit (brings people back from dead) OR health OR special ammo packs to deploy for the team. New "thrown" weapon, Boomer Bile, works a charm and causes the infected to maul all tagged targets or just group up in a mass brawl. The Survivors feel just as special as the first four, and people again will have a favourite character. (Rochelle has a GREAT arse too) All in all, if you enjoyed the first one but hated the campy campy play style then seriously grab this game asap. I can't give it a 10 as it isn't PERFECT, there are glitches to be fixed and the special infected feel a little too powerful atm, But like the first game I fully expect valve will continue to support the fans in bringing out decent patches. But as far as comparing it to L4D and worrying if it's just the same game with a mod, don't worry. Thanks Valve for another game to keep me occupied for hours on end. Expand
  27. ColtonI
    Nov 26, 2009
    6
    I left off rating this thing for a week, and I'm glad that I did. At first glance this game is everything L4D1 was and more. My first single-player run though was a blast and I spent 10-15 hours running the campaigns the first time exploring everything. Jump to a week later and I can't barely work up the interest to play this game anymore. There are so many buggy problems with it that I don't even want to try. I bought the first L4D when it was on sale for $20 and it was generally worth it, but I paid $50 straight up for L4D2 and now I regret it completely. Bugs and errors include: Getting stuck in scenery with no way out but to die or restart if certain special infected attack you; AI players that can reach through walls to get at special ammo and weapons, which you can't get to; Invisible scenery items that block your progress and the only option for you is to "turn up your graphics settings"; Horrible bot AI that refuses to pick up medi-packs or new weapons and generally takes about 45 seconds to rescue you. (and I know what you're saying, "just play online with other people" but you have to take into account that people "rage quit", loose connection or drop game and you're left with these crappy AI bots) The campaigns go from dusk till' dawn but having it be daytime ruins the "scary jumps" that I loved so much about the first game. It seems that Valve listened too much to their play-testers and generally ruined the game catering to whiners. Someone must have told them "It's too dark" and "it's confusing" and "the AI does everything for you" and so on and so on. All Valve created was a game that is twice is big and half as fun. Somebodies mommy complained and now the magic is gone. In two months or less this will sit on your shelf untouched, I guarantee it. Expand
  28. Sirnoggin
    Dec 11, 2009
    10
    Fun fun fun, buy this game instead of CoD MW 2. This game is far superior. Weapons that are varied and make a difference, melee that is worth having. Crucially, the new special infected line up means this: no more hiding in Cupboards and corners...It's kill, run or be killed. Fantastic. As a L4D1 veteran, I heartilly recommend every aspect of this game. Gameplay aside, the new gore is tremendous! The new guns are fabulous to use. Versus is back, theres no more "3 hunters...GO" malarky, as there are huge new combinations of specials at any one time, it's literally totally new every time you try to run a level. Fantastic, expect the unexpected is the new rule with L4D2. 10. Expand
  29. NathanJ.
    Dec 14, 2009
    10
    Ridiculous pile of reviewing trash yet again down voting a game because they feel like it is an "expansion." How much you want to bet that 4/5ths of these 0 voters bought wrath of the liche king at full price as well? Yet no one complains about WoW in this aspect. But when valve releases a new game taking the weapon count from 7 in the original to something like 22 in this one, its called an "expansion." Also, for you "tactical" "far superior" KF players. I play both. Comparing the two is like comparing TF2 to Counterstrike. Yes, they are both zombie survival shooters, but trust me in saying that they are different games with different playstyles. You have no business rating another game lower based on the fact that your game of choice has a different playstyle. I would buy KILLING FLOOR 2 if I wanted to play KILLING FLOOR 2! For all those who claim that there is "less story" in L4D2, what are they smoking. There is definitely more personality within the characters, and the campaigns actually coherently form a solid story. Great graphics, fun gameplay, and the fact that I can run it at 50 FPS on a four year old mid-range computer make this a classic for me. Killing Floor players, hope you have fun in your "infinately varied" same map cycle only one game type game. I will be joining you once I get tired of L4D2... oh wait, Bad company 2 will be out by then. Expand
  30. Anatole
    Dec 22, 2009
    5
    Gave it half of what it would be if it were an original game. being that it's so blatantly a pile of rehashed, reused script from L4D1, much of which is still code from CounterStrike... (how sad is that?) this is less than half a game. My hat's off for the style, actually, no I don't even like the game's style. It's too bright and just corny in general. The underlying substance is lacking to say the least. So many details are just missing and ignored by most gamers. The entire game smacks of lazy developers. Too much copy/pasted game here to warrant the price. Expand
  31. JoshC
    Dec 25, 2009
    10
    A phenomenal game, despite what many others would say about it being an "expansion". Valve has taken what I claim is,without a doubt, the greatest zombie game of all time and made it even better by correcting the few problems it had. Though not all is perfect, (for instance, the fact that Rochelle is just an unnecessary character and some bugs still exist) the game manages to entertain me far after what the original managed. And with even more content on the way, I can see L4D2 lasting me a long time. Expand
  32. MikeT
    Dec 28, 2009
    10
    Some people may say that Left 4 Dead 2 is just a milkman for your money, but those are the same people that didn't give it a try. It was an invigorating experience the entire way and well worth any price paid for it. Whether you paid 14.95 or 60 bucks, it was well worth it. It's a game that you can easily play with your friends, and while it's not as scary as the first one, the environments are so much more detailed that the original looks like it was made with tinker toys. 10/10. Expand
  33. Dec 10, 2011
    9
    Even though this game doesn't really add enough amount of stuff to be made a sequel, it's still very good game. The gameplay is great, versus mode is increadibly fun and unlike Xbox 360 version, this version isin't killed by horrible community. I recommend to buy this game, if you are into multiplayer games and you understand what teamwork really means in team based games.
  34. Aug 17, 2010
    5
    Better in some ways, worse in some ways. Mostly worse but still fun. There are lots of new weapons and features. Unfortunately the ambiance is completely destroyed. Instead of dark horror moods you have more of a jackass vs zombies mood. The ridiculous music played during the mobs is killer to the survival mood. The new ai director also seems to be poorly put together. Instead of well paced hordes you get one every 3 freaking seconds. The thing that upset me most was that the movie posters don't have screen names below the characters anymore. On the upside you have more weapons, more support, and realism mode. Overall this could've been made an expansion and should't cost anything over 30$ Expand
  35. Aug 18, 2010
    9
    Incredibly fun multi-player. Unfortunately, playing solo is not very fun. As for being the sequel to Left 4 Dead, it does not feel like valve changed much. It's nice to have more range on the weapons, and adding melee was a fantastic idea. If you've already played the original Left 4 Dead, I give it a 6. If you haven't, 10. Left 4 Dead 2 makes the original Left 4 Dead look like a beta, unfortunately, with this feeling comes the feeling like Left 4 Dead 2 really could have used much more time to add more content. If you have already played Left 4 Dead then don't expect much difference, just a few new weapons for each class (Assault Rifle, Shotgun, Hunting Rifle) and melee weapons (the highlight of this sequel) and two new special infected, the jockey and spitter. If you are looking for a great online multi-player game and have not bought the original, then get this. It is an amazing game if you want multi-player. If you already have the original Left 4 Dead, I'd say buy something else, unless you really really really want an upgraded version of the first game. I, on the other hand, had an excuse to buy the second. I have the original for the 360. I finally got a computer more than capable of playing recent/new games so I got it for the PC, also I'm going to college and I don't want to bring my 360 along/it wouldn't fit.

    TL;DR If you have played Left 4 Dead: 6
    If not: 10
    Overall: 9

    Felt like less like a sequel and more like a big patch update to the original Left 4 Dead. An amazing game if you haven't. Also, don't expect much story, mostly just tons and tons of multi-player fun.
    Expand
  36. Apr 15, 2011
    10
    I have 236 hours on it. The base maps alone are tons of fun but the modding community adds even more to it. And thanks to the modding community some servers have 8 on 8 versus which is effectively D-day. It's just awesome. This is not just an expansion pack. It's not just DLC this is a full game.
  37. Dec 2, 2010
    8
    While this game can get boring, it's a near perfect example of a zombie apocalypse.
  38. Feb 4, 2011
    5
    It has all the the perks of the original game and more, which includes lack of support from Valve. I still believe that they have done nothing to improve the re-playability factor, which sadly wore off faster on this iteration than the previous installment. Gone is the writing and enjoyable characters from the first game, the first of many frustrations the game has to offer. Now, before I go any further, let me say that I did have fun with this for about 3 months after I bought it. But, admittedly, I did and still do feel like I payed for an expansion pack to the original game, not a sequel. The problem lies within Valve's Left 4 Dead team, which have made a sadly forgettable entry into their own game series. Almost ironically, I've gone back to playing the first one finding little things that make it just that much more enjoyable than the second. Such as difficulty that isn't just increasing the amount of damage enemies do to you, the gun models looking leagues ahead of what they look like in L4D2, Versus mode that feels partially balanced, and last of all, good maps. I can't stress how idiotic of a decision it was to make the setting in daylight, not only does it break the atmosphere, it also can make for some confusing map designs, which there are plenty of in this game. I have been let down twice now by a game valve has failed to finish. Expand
  39. Jan 29, 2011
    6
    If you're into hectic precision-gore-fests, then this game's Realism Expert mode is for you. Other modes are pretty much jokes for the kids, as they provide all sorts of visual aid. The fluency, reflexes, teamwork and some planning is what makes this game shine. The level designs, special infected and overall tone should have been darker, though, but it's still fun to obliterate such amounts of meat. Having said that, they should make the fleshy gore more realistic. Sometimes zombies keep running even if the crucial posture-muscles seem to have been destroyed and they should be falling over. Some more variety in the zombies is necessary. Variety in how they transport, too. Why they never crawl? And other issues, as it badly needs a darker tone. The fluency of movements sometimes doesn't make sense when the zombies don't seem to have any inertia (why?) and they seem to be stopping you by touch (is that even possible?). So these are the main gripes. Expand
  40. Oct 11, 2010
    7
    This is more of an extended update to the original, if you really loved the first there are very few excuses for you not to get this one. Steam offers this game at a discount multiple times a year, definitely should watch for that if you still don't own it.
  41. Nov 28, 2010
    8
    It doesn't bring all that much over the original, but it's still one of the best games of recent years (though most recent games have been utter trash).
  42. Oct 11, 2010
    10
    Do not underestimate versus fun you can get from this game. Do not try to play single player. Get out there, find a lobby and aid other survivors against endless horde of zombies. Once you get the point, you can't let it go. Absolutely wonderful on many levels.
  43. Oct 16, 2010
    8
    Killing Zombies in a Post Apocalyptic wasteland is a Right of Passage for any gamer...This game delivers...If you are trying to increase your point total for your XBOX 360 GAMERTAG...look elsewhere...
  44. Oct 25, 2010
    10
    game Left 4 dead 2 funny oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  45. Oct 28, 2010
    10
    I was a very big fan of L4D, and was excited for L4D2 to come out. It kinda sucks that they released it only a year after the original, but it has enough content to make it worth it. The new stuff keeps things pretty interesting. With the price now hovering around $19.99 (its on a Halloween sale for $9.99) its a great buy!
  46. Mar 13, 2011
    10
    This game is fantastic. One of my top five of all time... co-op is fun and engaging if you get a good team together, and the mod community is top notch.
  47. Nov 7, 2010
    10
    I never played the original L4D and I must confess having now played quite a bit of L4D2 I dont know why ? Left 4 Dead 2 is an excellent game, zombies + loads of weapons + insane ammounts of gore + multiplayer online chaos = LOADS OF FUN !

    Buy it, you will not be dissapointed (unless you get the censored version which will dissapoint for obvious reasons).
  48. Dec 11, 2010
    10
    Valve may have released the sequel too soon, but their promise is still kept, they continue to support both versions of the game, Left 4 Dead 2 carries the same feeling Left 4 Dead 1 brought but with a twist, new weapons, items, maps, and zombies to come across. some engine enhancements. All I'm going to say is, this is worth it! you will have some good times playing with friends, and the new AI Director 2.0 just seals the deal. Expand
  49. Nov 26, 2010
    10
    k whoever is being a loser saying l4d and l4d2 is a bad game and stuff, stop this game is awesome.and jay u know both l4d's deserve atleast a five for you but with the good graphics and sound effects im giving this game a 10.
  50. Dec 4, 2010
    8
    With new campaign, new levels, and new weapons, Left 4 Dead 2 is as good as its previous version. Although I did not like the new backgrounds and graphics. They were just horrible. But the game still gives me the creeps.
  51. Nov 29, 2010
    10
    "Attaching laser sights to your weapon makes it more accurate." Yeah right. It actually does, and also attaching laser sights to your weapon certainly makes it look cool. XD Teamwork is also needed for this game so all the haters technically have NO sense of teamwork and therefore they think the game sucks, have you heard the F**K You spoof on youtube by DeStorm? It is for you losers/haters =) My critic would be that game is VERY EPIC, a lot of people in Steam and Garena thought so too =) And those haters who writes long critics are, in my opinion, the biggest losers and rage quitters. Since they have so much time to write these things. And also, those who says melee weapon sucks? I completed a expert campaign using only melee and NO CHEATS =) Peace to all =D Expand
  52. Nov 30, 2010
    9
    People say that this is a poor attempt at sequel but I have to disagree. Its done very nicely and the online mode runs very smoothly. The AI is very intelligent and honestly smarter than most players online. The difficulty levels are true to there name and are actually hard.
  53. Ed1
    Dec 12, 2010
    9
    Its clear that the developers really paid attention to this game. The game play is perfect and the graphics are very good. The additions of weapon types, extra special infected and melee weapons makes this a fine sequel to part 1.
  54. Aug 7, 2011
    7
    Game are good, but some players think they are pro and other sucks. It's not a friendly game for newbies, as other players rather kick them out.

    But yeah, if players are good, it's fun!
  55. Apr 27, 2013
    9
    Left 4 Dead 2 is as good as a sequel can get. It advances every aspect of its prequel. The combat is smoother, the AI is better and each new campaign finale delivers incredibly chaotic and fun gameplay. Left 4 Dead 2 introduces new special infected, such as the “Spitter”, which offers new challenging gameplay moments. The regular infected zombies have better animations and the specialcial infected from the prequel are modified with different appearances and behaviors. There's many new cool weapons introduced in Left 4 Dead 2, including grenade launchers and melee weapons. If you liked the first one, then this is a no-brainer. Expand
  56. Dec 19, 2010
    10
    Milujete zombie? Radi je strilite a sekate na kousky? Chcete to delat spolecne s Vasimi prateli? Potom je to jasna koupe. Pokud nemate moznost sitového hrani je zde i singleplayer, ktery Vam ale nenabidne takove zazitky, protoze vasi partaci jsou rizení umelou inteligenci, ktera je sice na dobre urovni, ale zivy hrac je zivy hrac.
  57. Dec 19, 2010
    9
    This is one the the most amazing game i have ever played
    Nothing negative comes to mind.
    This gameplay is f****** awesome in solo and multiplayer

    I LOVE THAT GAME
  58. Dec 27, 2010
    10
    Simply one of the best and most original games I have played in years and years. Hands down. And I'm a tough reviewer. If you have any doubt, try it. You won't regret it.

    Redefines co-op gameplay and has enough play options to keep you entertained for months.
  59. Dec 30, 2010
    10
    Great game and I think this game is better then the first one, I love new infected as well as new weapons and new survivors! I would suggest this to anyone looking to have a fun and easy time playing a game!
  60. Jan 15, 2011
    1
    ( This is a really 'cheap' game ) A boring & mindless shoot-em-up. The screenshots and trailers are very deceiving compared to the actual gameplay... I was very disappointed! Overall, Left 4 Dead 2 STINKS! It really lacks the "intellect" that a game should have, and I think it can actually cause people to become "brain-dead". The gameplay gets very old (without interesting objectives), mostly killing a bunch of sick people over and over and over and over!.. seriously, how fun can that remain??? NO real purpose to this game other than constantly whacking and shooting thousands of half-dead sick people ALL THE TIME!!! The talking and taunts can get repetitive and annoying... The only few things that are good are some of the graphics, effects, environments and frame rate. The overall speed of gameplay is a little bit too fast IMO ( sick dieing people usually can not move that fast!! I mean come on Valve, make it a little more REALISTIC! ). -CONCLUSION: Games like Left 4 Dead 2 should simply be Left Alone 2 Die! It's just another one of those pointless, brainless, waste-of-time shoot-em-ups. I can NOT believe this game received such high reviews... it just proves how many whacked-out-players are really out there playing mindless games like this. If you must try this game, play a friend's before you waste your precious money. !CAUTION: If you require "Real-world Objectives" and if you want to keep your brain cells alive then STAY AWAY from games like Left 4 Dead 2!! Expand
  61. Jan 10, 2011
    8
    l4d2 brings melee weapons and other guns to an instant classic. This has to be the best zombie game ever made for PC to date. The zombies move fast, run around corners, and climb over and under things to get to you. You play one of four survivors who are immune to the infection. With L4D2 more attention is given to the storyline, which is cool, but I really would like to see a good zombie game with a nice single-player mode that tells a good story. Single player mode is almost non-existent in this game. L4D2 is meant to be played online. You can play with 3 bots, sure, but the fun really isn't there until you go online. Starting off, you should play a campaign on normal with 3 other human players in coop mode to get the idea of the game and how it is played (Normal because easy is just way too easy). After playing through all campaigns, you might think that the game isn't worth replaying, but you would be very wrong. First up is versus mode. where you and 3 other friends play against 4 others friend...er, enemies and compete for the best score. Versus mode is probably the best part of this game and the most played game-mode. And if you get bored of versus, load up a campaign in advanced mode and then expert and you'll have a real challenge on your hands (play it online not in single player). Valve also added a realism mode that is even harder, so the game can be replayed quite a bit. In fact, it is one of the most played games I have. Where it also shines are the crescendo events, in which you'll find yourself running through an area with wave after wave of zombie hoards coming at you while you attempt to reach a switch or get to safety. Probably the funnest finale is the bridge crossing at the end of the last campaign where you must run to a helicopter while zombies are trying to take you down. Valve has been putting out DLC that is FREE for this game, and they keep updating the game almost weekly with 'mutations' (mods), updates, and tweaks, and there are plenty of custom maps to download and try out, and Valve has been featuring some of the best ones in their blog. Even though the game uses an older graphics engine (Source 2), it is still a fun game to play and definitely worth having in your collection. However, if you are not a social person and just like to play single-player, story driven games then this game is not for you. It is only worth playing on a PC connected to the internet, as the single-player mode is a waste and I'm not even sure why they bothered making one. I really wish that Valve would make another version of this, but this time give us a single-player mode that tells a story and is worth being in the game. But as much as I play this game, you'd think I'd give it a 10, but I can't because of these reasons: 1. It uses a dated graphics engine. 2. This is just l4d1 the way they wanted it to be but didn't have the budget for it. 3. No in-game download and install of custom maps/content. Consequently, there isn't a lot of people playing custom maps. 4. Single player mode sucks. It may as well not even be there. Yeah, we get it that multilayer games are all the craze, but many of us out here still like a good story-driven single-player mode. The lack of such a mode gives me the impression that Valve was just in it for the money, and didn't really expect the game to make as much as it did. It is still in the top sellers list on Steam. Expand
  62. Mar 26, 2012
    9
    Very addicting game, maybe the best co-op game i've ever played. It comes with the campaigns of the original Left 4 Dead so you don't have to buy the first game plus it comes with a bunch of new ones. Definitely recommend this to anyone.
    Ps: Playing as the Spitter in versus and scavenge is the best :)
  63. Feb 8, 2011
    10
    When you can make a game from a idea thats been beaten to death and do it succesfully you know your good.
    This game is a blast to play and the steam achievments add that much more to it.
    The graphics are top notch so i dunno wth JayF is talking about.
    I'm running an old GTX295 and it looks awesome cranked up so maybe his card needs replaced not this game.
    Now on top of all the goodness
    add the add on campaigns free from lfd2maps.com and you get more for your dollar than you can shake a dismembered limb at. Expand
  64. Feb 16, 2011
    10
    This is one of those games that can eat 800+ hours of your life away and keep you coming back for more. For that one fact alone I give it a 10. My money was well spent. There are many modes to keep it fresh and enjoyable. Cooperation within a team is a must. The replay factor and fun factor are simply through the roof. L4D and L4D2 are both worth the investment.
  65. Feb 27, 2011
    10
    I have been a die-hard fan of the L4D series. Once the Sacrifice and No Mercy came out, I was psyched. Now I have L4D2 on both Xbox 360 and Steam/PC, and with both versions, I can play this game anytime I want. I have to say, VALVe and PowerSource, as well as Steam, made one of the best games on the district.
  66. Mar 8, 2011
    9
    Decent game, although they didn't change that much from the original L4D i still enjoyed it. The promised revamped AI director wasn't as amazing. The voice acting(especially rochelle) hasn't been as good. The new alarm events, new infected, and new gamemode (including mutation) are pretty creative and fun though. Although campaign can get too easy and boring over time, i feel the strength of this game lies in its multiplayer. It is immensely fun to play with friends, whether you are dominating in pubs or are playing against challenging opponents. There are learning curves and strategies to play both the infected and survivor, and valve designed it so it is easy to pick up for beginners, while maintaining a high skill ceiling for advance players to hone their tricks. Once again Valve never disappoints. Expand
  67. Mar 13, 2011
    9
    after reeding a lot of reviews on the game left for dead 2 i would agree with some of the criticism posted up but on the defense despite the lack of gaming quality and key things what could be improved it is still a good game. as the turn " you pay for what you get " i payed £20 - 30 as a package deal for my game so did not expect any thrill's like playing a high end full on 3d graphics game what would have cost around £60+ ether tho it is a social game and you can have a lot of fun ether make some rilly good friends or just to blow of some steam after a hard day at work and you just want to kill some zombies all tho yes this game works for me and i have made a lot of friends so guys A+ for me Expand
  68. Mar 17, 2011
    10
    An absolutely amazing game I enjoyed playing for many hours already and the constant Mutation changes and custom maps always add a new replay value to it. If you don't have it you should definitely get it, the 4 player Co-Op campaign is simply amazing (although there are a lot of e.g. 16 players co-op servers for extra fun) and survival too. I believe I will play it a lot soon cause of the upcoming Cold Stream DLC including a new awesome map and the rest of the L4D1 campaign. Expand
  69. Mar 27, 2011
    10
    Strategy and shooter in one phenomenal game! You can play it for 1000 hours and more, but never it will be boring! Nice maps, great weapons, awesome modes and cool infecteds! I could play it all the time :P
  70. Sep 5, 2011
    9
    Years on and this is still one of the BEST co-op shooters available... ok the graphics are workmanlike, but Source is gettting way too long in the tooth to ever look top end...accept that sacrifice for everything else being super fast with tonnes of sharpened gameplay and high replay values thanks to it's huge modder community (on PC) supplying hundreds of free campaigns, how can you go wrong?
  71. Apr 21, 2011
    9
    It's not as spooky or atmospheric or creative as the first game, but the gameplay is improved, the graphics are improved, and the versus mode is not only playable, but is also the most fun I've had in a multiplayer zombie game since the craziest nights of Zombie Master.
  72. Apr 24, 2011
    8
    A good game, yes. But I can't really find myself playing it for more then a few hours, if not only a couple minutes. I quit half way through story modes when I play by myself, and really only play it with friends. With friends, or with people online, this game is really good. But like I said, playing by yourself wasn't as enjoyable as Left 4 Dead 1, because it's the same thing with enhanced A.I (Maybe). But other than that, this is a pretty good game to play. The best on the PC I would say. It's a buy Expand
  73. Jul 6, 2011
    0
    All I can say, is that this game is a **** awesome sequel to Left 4 Dead, ticked all my boxes, nothing negative comes to mind. Awesome! The gameplay is awesome in multiplayer, had tones of fun, the new infected are fun to kill and are fun to play as! Very very verry good game :D
  74. Jul 3, 2011
    7
    I enjoyed the mayhem and personalities of LFD2, but the simplistic shooting system and the somewhat short campaign leaves my money spent questionable. 30 bucks for this game isn't really worth the time or money unfortunately. Liked the game, just not worth it for the price.
  75. Sep 14, 2011
    9
    New zombies, new maps and more weapons! YES! But, for some odd reason I find the game play different. I actually find the original more appealing. The graphics look better as in better looking versus more advanced graphics. The characters aren't that appealing either. It seems a bit rush and too soon. Left 4 Dead 1 just got off the ground when this was released! Shame... But the games still good.
  76. Mar 29, 2013
    7
    When you experienced the first game, some of the atmosphere in the second game doesn't feel as strong. However, this game makes up for that with the new weapons, features, infected and characters. At first, I was very angry at Valve for suddenly working on this game while the first one was still unpolished, but my disposition changed when I finally played this game and experienced the updates along with it. It's good every once in a while, but gets repetitive sometimes even with the game altering "Director" thrown in. Versus Mode can be extremely fun when your team isn't stupid and the hit detection doesn't screw you over, but I find that more or less unbalanced and just stick with the normal co-op. Expand
  77. Aug 30, 2011
    8
    Nothing has really changed since the first version. New characters and maps mixed with improved graphic and nothing else. It's not really L4D2, it's rather L4D1.5.
  78. Jun 30, 2011
    10
    Left 4 Dead 2 was an exceptionally good game, in my opinion, from the moment I started playing it. It brought to mind the play of Dead Rising, where I could simply kill zombies as a sort of stress reliever. It never needed to have much of a purpose. Just as long as I could kill, move forward, and feel like I accomplished something I was happy. I really enjoy the level designs in the second one. I find especially the Dark Carnival campaign to be extremely fun. The main difference between this game and those of other zombie shooters is that you cannot win this game alone. It is very hard to make it anywhere, especially on harder difficulties, without being a team. Versus mode only proves all the more that without effective teamwork, you cannot win the game. A single player being good is not enough to win the game. More importantly, a lot of times, you don't even have to be good to play, you just have to work together.

    A lot of multiplayer video games have completely lost sight of teamwork. When I go to play Call of Duty, if there is a single good person on my team, I may win because of their skill. The next round, they win on someone else's team. It is too dependent on individual people. Left 4 Dead is rarely possible to move any farther when you want to play as a loner. The single player proves this even more with the terrible AI being of little assistance. It certainly feels like you are alone with them. (I still think it deserves a ten because especially friendly AI is rarely very skilled in video games anyway...)

    Left 4 Dead 2, as a sequel, also provides some semblance of the creepy level design in the first one. A dank mall, with all the lights turned out, one of the levels virtually serving as a maze because all of the obvious directions are not the right ones. The Carnival, with clowns attracting massive hordes if they are not eliminated effectively. The swamp is a nightmare, especially in realism mode(which is AMAZING... It adds value to the melee weapons and makes you work much harder to remain a team) where you may be dragged away by a smoker and be impossible to find in the foliage. The sugar mill, with a forest of witches, and rain that blinds all view of the screen, is very well designed and very creepy. The Parish is the only campaign which stays well lit for the majority of the campaign but it is not without its challenges as well. The Impound lot, which leaves a massive amount of car alarms in front of you is especially dangerous when you have a person playing who has not memorized where the alarms are. Several of the events in the Parish force hordes of monstrous sizes on you.

    This game is only as hard as you make it. You can change the settings to make it simplistic or make it very challenging. Realism mode only adds to the nightmare and makes everything a lot more interesting because you cannot see people through walls, glows around items are disabled, and worst of all, the witch will instantly kill you.

    I feel as though a lot of the negative reviews on this game are written by people who rushed out to by this game when it was brand new, who weren't very good at the game, and who could not appreciate all the new things this game had to offer over the old Left 4 Dead. The melee weapons are life saving in Realism mode(which is why describing them as useless seems ineffective and incorrect to me), the guns are vastly improved from the original, and there are three entirely new infected creatures which are all extremely dangerous.(Spitters are great when well timed) The characters are much better developed, interesting, and surprisingly realistic. Especially for those gamers out there who cannot afford an expensive game when it first comes out and wait for the prices to be those of bargains, this game was an amazing buy. I have gotten well over a few hundred hours of gameplay for roughly 20 dollars. I would have paid the 50 dollars if I had it. This game was worth it. Especially with friends, the online is worth every second of playing and I recommend this game to anybody who does not yet have it.
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  79. Jul 5, 2011
    10
    Left 4 Dead (2) Series is just amazing i just loving killing me some zombies i dunno maybe because i'm a gun nut and have my own arsenal of weapons for such occasions and just want practice. Anyway This is a great Multiplayer Platform you can team up against zombies or become a special zombie on teams against each other.
  80. Jul 11, 2011
    10
    This is a typical game to just get ur head clear and mindlessly kill all that walks, if ur a game addict its not to play 24/7 youll get mad but its a lovely way to just do something elsze with friends for a change,
    i love it!
  81. Jul 22, 2011
    8
    As addictive as Heroin, without the illegality - Although I did prefer the old L4D, it was more original and better designed, and L4D2 is in essence L4D with a Gok-Wan style make-over. Also, Zoey is much more attractive than Rochelle, and less annoying too. But hey, it was fun and good, and to save me writing an L4D review read the first seven words of this review but keep the score the same.
  82. Jul 22, 2011
    7
    I haven't played L4D1, so i don't have anything else to compare it to, (other than perhaps Killing Floor). I thought of giving it a 6, but then i guess it's still a *good quality* game, just that the gameplay didn't suck me in at all. I guess i'm not a fan of a thousand no-AI-whatsoever npc's running at me, it kind of makes each individual kill meaningless, and there is no river of blood to make it at least visually bad-ass. And it's very linear too: after finishing a campaign once, i had no desire to replay it, having to go through exactly the same path again. I did like the vs. scavenge mode though, i think this one aspect of the whole game is what really stood out. Having to be the zombies who die faster than the waiting time between respawns, it was the first time i ever reaaallly had to strategize in an fps. To finalize, if i were to give this game a price, i'd say it's worth about $5-$10 (depending on who you are. To me it would have been worth $5, but definitely not $35, or however much i actually paid for it.) Expand
  83. Sep 8, 2011
    9
    I've played more hours of this game than any other - 800 at the moment. It's a truly great game, the only negative is the online community can be very annoying and love to cry "NOOOB!"
  84. Aug 9, 2011
    10
    The great part about Valve is that they patch the game, add new content based on player's interests and no longer allow it to go stale. I have at least 600 hours into the game and have learned specific tactics for taking out the special infected while most people run aimlessly out to their death. It's a team-based game where if you stay together, the chances of survival are high. Cool binds to use such as taunt, yes, no, take the lead, stick that up your a$$, etc. make for some interesting jokes even if everyone is already on voice chat. What you're really doing is making a movie and if you're one of the 4 star actors you're able to take a break and watch. I love how the game seamlessly as well as instantly adds new players or replaces them with bots without some lengthy game re-load or re-sync making everyone wait. It was remarked that the grenade launcher sitting out in the open for anyone to grab and descimate the game solo was making the game too easy and allowing people to leave the rest 4 dead, so Valve moved them to more hidden areas so players had to search for the big guns. I hope it's evolution continues. Expand
  85. Nov 28, 2012
    8
    Left 4 Dead 2 warms you up with a single player campaign and then has long multi-player replay value. The match-finding service could be improved for casual players. Anybody that doesn't play L4D2 enough to use the infected properly will often be kicked if they end up on a team of expert players.
  86. Sep 6, 2011
    10
    Woah woah woah... time out. All these people complain about L4D2 being the same thing as L4D, but that simply isn't true! At its core, yes, L4D2 is the same but so is every game on the market. Halo is still a shooter, Command and Conquer is still a strategy game, Starcraft is still epic, Episode 3 still isn't released, and Left 4 Dead is still a co-op zombie survival game. Just because Valve didn't go for L4D2: Cooking Mama as their sequel doesn't mean they're ripping us off. This game easily has enough new content to teach Infinity Ward and Treyarch a thing or two.

    Valve obviously worked hard to make the original experience much more fun in every aspect and they definitely delivered. The only thing that I would have docked a point for is not having enough maps, but free DLC took care of that. Besides, I had to do something to even out all the people trying to say the game hadn't changed. I wouldn't be surprised if half of them don't even own the game.
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  87. Sep 9, 2011
    9
    Its a fun but repetitive game. But it hasn't aged well. Its starting to look rough around the edges. If you can fool yourself to thinking it looks good you probably can get several hundred of hours of addicted playing out of this, else it will feel more like a repetitive slog because the environments look very bland. This looks like a game that worried too much about hardware budgets , or was developed on a tight budget itself. Not much is textured properly and there is too many details missing from the scenes. For example, their idea of a store is a room with an empty shelve and a block looking cabinet with a register on it, and no other details you'd see in a store. The good side, being a MP game, its still alive currently and finding a game is not too hard. The game also appears to be still be supported regularly by the creator Valve with recently now the l4d campaigns being added into the game. Expand
  88. Dec 2, 2012
    10
    Yes, it's a decent sequel with big amount of changes over it's predecessor, which can't be simply packed in a DLC. This game is about teamplay and replayability - i'm playing it with my friends with VoIP and i played more than 400 hours in total and not yet bore with. One of the best co-op, PvP and overall games in my life.
  89. Nov 2, 2011
    10
    Awesome coop game, the value of the free dlcs and the game itself make it a masterpiece.
    **** to the ones saying that it's the same old **** if the game has changed the same guys would be the first saying "oh no, ****ty game, those dubass changed everything and now is totally different, why would they did that? Vote: 4, 0, 2". Buy it.
  90. Sep 28, 2011
    8
    I loved Left 4 Dead for some really good atmosphere, solid game play, and the co-op I desperately wanted in my games that nothing I had owned (up to that point) had ever filled though some had the potential to do so (looking at you StarFox). I only played L4D1 for about half a year or a little more before Left 4 Dead 2 was announced and then, quickly, released. The rush to get it out is really noticeable as the game has its bugs, but (since I started playing) patch-work has been done to fix that. The game is still far from perfect as it feels more like an expansion pack than a sequel. Only Melee Weapons, a few new maps, and a few new zombies were added to the mix. I get that trying to reinvent the FPS-zombie game for every game in a series might be asking for much, but I don't feel like this is a true sequel to L4D one like, say, F-Zero GX was to F-Zero X (for a random comparison).

    The aesthetics are about the same, if not weirder because a lot of the maps are set during the day, which isn't scary. So the game lacks the previous game's tension. But common infected have a much larger variety and uncommon infected added to the mix improves the looks of the enemies, a bit. The uncommon, however, are rather low in number and don't present as big an impact to game play. For the mechanics, the game works, I guess. you point the gun and the enemies die if you click on them. Some new mechanics, like gauntlets, really make for a more interesting horde run. But the number of gauntlets are low, so you won't get them as often as you should. There is also dynamic path-making which will alter the course of a map depending on certain circumstances. While I like the idea of alternate paths to change things up, I don't like it depending on conditions being met. It should just be random so I have a chance to see all the parts of the game rather than having to go through a lot of guess work to figure out what path I can take. Overall, it has improved in terms of game play from the first. Melee weapons, bullet upgrades, and a larger variety of weapons makes for some improvements on the Survivor's side of things, while the horde gets new zombies and new uncommon infected to hopefully balance it all out. If you liked L4D1, this isn't a bad buy. At the time of reviewing, $20 is a good deal for this game, but you can easily wait for a Steam Holiday Sale when it drops to somewhere around $10 or lower.
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  91. Sep 28, 2011
    10
    This is a superb co-op game still being played now almost 3 years after its release. Its a game where you only get out of it what you put into it. Players are expected to help each other, in an environment where anyone can just into your game and leave as easily you have to be expecting the odd pain. The variation in the kind of teams you can find yourself fighting with adds a lot to this games re-playability.
    The game has been consistently supported with patching, new official maps, new play modes. There are tonnes of servers still providing loads of free online multiplay. On top of that you get a game which all other co-op zombie shooters are compared against as it still is the best one one the market hands down. The game has co-op campaign, versus, survival (with leaderboard), single-play and scavenge modes. You will make new friends playing this game, and there are some very good people playing this game now-a-days with many of the turkeys having gotten bored of cheating and pk'ing.
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  92. Oct 8, 2011
    8
    Wow, never played a funner co-op game, completely honest. Not only blowing off heads like in the first one, but it has added melee to whack heads off. It's not scary, just intense, and it's a game I don't think anyone will ever forget.
  93. Oct 15, 2011
    10
    This is an awesome game due to the replay value. The "Director" changes the campaigns every time you play to spawn the horde, witches, and tanks in different locations every time (or no witches or tanks at all). The graphics are fantastic for anyone that has a 4 to 5 year old computer as of 2011; the FPS is superb (depending on your computers video card and RAM) and works flawlessly for me.
    The Vs Mode is awesome - sometimes you have a good team and sometimes you don't; sometimes you have people who stay when they are losing or some who leave (ragers) because they're losing. The "Director" does a great job making the Vs campaigns random.
    The Mutation mode offers some different styles of gameplay; while some are not great - others are exciting to play.
    Survival Mode: How long can you survive against the horde (need I say more?)
    If you want to up the difficulty, play Vs Realism which doesn't show the survivors outlines if you are a survivor (playing normal as survivors, you would see an outline of your team but not in Realism)
    Also - you can download custom maps and campaigns and all other sorts of things to customize the game (look at: http://www.l4dmaps.com/l4d2/ ).
    Full score and highly recommend.
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  94. Apr 22, 2013
    10
    The reason for rewarding Left 4 dead 2 a pure 10, is simple. There is no competitor out there to what this game delivers and what it delivers is great. Even 4 years after it came out, it is still the absolute most fun co-op game out there, with up to 4 people. Even greater is the versus mode, where 2 teams of 4 take turn playing the special effected. It's easy to get into, so great for newcomers and hard to master. Expand
  95. Jun 26, 2012
    8
    I'm not a pessimist, but when after buying Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam, I was a little unsure of how it would be. The first aspect that worried me was the change in overall theme from a grounded city setting to a more diverse, but campy deep south America. Once I bought it however, I can safely say that L4D2 is still as fun as ever. So what has changed you ask? Quite a lot has been changed: the visuals and sound are improved; you can now use melee weapons; there are more guns; there's a better sense of progression and of course, more gore. This is probably the goriest game I have ever played; if it were a normal shooter about shooting soldiers instead of zombies then I might have felt a bit guilty. There is a problem I have with L4D2 though: teaming up with friends on-line and ploughing your way through hordes of slavering zombies may be entertaining, but it's also repetitive and quickly becomes quite tedious to play. The campy setting also seems to have taken away some of the emotional impact from the game. Overall, even though this is probably Valve's weakest game I've played, it still stands tall and proud over most of the junk which the game industry churns out and as a co-op experience, I thoroughly recommend it. Expand
  96. Nov 8, 2011
    10
    an FPS game that is brilliant! the gameplay is awsome for a fps, the guns are awsome but lack a little variety. The only reason to really buy this game is to play online, single player id give it a 6, multiplayer online is a for sure 10. The replayability in this game is great, youll notice yourself playing it after you get bored at first from time to time and casually play it here and there. great game online, well worth the buy. Expand
  97. Nov 12, 2011
    8
    great 7.1 surround sound support, Great stereoscopic 3D support, great multilayer experience. It isn't anything different than the first but it is still just as fun. need I say more?
  98. May 13, 2012
    9
    Overall one of the best games ever made, and pretty much evolved the zombie genre to a point towards even making Resident Evil run for its money when it comes down to zombie genre games. Left 4 Dead 2 will leave you with excitement and suspense which you will more than likely be talking about for a long time, along with that the fact its a Steam game and from valve, expect it to have alot of PC content exclusives such as Achievements, constant upgrades and unofficial mods. To make it better, Left 4 Dead 1 comes packed with this game as well when you purchase it! Expand
  99. Nov 30, 2011
    8
    What is it, 2 years - 3 after the game came out, and people are still complaining about it? I was part of the little protest not to release l4d2 because it really was the same thing - but valve definitely keeps it updated, fresh and new. They also added new left 4 dead 1 maps into L4D2, so you've really got alot more maps to play on, there's tons of free updates and patches and really, it's load of fun. 9/10 - the game is not perfect, but it is worth your money if you like zombie games. Expand
  100. Nov 29, 2011
    8
    Left 4 dead 2 tries to expand on the original, and kinda does its job. While l4d2 is a good game, there are certain things keeping it from being a great game. Dynamic routes that were supposed to be in versus multiplayer were removed, dynamic weather was removed, when the game was released there was a crash to desktop issue, valve has not supported l4d2 with fixes for bugs, glitches and exploits. 2 years after being released, some of the glitches that were in the game in day one are still there. Valve has also ignored the l4d2 community in our request on ways to improve l4d2. Some of the maps have too many health kits, and valve refuses to remove the kits. While l4d2 could have been a great game, the glitches take away from the overall experience. Expand
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 55 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 55
  3. Negative: 0 out of 55
  1. 100
    L4D2 delivers multiple improvements over its predecessor, and I get to keep all my fingers and toes.
  2. 90
    It remains one of the most distinctive co-operative titles out there, and allows for some of the most nerve-searing team-based multiplayer gaming on the market.
  3. Whereas once we treated Left 4 Dead as a stopgap between Half-Lifes, this is no longer a weird little side project with modest expectations, and Valve is confident enough to play around with it, safe in the knowledge that you can trust your players. Left 4 Dead proved it. And whereas that game had a personality, this one is overflowing with it.