Left 4 Dead 1 is a 2008 multiplayer survival horror game developed by Valve South and published by Valve. The game uses Valve’s proprietary Source engine, and is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X. Development on the game was completed on November 13, 2008, and two versions were released digitally: A downloadable digital version, released on November 17, 2008, and a digital retail disc version, with a release date determined by region. The digital retail disc version was released in North America and Australia on November 18, 2008, and in Europe on November 21, 2008.
Set during the aftermath of a worldwide zombie outbreak, the game puts its four protagonists—dubbed the “Survivors”—against hordes of the infected. There are four game modes: a single-player mode in which allied characters are controlled by AI; a four-player, co-op campaign mode, an eight-player online versus mode, and a four-player survival mode. In all modes, an artificial intelligence (AI), dubbed the “Director“, controls level pacing and item placements, in an attempt to create a dynamic experience and increase replay value.
Left 4 Dead was well received by the industry media upon its release, with praise given for its replay value, focus on cooperative play, and movie-like experience. Several criticisms were aimed at the limited level selection and the lack of a narrative. The game has won several publication awards, as well as distinctions from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences and British Academy of Film and Television Arts. As was done with Team Fortress 2, Valve supplemented the game with free downloadable content. The first, called the “Survival Pack”, was released on April 21, 2009. The second piece of DLC was charged for on Xbox Live and came in the form of a new Campaign entitled “Crash Course,” released for both the PC and Xbox 360 on September 29, 2009. Left 4 Dead was released for the Mac on October 28, 2010.
The popularity of the game led to the development of a sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, which was released on November 17, 2009. A new map for both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, called “The Sacrifice”, was released on October 5, 2010. In July 2012, all Left 4 Dead campaigns were ported over to Left 4 Dead 2, with cross-platform multiplayer support between Windows and Mac versions of the game.
Plot
Pennsylvania[2] suffers an outbreak of the “Green Flu”, a highly contagious pathogen that causes extreme aggression, mutation to the body cells, and loss of higher brain functions (essentially zombifying those who catch the flu). Memorial walls, giving names & obituaries to those who have died in the infection, suggest that the game takes place in October 2009.[3] Two weeks after the first infection, four immune survivors—William “Bill” Overbeck (voiced by Jim French), a Green Beret and Vietnam veteran; Zoey (voiced by Jen Taylor), a college student; Louis (voiced by Earl Alexander), a district account manager, and Francis (voiced by Vince Valenzuela), an outlaw biker—make their way out of the city of Fairfield, only to discover that the infection is creating dangerous mutations in some of its hosts. After narrowly avoiding these new infected (as seen in the introduction cinematic), the survivors are alerted to an evacuation point at the roof of Mercy Hospital by a passing helicopter. Fighting their way through the city’s streets, subway and sewers, they are rescued from the hospital’s roof by the pilot, only to discover he is infected.
The final design of the survivors, shown on the poster for the “No Mercy” campaign. Left to right: Francis, Bill, Zoey, Louis
Zoey is soon forced to kill him, and the helicopter crashes in an industrial district outside the city. Finding an armored delivery truck, the group uses it to reach the small town of Riverside. After encountering a hostile and delirious man (voiced by Nathan Vetterlein) in the local church, they discover that the town is overrun, and head to a boathouse for rescue. Contacting a small fishing vessel, they are dropped at the city of Newburg across the river, finding much of it in flames. Resting in a greenhouse, the survivors are interrupted by a military C-130 Hercules passing overhead, leading them to believe it’s landing at the city’s airport. In an attempt to contain the infection, the military had bombed the airport, though the runway is partially intact, allowing the survivors to fuel up and escape in the waiting C-130.
Despite this apparent rescue, the plane crashes as well, and the survivors find themselves at the outskirts of Allegheny National Forest. Following a series of train tracks, the group finally reaches a functioning, but abandoned, military outpost. After answering a radio transmission, the survivors make their final stand against hordes of infected, before a military APC arrives to (supposedly) transport them to Northeast Safe Zone Echo, one of the few remaining safe areas.
Instead, (as seen in The Sacrifice comic), they are detained in a military installation, where they learn that they are not immune – they are asymptomatic carriers, and have infected most of their rescuers. Meanwhile, the base is overthrown by a mutiny, attracting hordes of infected. The survivors escape via train and travel south at Bill’s insistence; he believes that they can find long-term safety on the islands of the Florida Keys.
At the portside town of Rayford, Georgia, they find a sailboat, but must first raise a lift bridge powered by an aging generator to reach open waters. As the bridge raises, the generator gives out. Bill sacrifices his life to restart it, so that the others may reach safety.
While waiting for the horde to disperse, the three then encounter four more survivors. They agree to move the boat to the other side of the bridge, and help them re-lower the bridge, so they can cross in their car. Afterwards, Louis, Zoey, and Francis return to the boat and set course to the Keys.
Gameplay
In Left 4 Dead, the four survivors must fight off infected humans while trying to escape/make their way to a safe house/a rescue vehicle.
Left 4 Dead is a first-person shooter in which the player takes control of one of four survivors; if human players are not available, the remaining survivors are filled by AI-controlled bots. They play through campaigns fighting off the infected—living humans who have been infected with a rabies-like virus that causes psychosis.[4][5] The overarching goal is not to clear infected, but only to reach the next safe area alive. This is compounded by the presence of an “AI Director”, who tracks each player’s current situation, and will add or remove items & infected in response; with the goal of maintaining constant tension and creating a new experience with each playthrough.[6]
While a shooter, the game focuses largely on cooperation and teamwork, and thus eschews some “realism” conventions usual in other FPS games. Colored outlines of teammates are visible through walls to help players stick together and coordinate their movement. If a survivor’s health is depleted, they become incapacitated and can only be helped by another survivor, after which they continue playing with lower health. If they are incapacitated twice without healing, the third incapacitation will kill them.
During “Campaign” mode, if a survivor is killed, they will eventually respawn in a closet or small room, but must be freed by another survivor to rejoin the team.[7] The AI will not open “respawn closets”, so if all human player survivors are incapacitated, the level will restart. Survivors can share first-aid kits and pain pills, and heal each other. Left 4 Dead has friendly fire, increasing the need for caution & coordination around other survivors.
Via a quick menu, the survivors can communicate and organize with voice commands & callouts.[8] Over 1,000 unique lines were recorded for each survivor.[6] Additional communication of player actions is conveyed through lights; weapon-mounted flashlights and muzzle flashes help players determine when their companions are shooting, performing melee attacks, reloading or moving. (Due to control issues and the likelihood of players using a headset, the Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead omits the quick phrases feature.)
