I think its a great game, nice graphics, nice sound, nice controls and a really good AI-system. It would have been more fun if you we're able to play Versus mode on all four maps, instead of only 2. But that is not enough to drag it "down" into a nine.

if you're buying this game for the single player, then give it a lower score, but if you're buying it for the online aspect, this game is a ten in the full experience. No, it isn't perfect, but the fun level is so high, you won't even notice the flaws (unless your team is getting decimated on versus mode)

Ok, i dreamed of a perfect game which would suit me, number one, multiplayer, team fortress 2 best example, but left4dead has one of the best multiplayer experiences ive ever seen, guns and good effects when using them, again left4dead has the same effects as counterstrike so very good, good story line and loads of zombies, half life had this but left4dead just made it alot more intresting and fun by using it online!… Expand

Your gameplay rises to a feverish pitch in battle with entire hordes of zombies while the cries of your comrades getting pinned by Hunters, burped on by Boomers, pummeled to death by Tanks, or getting slashed into tiny bits by Witches achieves a realism that is the epitome of zombie films. The taunts of your team mates and cries, howls, and snarls of the furious Undead goad you further into the tormented maze of each movie. Down to every second of time, every last drop health, and every last bit of ammo, you will spare nothing to blast the Horde into oblivion. The safe-houses become fewer and farther between as the AI Director continues torment you with every possible scenario of hordes and boss zombies, destroying any small shreds of hope in knowing where or when your next battle will be. You feel that this must be a nightmare, and it is, till you wake up and find you have been... ...Left 4 Dead. This game follows the classic idea of zombie mods, get from point A to point B without being killed or getting your team slaughtered while taking down as many of the Undead as possible along the way. I have found it to be spectacularly realistic and am comforted by the time-tested designs of Valve in the game engine and graphics. I miss a straight up storyline that was classic in the Half Life games. I hope this will be changed in the future.… Expand

Nearly a ten, soooo damn close. A brilliant game almost every eay. The co-op campaign is tense, involving and just plain good! Especialy with a group all on mic shouting "F*** horde, horde" while another shrieks "Hunter's got me, heeeelp!". Intense! But that's just the start, versus.... sweet, sweet verses. Two teams of 4 scrap it out through the campaign, tearing/shooting each other apart. My only negative point is the lack of variety in the whole concept, which is kind of unfair, since it is supposed an all out Zombie shooter, but a 10 needs to all round perfect, and I like a little more sophistication in a story. Still... AWSOME!… Expand

Valve pulls off another gameplay victory with L4D! As well as atmosphere and intense shoot'n'kill fun. A refreshing change from Team Fortess 2, too. And the graphics are just fine, I don't see why critics always have to bash the Source engine -- maybe it's because they feel it should have the overall look of everything covered in aluminum foil like modern Unreal engine games. LOL.… Expand

Maybe it's not the game of the year, but it's close. We can see the usual attention to detail Valve brings in every project, and also the replayability they promised. It's the most intense online I've ever played.

Fantastic game, as the user vote reflects. Some animations arent perfect but considering how dynamic Left 4 Dead is, this is understandable. Its only real problem is that you are often paired with poor teamates or others with no patience but Valve can hardly be blamed for that. Overall, fantastic fun, energy, atmosphere, very good graphics and even greater sound. Another must buy from Valve.

This game combines great co-op, intense and unpredictable gameplay, fantastic AI and it is easily one of the best games I have played not only this year, but in my entire time as a gamer (12-13 years).

Left 4 Dead will take all the good in you and leave nothing but fear. Best zombie shooter ever, very intense and very unique. The old 80s horror movie style environement is awesome. Great sound, great graphics, great gameplay, everything about this game is almost perfect. Grab a weapon and some pain killers, move forward and shoot zombies, no questions ask. A must have for all horror movie and zombie fans. Play it at night and you'll do nightmares !… Expand

Awesome game always keeps you on edge. and at times becomes extremely epic if u can get into it there are however a need for a diversity i think of more weapons, on soon hopefully more maps (soon aka like a month or 2) if u enjoy zombies, massive rushes and Fuego i recommend this.

This game could never have been made any better than it is, you can do so many things and play with your friends to help wipe out the living dead! the weapons are also amazing and especially the interactive environment, e.g shooting a petrol station, could never be more immense! i have waited for a game like this since half life 10/10

well impressed, great graphics, i just needed more bullets!!! lol. love the gameplay but as i seemed to spend time on the floor when hell breaks loose i would have liked to have been able to bandage myself laid down!!!!! now my fav game ever and def one for playing online with mates in a great co-op. well done valve and the gang!

Not the best game ever, but perhaps the most flawless ever. Absolutely glorious multiplayer action, and even the singleplayer is infinitely replayable thanks to the AI Director, that mixes up what happens, the sounds, and so on. Several reviews complain that the game is short. I'm not sure they've played the game at all. On the harder settings, it's absolute murder, and you won't just waltz through - and even when you do, you can play the same levels tomorrow, and have a completely different experience. So polished, so stylish, so smooth, so utterly pick-up-and-playable. Valve seem untouchable, and L4D is a worthy member of that family. It really is hyper-immersive. You'll spend as much time playing, as you will telling your stories to your mates afterwards.… Expand

I have been searching for a zombie game that is actaully in 3D for years, one that is: 1. Realistic 2. Fun to play 3. Scary In my, and in many of my friends opinions, this game checks all of those boxes and I can imagine myself playing this for months with just the current content, if as promised it keeps updating it, I can see it becoming as addictive as Garry's Mod.

First of all, I gotta say this is one of the best zombie game I ever played. I love playing it with my friends. And all you hear is them screaming over the mic from my friends lol. This game is very exciting and thrilling. I give Left 4 Dead a 1O!

incredible game, great co-op, endless fun on infinite maps. No one has given the real credit to the director who can take ANY (read: ANY) source map and toss in some zombies. This game has given me a new respect for dust 2 when a tank ran me over while i was trying to sweep over Short B.

Music is dynamic and unscripted, and has subtle cues which make you keep it on. Zombies and weapons/perks spawn dynamically, which means you dont memorize maps and spawn points and get bored, you constantly are on your toes. Playing is epic. You feel like you're in a movie where the ending could and very often is your demise. 10/10. Playing FPS/RPG/RTS/MMORPG games for ten+ years and this is one of those few WINNERS you come across, just like starcraft was for RTS and the like.… Expand

Awesome game, anything I can complain about with this game will soon be fixed by mods. I have never seen the perfect game but this one is pretty close, source engine is getting old but it looks wonderful in this game, frames per second is high despite tons of on screen action. Had it a little more engaging in game story it would easily rank as on of the best FPS of all time, as is I like it better than HL 1-2, Highly recommended for FPS fans and anyone who loves zombies.… Expand

This game is one of the most fun I've ever played. It's had me hooked since I downloaded the demo and continues to be exciting every game. I would like to give it closer to 9.5 for a few minor issues with game play (tanks are really unfair at times in versus). Hopefully they keep updating the achievements to make us keep playing campaigns!

Valve has done it again, people. Simply outstanding. This game will make you happy, sad, scared, fearless, along with an array of others. Versus mode is amazing, you will come to love every infected class available. Please note this though: if you don't like dying repeatedly, you will not like playing as the infected. However, the extreme satisfaction you experience after pouncing a survivor from 4 stories up as the hunter will make you forget that you just died.
Single player had a lackluster story, but made that up with the beautiful environments (courtesy of Valve's amazing source engine), and intense gameplay. The first time I played the campaign, I noticed my heart beating wildly in my chest and the fact that I hadn't blinked in the last 40 minutes.
Lastly, the new AI director will ensure that, no matter how many times you play a mission, you will never recieve the same experience. No longer will gamers have the chance to memorize where clusters of enemies are, and where health and ammo will be.
Left 4 Dead is highly recommended for fans of fast-paced FPS gameplay, and zombie lovers alike.… Expand

Has a decent length if played on the corect difficulty and has endless replay value.
The source engine is a little outated but is really showing us what it can do with this game. Any bugs are always fixed by Valve quickly and one of the golden features of a Valve game is that they are going to add more content over time. Balenced perfectly!

All win

First of all this is not a single player rambo game. If your team doesn't work together you lose. Its that simple. Zombies, boss zombies are epic, every class has a unique roll to play and each one has a counter.

Valve is also going to be putting in more content as time goes on and that will add even more value. The AI director makes sure that every play threw is different.

If you like FPS and zombies, can learn from the more experianced players, buy this game it is fantastic.… Expand

Just a great game, always fun to play. since everyone loves this game, i would like to point out my cons about the game. Even though the Director does randomly change zombie locations, they are still in one of a few spots that you will see them. in other words, its random to a point. My other main complain is that it isnt a very long game, although the director makes up for this a little bit. i really would like the option of custom game maps, like cs:s. apart from that, awsome game!… Expand

I think John S. was a little confused on what this game accomplishes. So there is no story...well duh...I would have thought the demo sent that message clearly. This game is aimed at cooperative play, and personally I think it does a great job. If you have some friends who enjoy zombie games this will be your favorite game, period. If you are looking for a game that immerses you in an original detailed story then play a RPG.… Expand

This game is truly a piece of fun/Action. A lot of action and intense battles against the horde of Infected, bosses infected, 20 maps pure of fun and re-playable, the A.I Director do an amazing work when spawning Infected by the maps, this is what make me play this game a lot! The Versus mode in my opinion is the best choice for veteran gamers that seek a good intense fight against 4 Infected Bosses ( controlled by players ) and the Witch ( can't be controlled by player ). The music inside the game as the effects are just awesome, graphics are good and the game isn't so "heavy" in requirements. At all I wanted to say this: The gameplay is re-playable and make you get a lot of fun, Versus Mode is intense and the game in all is well made.… Expand

This is one of the most interesting games I've played in a long time. First person shooters come in many different flavors, but I think we finally have a new flavor in the shop. I love the cooperative elements that are required for survival and the fact that you can play as the infected as well in versus mode. This is what co-op is supposed to be.

I can even see this idea being used in the future with other games of a more realistic nature.....

Bravo. Lets see you guys expand on this idea.… Expand

This is in my top3 list of the best games i've played. It has AWESOME AI wich spawn zombies, pills, weapons and ammo difrent evry time so you can play the same level again and again. And the co up is the best ive seen since if you wanna go RAMBO you WILL die. I love that it's like playing in a movie. The voice acting i great. Versus mode is also fun as hell. The only thing u did not like about the game is that only two of the "movies" could be played on versus.
10/10!… Expand

After playing the demo non-stop for 2 weeks (and frying my video card) I can say this game has me addicted. So much so that I ordered another computer to replace my 5 yr old dell just for this game. The weapons are absolutely perfect, every weapon is useful in certain situations as opposed to say counterstrike, where it's awp-deagle or m4 or AK ALL the time. This is the kind of game you will call in sick to work for. Addictive as crack. Well balanced. On the advanced level, it's really tough to get through, which is great. And you can't learn from your mistakes, if the survivors die, they start over and the map is randomized with new weapon drops, zombie spawns, choke points. I don't think people understand how amazing this is.… Expand

Incredible atmosphere and unbelivable environments are just the framework for a great game that forces you to work together and actually have fun doing it. This is just awesome, Haven't had this much fun in a long time. It really captures the feeling of being in your own personal zombie movie. The weapons feel right, the characters have some personality, and the zombies will scare the crap out of you at times. Being a Valve game it also probably means that, just like Counter Strike, it will probably have tremendous community support in the way of user created content I would imagine. Outstanding game. Pure adreanline rush! Well done Valve!!… Expand

Great game, however this is not a game for all. Most Steam games are geared towards a certain type of players. If you liked the past steam games before than you'll love this one. If you didn't, then... you might or might not like it. I'm not worried about the content, Valve always seems to add new content periodically. Just wait and enjoy.

This is definitely one of my favourite games of all time. I've always been looking for a great coop game and a great zombie shooter, combine these two things and what you now have is a recipe for Left 4 Dead. Easily one of the best games of the year; replayability, action, fun, friends. Even the way your heart gets thrown into a rapid beat because once you think its safe, the Director kicks you in the chest and goes "I'm not done with you yet..." And for those complaining about content, if you have ever played a game made by valve, you would know that alot of the (free) content comes out later, most of it from the community. "Just hang in there" until the new SDK is released.… Expand

I fear that it will become too repetitious and the novelty will wear off, but until that happens, this is an amazing gaming experience! The environments, the sound design, the detail and the scares are all there in spades. Thumbs up (or not, in the case of the hand in the game logo) from this guy! Now back to battling the undead for me!

Great game, very innovative. To the poster(s) below that may have complaints about this being the same zombie game. Please, name me ONE good cooperative (not even zombie/survival) multiplayer game that is remotely recent, on the PC, with decent AI, truly random experiences, some replayability, and good gun mechanics (ie. dual pistols will shoot as fast as I can click.) The above mentioned list contains all the features in Left 4 Dead. Sure it's not perfect, but in all relative comparison, we haven't had something that combines these multitude of aspects in gaming.

I give it a 9 due to the price. But it's been far too long since PC gamers had a good coop-session with their buddies.… Expand

Great gameplay mechanics, pacing, and visual/audio effects. You get one medpack per level, how you spend it is up to you. Heal yourself and get instant gratification and or heal a friend and hope for reciprocation. You can also carry only one explosive at a time so use it wisely. The scarcity of weapons and ability to carry only one main weapon type at a time adds to the pressure. At least your pistols have unlimited ammo. NEVER play this game on easy ... set to HARD for the ultimate experience. The zombie animations are fantastic also, with physics based animation that makes clothing and hair behave believably. See them hop over turnstyles, lean into their turns when running, and climb drainpipes and roofs with gripping realism.
If you like horror, and have friends to play coop with you, this game is a must. I haven't had this much fun in a co-op game in years! Nothing like hearing your friend hollar "Here they come!" over voice to be soon followed by a rush of a hundred-head zombie horde. I agree that this game should have had more content at launch, but if TF2 is any indication, map packs should be close behind.… Expand

Extremley fun and keeps up valves exremely high standard of games (I also got Hl for a 1 dollar deal!) its fun and exciting even more so in the dark. It like in most valve games builds a sense of comradeship but this stands alone, every online game I go on I add at least one person to my friends list because the game knits you and your team so close together. The game also excels in versus mode because for once we get to be the zombies! The level of startegy involved as a zombie makes it thrilling, for example as a hunter in blood harvest I like to jump around behind them just to scare them or as a smoker waiting for stragglers and then trying to pick them off one by one. This game is overall very unique and does many things that have neverbeen tried before so this lets me forgive the lack of extra campaigns or missions, truly fantastic.… Expand

Fanastic game, can't understand why its not been rated higher. I understand it can be very intense which means you can't play it for as lengthy periods of time, but thats a good thing in my opinion as that makes it easier to pick up and put down so you can live life rather than blow 13 hours at a time!

Brilliantly fun, hope they bring more maps soon.

This game is fantastic in every conceivable but one. If it wasn't for the console orientated and rather uninformative server-client matchmaking this would be, in my opinion, the best game of all time.

But that gripe aside the graphics, sound and gameplay dynamics have this game well above and beyond anything else I have played for a while (and I play a LOT of games - sorry gf)

9.875 / 10 - rounded up to a 10.

-Q.… Expand

I really liked the game because there is nonstop action and fear of that you might get killed alone.The best part is the coop multyplayer.You and other people fight to survive massive zombie hordes while boss zombies are trying to get you down.I didn`t like the AI.Zombies are stupid.They run into fires, run towards holes, don`t see you sometimes (you can just pass by them and they`ll start chasing you after 2-3 secs).The game has also major problems with lag on servers example:you join a server and you see you have a great ping (must be all green) but it lags.If your having a bad ping (red) then the game runs smooth.Most of the servers aren`t even playable!Zombies just stutter around hitting you and you can`t do nothing!

But I still give this game a 9 cause it has nice action and can panic you when hordes come.… Expand

This game does not disappoint. It is very immersive and extremely addicting. The newly acquired Turtle Rock Studios now read Valve have pumped out a really solid title. The attention to detail makes the experience feel authentic, as if you are in an actual horror film. The characters, the setting, the music, all play key in helping this game play smooth and great. Making sure that no senario is played the same twice, Valve incorporated what is called an A.I. Director, upon which determines the outcome of certain elements in the game such as displacement of weapons, health, zombie hordes, etc. You get a different experience every time you play and believe me, you will want to play this again and again. There isn't a whole lot of content off the bat, but knowing Valve, it's coming soon, and it will add that much more to the game's already amazing gameplay. With it being on the PC, it's also open to the community to contribute, such as a Dawn of the Dead Mall recreation being produced. Along side the campaign, which you can play in your solidarity, or with three others, there is the multiplayer which adds to the fun with the ability to play the infected. Coordinating with your team is crucial, raising the stakes for both the infected and the survivors. This is an intense thrill ride and should not be skipped. Overall this game is exciting and fun and you won't get a greater co-op experience like this, this year.… Expand

Great game .Fun to play mostly with friends. All i can complain is if there was some type of a puzzle in it and more story like it coud be much better game.weapon if i were valve I add more this make this game more interasting. I give it 9 over all becuase i still thing this is the best every zombie game ever.Valve have done a good job, need fixing but still a great gob well done

This is most amazing games ever .. no more words .. No more boring TF2 fights or even worse CSS fights, this game has all power of entertainment in it. And all those critics who gave less then 98 points to the game, are full of s*** , this is deffenetly game of the first 10th of 21st century.

The negative "Mr. Poopy Pants" review below cannot take away from the fact that over 80% of reviews ranked this new shooter at 9 out of 10!
Yes, it is killing infected zombies one after another, often in droves, but the gameplay and AI create wonderful death sequences, visually stunning blood sprays and gore, and an edge-of-your-seat scary soundtrack to really clench the 'ol cheeks a bit.
The plot? Well, if you are a fan of zombie anything, then the story is quite simple, no matter how many variables you throw in - STAY ALIVE. Any plot meandering from this basic survivalism would detract from the madness that ensues just trying to fight your way through swarms of the infected. I ESPECIALLY love how just playing the game makes me feel like I'm watching the coolest zombie movie EVER!
Average arcade shooter?? Valve's AI v.2 (from Turtle Rock) and their killer Source Engine make this anything BUT average. Graphically speaking, the dynamic lighting and creepy environment create the spookiest gameply atmosphere I have encountered in a long time!
"There are a lot more better zombie shooters out there..." LOL for grammar, but besides this, WHAT other zombie shooters? Scorpion? Laughable and contrived. HL2 zombie pack? Lame. Thief? Not ENOUGH zombies (and slow). Land of the Dead? HORRIBLE, HOR-RI-BLE reviews. None come close to this masterpiece from Valve.
I give it a 10, without hesitation. :D… Expand

I have found this game to be a pure masterpiece, after waiting for it to be released and following its progress, i have been greeted by one of the best games i have ever played. I cant even begin to write about everything that i love about it because their is just so much. I will however say how amazing it is when you get a game than can still scare the living daylights out of you, after around 100 times playing the same level. It is an acheviement to be proud of and an absolutely fantatic game, very, very well done.… Expand

This is one of if not THE best online co-op game I have ever played. It takes online shooters to a new level by making it more then a "Run, jump, shoot" game that we have seen so many time before. (HL2: Death Match, Halo 1,2,3,Death match, Quake 1,2,3,Death Match, Call of duty Multiplayer, ect.) It makes you think before you shoot by making consequences for "go Rambo". You can't run off by your self without fear of being eaten by a hunter/smoker. Tanks require efficient teamwork to destroy, and the sheer number of zombies you will face whenever you need to clear a choke point will destroy you if your team doesn't work with each other. Basically, it is what it is. A co-op online zombie shooter. It makes you work together to survive and escape. As for those who would claim it is "repetitive" it is the least repetitive game I have ever seen. It has an advanced AI director that will make sure you don't see a zombie in the same place every time. Each and ever game I have played is unique and even the Turtle Rock team who have been playing it for four years say they still love it. L4D is well made and well rounded, the only reason not to like it is if you had a fear of awesomeness.… Expand

Hate to say it, but I just gotta say FU*K YOU to anyone who hates this game for dumbsh*t reasons. (Especially you, JOHN S. who based his review on the demo) The demo didn't even have any VS, so what do you know? Any way, whats a horror game without so-bad-its-funny voice acting and ridiculously massive hordes of enemies? The AI is very smart unlike other valve games. In fact, its the best AI ive seen since F.E.A.R which had incredible AI. The physics make the game very satisfying. When you shoot a zombie near a wall, the bast sends him violently flying against that wall and then,while hes stunned, you can blow his damn head off and bran bits go everywhere. I love gore. Yummy. The zombies are not slow shits, thank god. They are lake those 28 days later zombies. They run at you and jump on your face, so you cant just keep backing away like a coward., not only that, but the teamwok often takes place when you are sandwicjed in a alleyway with zombies in front and behind you. VS. was bery well done. It is very entertaining to be the hunter and surprise a expecting survivor by jumping on his face and eating him. Yum again.… Expand

The first shooter that enforces true cooperation, not by some gimmick or rule, but out of the simple, basic, natural demand of survival against overwhelming odds. Each movie flows just like a movie, and has a bang-up action ending that provides a satisfying conclusion; it is easy to both cheer, and to feel relief, if you should survive. This is a brilliant game, one that no other attempt at recreating a zombie apocalypse has ever matched, or even come close to. The only thing I miss is a melee weapon, like a baseball bat.… Expand

This game delivers exactly what was expected of it; a fast paced zombie FPS where team work is essential to survival. If you want plot, read Shakespeare; expect to be finishing maps limping towards the recovery vehicle with a horde of zombies on your tail. For the competitive, the vs mode lets you take over the special infected, challenging you to wipe out the human team as quickly as possible.

Minor server and matchmaking issues are being ironed out; we can expect these things to be fixed as Valve gets a better understanding of real world load on the new system.

Despite these issues, it's a solid 10.… Expand

i been on it for already for 9.6hrs and i got it 2 days ago, normaly i goto emails past two days its steam first for my zombie fix :o)

only bad thing about it i has to wait for steam rubbish help desk about buyin git ober paypal with error and error they reply 7 days later , the money they make its about time they had someone one there at the desk

I still love the game and the mind behind ;)
Well i think this is the 1st real tactik game for mp cuz u need to stay together. There is just 1 point ---> we need fixes and new campaigns,maybe some new bosses.IT START TO GET ME BORING.....anyway take a break and u will love it 9,5 points imho....CHEERS LADS

It's amazing how Valve could turn such a generic genre into something brilliant. Don't listen to the ones who rates 0 says, they expected way too much. I, for one, had doubts, but it turned out to be amazing. There are not that many weapons, but it doesn't feels they are needed, and Valve will surely add more content. Versus mode is forcing me to rate 10. Without that mode, I'd probably rate 7 or 8. This game, and Team Fortress 2, are kings of the online games.… Expand

First of all, I'd like to say "fuck you" to Steele X for being so uninformed, and yet, reviewing a game that deserves much more merit. Steele X claimed that zombies respawn in the same areas and med packs are located in the same place every time you play a level. This is a false statement. The AI director that was incorporated into the game changes the style of gameplay by spawning zombies and items in random areas. This even includes boss zombies. You won't know when you'll encounter a tank, and you won't even know if you're going to encounter it at all. Valve does an excellent job in implementing the AI Director into L4D. To give a game less merit than it deserves because your teammates were assholes is a bad reason to give it a "6-7." If you had any friends at all, you wouldn't play with random people across servers anyways. The gameplay is interactive and contains awesome scenarios. You'll go through airports, hospital buildings, sewers, and urban areas to get rescued. There is a versus mode where you can play as boss infected. In my opinion, it is so much fun. It's fun to play as boomers, hunters, or tanks as you incapacitate helpless survivors. When you play as survivors in versus mode, you're more alert and the need to help your friends become more important in order to win. Game of the Year? Not quite, but it's very close.

Well, no one makes a decision to buy a game after reading metacritic user reviews/ratings anyways.… Expand

It's a great game! Graphics shaders and nice sound effects! Nice gameplay better AI and of course a valve based multiplayer. the only thing is that on single player... only if you don't have internet... there are only 4 levels with 6 chapters each... every level is done in a hour... that's all i have to say.
GJ Valve Once Again!!!

The vain effort, "to balance out all the other guys who game a 10" by some of the users here is laughable. This is one of the best cooperative experiences that I have had. It has the feel of Portal, spend a small amount of time (1 hour) finishing a campaign with your friends and you will walk away from your gaming experience feeling satisfied. Others have noted the many positive things about the game. I cian't currently give this game a 10 because at release only 4 campaigns and 5 weapons are available. That said, I fully expect the valve and the community to fix this in the months to come.… Expand

I feel as if there should be some test qualification to express your opinion. One that is not completely biased based on a bad experience you were in, or caused. Then that of course, and to check if the person is PMSing before they write a review.

L4D is excellent. I give it a 10 out of 10 because never have I enjoyed Co-op so much in any game. The arguments "Its the same every time blah blah." Pretty much are instantly void and it becomes obvious that person has either never played the game, or played it on easy with 3 computers. Zombies will constantly funnel in on you from different locations, and should you try away for even SECONDS, your chances of dying increase dramatically. In expert if a hunter leaps on you, you have about 5 seconds before you're incapped. Then about 11 before you are completely dead.

Completing a campaign on expert is no simple chore, you aren't lol-powerful killing everything in site. Hearing a special zombie alerts your entire team to be even more cautious. Then again, if you're too cautious you'll get caught up in extra hordes and boomer surprises. The game is much deeper then it seems, and it takes at least, a slightly intellectual person to understand all taht is involved.… Expand

This game is best played on Expert with 3 other friends and a microphone, there is no better co-operative experience.

Avoid anything below advanced and public games, then you'll have a great time. Already hit 30hours but a few extra weapons and maps would be good. Heres hoping for some patches.

For the guy giving it a 0 (to balance the voting, which makes no sense at all), he really has not tasted the game. "Pubbing" in Left4Dead can leave a bad taste in your mouth. It's a team game, you have to play it with 3 other friends that are on the same page as you. The single player is excellent, but to make it more effective you have to have more campaigns than what was initially released. Co-op gameplay is where it is at. You have to understand that if you go into a random server with random people in ANY game you will be left out to dry at least half the time. This game requires a lot of teamwork when you're playing on expert (in versus and co-op campaign). If you can't work in a team, single player will give you some satisfaction, but don't expect the world out of the game because after all it is centered around Co-op play and other human (and zombie) interaction. I gave it a 9/10 but with more campaigns released, I can easily see it becoming a 10.… Expand

If a full on, exhilarating, zombie kill-fest is what you're after, you can't do any better.
Next version, I want vehicles, some larger open spaces and even more zombies.
FYI. My system doesn't quite meet minimum requirements but I havn't noticed any problem even though.
I have an single-core Opteron @ 2.25GHz, 2GB, GeForce 8800GT, Vista. Runs the game great!

I don't understand how someone (John S.) can rate this game a ZERO based on a DEMO. Or how someone like STEELE X can give the game a ZERO because he feels that too many people are ENJOYING the game too much and giving L4D a GOOD SCORE... People are so stupid sometimes, but i digress. This game is amazingly FUN. No questions asked. My friend was reluctant to try it, and now hes been hooked. I find my self having zombie slaying withdrawals after a couple days of not playing it! I have not had so much fun in a first person shooter since the old days of Counter-Strike, where people actually used teamwork. This brings back memories of the good ol days for me, whilst creating new ones. Definitely some of the best moments are running away from a Tank when hes right behind you, only to accidentally run into a wall and be smashed. Or when i watch as my friend was trying to run away from a Tank on the roof of a 40 story building, only to have the tank punch him and send him flying off the roof! I honestly have had way too many good times on this game in such a short amount of time, and i could call up story after story if i wanted to but ill get to the point. You play 1 of 4 people who are trying to escape the Zombie infested city (it depends on the story you choose, so you may be trying to escape from the farmland too) and there is a giant finale at the end of each story, which is the best part of the game and in my opinion the most adrenaline rushing. There are 4 Stories total with 5 parts to each of them, and they are all unique. Let me set the record straight; THE GAME IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME YOU PLAY IT! You will NEVER play the same level the same way twice, because the game uses a "Director" to decide who to throw your way and when to do it, same thing applies with items and weapons. There is also a versus mode where you get to play 1 of the 4 special zombies against human players playing the campaign and that is crazy fun. Also, the 4 unique difficulties really add a challenge to the game. I play everything on Expert because it is so much more fun. All in All a great game, i rate 10 out of 10, my other friend wants to "Boot Camp" is Apple Laptop just so he can play this game. Just an FYI so you know how good this game is...… Expand

Well I dig the game. There were minor bits and pieces here and there that could be worked on. I was for the most part disapointed Valve stuck to the same FPS trend that has been going on for years now what with Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2, Gears Of War; being a sub par FPS isn't going to cut it anymore. I wanted some aim functions like CoD4 but over all I understand why G4TV gave it best shooter of 08. It's a very fun cooperative game.

To counter Steel X here. I've run into plenty who use mics, the game loads fast because I have a good computer or the servers are good for which the host is on.

I think it did pretty well, as Adam and Morgan said, taking a very, albeit outdated, source engine and making it a blast again.… Expand

Left 4 dead is one of those games that I lusted after as soon as I heard about it, being a big fan of zombie genre entertainment I had high hopes.
This is one of those rare occasions that my expectations were not only met but exceeded, and so it earns the temporary title

To get the most out of this game you should make an effort to get a full group of friends and play on the highest difficulty your group can handle.

The best moments in this game are when you and your friends are fighting for your life limping past the next safe room where you can finally rest and recover.

To those that set a score of 0 just to spite the game, it looks like you were playing with the wrong groups of people or on the wrong difficulties. This game is designed for co-op and the best way to play co-op is with your buddies.… Expand

That game is just awesome.I dreamed of CooP Games like this since forever.
I think there is enough said about the game itself by all the others.

There was a demo, wich is really nice, too bad the demo is canceled as the game started selling in the US. People might wanna try the demo before buying it.

Amazing game, need more like it! Missions from moving trucks, boats and trains would be good! Bring on more maps too! Really love it that people are encouraged to work together and the online management is superb, as is the sense of story while retaining replayability. Very very clever and original, look forward to more, cheers!

im giveing this game Left 4 Dead a 10/10 because it is a fun fast killing game some flaws i have seen and the biggest one is story line. im not going to give it a 9 for it but i like reading, playing and learning about zombies and the biggest question i have for steam how do people get infection in the game is it from the blood or something else??? like it

Amazing. I thought this game wouldn't be worth it ($50 for 4 campaigns??) until I bought it. I've logged over 40 hrs in two weeks. The ai director is incorporated nearly flawlessly. Sure this game isn't designed for single player and I can solo easy and normal but expert is where this game really shines. You really have to stick together, communicate and act as a team or die. Versus is a lot more fun if you have your own group of friends who know what they are doing. the maps are completely different as a zombie and as a survivor. I rated this game based on what it was meant to be, a multiplayer coop/versus game not a single player fps. The people who complain about lack of a single player campaign get a clue.… Expand

Zombies. Lots of zombies. Fat zombies (Boomer), monkey zombies (hunter), huge tongue zombies (smoker) and the Mammoth zombie (Tank). You have yourself a great game. Team work is required to master this game. Versus mode is great fun. The game only has 4 chapters but they are re playable because its just so much fun! 30 zombies attacking you and your team mates at once and you have been vommited on by a fat zombie so you can see! Its crazy fun. This is what makes this game awesome.… Expand

Somewhat Of A Spoiler!!!


This game gets a 9-10, WHY? CUZ VALVES A GENIOUS!!! Left 4 Dead is one of the most well thought out coop games I have ever played. The idea cooperate ar die sounds correct to me because it is true. Campaign is a blast especially if you are playing with friends (that know how to play) and versus mode is well thought out. I;m kinda bummed about the 2 versus campaigns and random zombie classes, but otherwise you would have like 3 smokers or just have a bunch of kids choosing the hunter, so they can jump around like spiderman =P. Overall this game gets a nine, for one reason, only 2 versus campaigns. BTW I have every reason to believe that in an update, Valve will add the other 2 campaigns =D.… Expand

This is a fantastic game that never fails to get your heart racing. Be it playing with and against your friends in versus mode, or teaming up with three friends to escape the zombie apocalypse on an Advanced or Expert level, this is heart pumping, never ending action that leaves you drained but happy. One of the most intense and rewarding games I've ever had the fortune to play. When we get new maps (which we will, both community-made and from Valve), the experience will get even deeper. I'll be playing this for a while, I can tell.

Steele X said: "We all know which monster is going to pop out from where and where are the medic packs are located." That's total BS. Every time you play a level, the zombies are randomly placed, the Horde comes at you from random directions, and health and weapons are randomly placed in one of several spots. It's totally unpredictable, which is part of what makes it fun. And just because you have a bad experience playing with idiots who don't communicate doesn't make it a bad game. Teamwork is key here. Find yourself some new friends, people who do communicate and play as a team, is all.… Expand

This game had me on the edge of my seat from when I first started playing it. Playing this game on expert right from the start is something remarkable. This game is meant to be played on Expert, giving you great challenge, and making you want to replay it again and again, wanting to beat this level. Honestly, I think people give this game bad ratings for bad reason. This game is quite epic, and it's a great game. I'm very glad I got this game, and I love playing with my friends, being a zombie, or a survivor. A must have game, and it will keep you entertained for a long time.… Expand

This game is incredible, it's got everything a game should have, humor, horror, and the ability to blas pieces of zombies, i'm giving it a 10

Great game, better than MW:2! This is a bigger improvement than L4D 1 and this is NOT an "extra mod add-on" as what people were saying L4D2 would be. It has so much more than L4D 1! 10/10

At first the game seems like its pretty boring. You just run through specific routes and shoot things and go Ooo..blood. Which is pretty true about single player. However, upon playing online in both campaign and versus mode the random set ups of the bots, and the versus vast swapping system round to round, it actually makes the game very replayable. The best thing to anticipate will be if Source releases the SDK so that mod levels can be created and make it even more addictive. Akin to RTCW:ET which is still continuously being played to this day.… Expand

I played the demo for almost 24 hours in 2 day. then about 3-6 months later i buy the game(i am saving for a high powered pc so i have to be a tightwad) and i LOVE IT changeing where the specials are. The story is kinda boring cause you never really get saved, but that is what makes it better

How could the critics be so... critical? An amazing shooter compaired to other FPS games, but more importantly focus' on teamwork rather than heroism... Brilliant. n.b I have had no performance or technical issues with this game (which makes a refreshing change) Cheers Valve! - JF England

When I go out and purchase a game today, I look for RE-PLAY VALUE. What I mean by this is how many times am I going to come back to my computer and instead of studying, play L4D. I am on the verge of dropping out of college because of this game, it is the best. ( lol jk. ) But this game really has tons of replay value and if you want a game thats fun and you finally have to depend on your team, get L4D. Best game ever.… Expand

Love the gameplay and interaction. Multiplayer is awesome. The A.I. is not too formulaic nor too challenging. Ten pimp-slaps out of Ten.

This game doe seem a little lacking in content, but Valve has made a few free additions to keep the game going. The game might get old after a while, but I garuntee you'll come back to it addicted all over again.

It's a real good adventure, if you like action and zombies you'll like this Game. This game is funnier then Hell, i give it a 10 because it makes fun, there is not to much blood, and is a good Teamwork-Game!

One of the best games I have played, and I never get bored of killing all the zombies

At first, I was very skeptical about L4d2, worried aboiut it being a $60 "add on". I played the demo, and it didn't convince me otherwise very well. However, I bought the game when it went on sale for $30, and was very pleasantly surprised. It did feature a whole lot of new weapons, ammunition, infected, and a few other new items. It had several new game modes, actually coherent campeigns, and improved graphics. These give the game a whole new playing style, and was much more than an expansion pack. The menus and online play are also improved, although still not perfect.… Expand

Amazingly stunning! Reasons: Graphics: Valve has done it again with the Source engine! Not only that, they are improved! And the Survivors are very detailed, the Infected are also detailed, I prefer the Hunter because of the hood and jacket! Sound: Nothing sounds better then such gun shots, or Hunter screeching, or Boomer belching, or Smokers coughing, very brilliant! The Survivors also sound like they actually felt that pain! Acting: The Survivors sound great, Zoey, Bill, Louis, and Francis all sound like they were just shot or they were harmed by a fellow Survivor, it's just so good! Gameplay: Here is where everything is great, I love having to stick together rather than dying alone. I like a game where you don't just rush! I also like the Versus mode, I like being a Hunter, because if they aren't cooperative then you get a victim that needs to be saved but they will be delayed with fellow Infected or A.I.! I love the finale part, setting up spots to put traps and related things. Left 4 Dead is a great game that is young let very good, it blew me away, it will beat Resident Evil 5 for sure!… Expand

Quite an addictive game, especially in the beginning. The intensity and movie-like atmosphere is great. In it's current state it runs out of maps pretty quickly. But the difficulty options, achievements, versus mode and playing with friends makes it a quick and fun game to play for one or two hours at a time.

Fun, intense, extremely addicting. The AI of your allies seems a bit lacking in the single player version though (teammates have a bad habit of not helping during key moments, running into an open flame to save a downed team member, etc.) but other then that it's a great deal of fun!

Awesome game. Brilliant idea. Fast paced but very structured and organized. At first i thought it would be a terrible game but the team play is just awesome, and very fun. The only thing i don't like is the price, i feel its too high for what it is. Its a fun multi-player game but there isn't a strong campaign i think it should be a $40. dollar game.

Campaign mode gets a little boring after 20 hours of play time. Expert mode is truly hard and take a lot of team work. The real joy of this game, however, is versus mode. Setting up the ultimate zombie attack and utterly destroying the survivors is one of the best experiences in the PC gaming world. You'd be silly if you denied yourself this pleasure. Graphics, sound, and style are all top notch. Valve is also releasing more content soon.… Expand

I agree with Shock k that this is what me and my friends have been waiting for. This game is the pinnacle of online gaming, let alone cooperative. And it being Valve ensures the game's potential is reached through updates and feedback as seen in games like tf2. An 89 seems ridiculously low for a game that offers so much. If you enjoy zombies, fps's, and cooperative gaming then i definitely recommend this game. You won't be disappointed, there will be so many 'oh shit' moments that will keep you having fun with friends for what I foresee as years.… Expand

Makes great fun being chased by a great horde of infected. After a while it seems to be the same all the time, but it is always different. No infected or special infected would ever be on the same place twice playing a campaign and the survivors always acting different. (singleplayer). In Multiplayer there's nothing like L4D for me. Co-Op Shooting Zombies, teamwork, nothing else. That's what this game makes so great for me! Thanks Valve!… Expand

A pretty fantastic game. Sure it could be longer, but at least what is there woeks great and is really fun to play with friends. The community surrounding it is L4D's only real down side.

This is easily one of my favorite games, and I don't usually enjoy FPS that much. It's exciting, suspenseful, and full of 28-Days-Later type rage zombies! If there were uninfected people in the game (forcing you to carefully pick your targets), or more campaigns, I would vote 11!

I'm a major zombie fan and always wondered what it would be like to be in the middle of an infection. This hits it right on the bull's eye. Horde everywhere, nowhere is really 100% safe and they do not stop once your found. This game is great for co-op because you'll be needing eyes in the back of your head and another trigger to keep the special horde off you. All I can say is I wish my friend had internet and a copy of this game for PC. It Rocks!… Expand

This game is so far the best game I have ever played. I'm very addicted to this game and i can't stop playing. I'm always thinking about this game at school and everywhere I go. Sadly my 360 broke so I have to wait for a long time. I'm very sad. I just wanna kill some zombies now!!! This game could just improve in the amount of guns. There's only a few. I wish there was like an L85A1, Fama, AWM, Aug Para, M60, M249, Ak47,and some new pistols like a Desert Eagle, P228, Dual Pistols, Mac 10, really I just want a lot of guns. But the game is good with the guns they give us.… Expand

Left 4 Dead is truly a fantastic game and i was happy to find out it was made by valve its very co-operitive and the AI director is very good but the only flaw i find is the lack of weapons but as promised in L4D2 they will have more weapons so im happy with that

Pros: Co-op funny characters zombies custom user content high replayability Cons: Only 5 guns only 4 official Valve campaigns Review:This is what made me a fan of valve games. It really is Co-op at its best.Although I am mostly a console gamer, when i saw the awesome custom maps out there, and how easy it is to make your own maps, i just had to get the PC Version. Overall, if you like to have fun, get left 4 dead.… Expand

The mutliplayer Co-op in this game is one of the best at the current date. Imagine the word Co-op written in 10 feet high concrete letters! They should make more games like this.

Zombies? nothing new actually, but yet it's so much fun, replayable and... well, one of my favourite games at the moment. Lets hope they might add more DLC's in the future. On a sidenote, i hope the follow up 'Left 4 dead 2" will be a succes.… Expand

Finally, the cooperative zombie shooter with a budget is here and it's kicks undead ass! The best thing about Left 4 Dead has got to be the AI director. It makes each game experience different from a steady stream of those good old fashion mindless zombies to smokers, hunters, boomers and more. Remember, help your team mates or you are all good as dead.

Great atmospherics, the Director AI is the next thing in gaming. Co-op is a must to play, and the Versus mechanics for playing Infected is well-balanced. I do believe the Infected that aren't the Tank need to deal damage more effectively, but overall this game gives a great zombie experience.

Its really a great game. I mean iv been playing just the demo for the last couple of days, but you get that rush when a bull rush of 20 zombies come running toward you only to get mown down by your uzi or shotty