New zombie game Left 4 Dead breathes life into dying genre

Gamer fans of all things zombie had best prepare themselves for an immersive new take on the genre with Left 4 Dead.

Developed by Valve (the guys behind Half-Life, Portal, and Team Fortress), the cooperative zombie shooter looks to be a promising addition to the gaming library for anyone who loves blasting hordes of the undead in a bid for survival.

A demo of Left 4 Dead was recently released for download on Valve’s website as well as on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Sadly, there is no Playstation 3 version in the works at this time

The demo’s amazing introduction, infused with typical Valve dark humour, does a good job of capturing the player’s interest and introduces them to the game’s four protagonists as they poke their way around a city infested with the living dead.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the game’s zombies are more akin to those of the 28 Days Later variety; you know, the ones that sprint at you in hordes of 15-20 at a time at 30 kilometers an hour.

Gone are the days when zombies merely shuffle around, giving you more than enough time to pump their hides full of smoldering lead. These guys are fast, hungry, and demand attention.

Another thing separating Left 4 Dead from earlier zombie games is the fact that you’re not alone.

While most survival-horror games usually feature the plight of a single person, Left 4 Dead is meant to be played cooperatively. There are four protagonists that stick together throughout the length of the game.

This allows you and three buddies to play through the same levels and experience the same fear and excitement as you all walk along broken down subway trains and are swarmed by zombies rushing you from both ends.

The usual assortment of zombie-killing tools are at your disposal (handguns, shotguns, assault rifles, and bombs) but the gameplay itself is what sets Left 4 Dead apart from the other zombie titles.

There are certain moments when you’ll find yourself pinned to the ground by a suped-up zombie called a hunter or covered in disgusting bile from an engorged zombie called boomers.

It’s at these times that you’ll find your teammates to be invaluable as they’ll defend and protect you the same way that you’re expected to protect them.

Left 4 Dead is scheduled for release on November 18 and is rated Mature.