Left 4 Dead vs Left 4 Dead 2

[pcslookout]

Curious which one people like better and why? I haven't made up my mine yet. Like them both.

 

[clok1966]

both have problems, but i think in the end that L4D2 is a more "complete" game.

Melee weapons in 2 are Overpowered, they need a delay much like the "push" in 1 needed tweeking. Of course this all hinges on VS mode.

L4D had to much corner camping, and push was way to strong.
L4D2 has fixed some of this with different infected. The SPitter is incredibly good when used with hordes, or a charger. The Jockey fixes the "lag behind guy" as you can pull him farhter and farther back forceing the rest to rescue (basicly a smoker who can move). The charger is the weakest of the new Infected, when 2 came out he hit anything within 3-4 feet of his charge, now unless you are perfect you miss all but the last target (lag can be killer ot chargers). But he is one of the few "insta" kill infected in game on some maps.

Right now Vs on 2 is pussed out, the hordes are way to light, melee is way to strong and the levels (not all) are way to easy to rush.

The biggest problem with both games is there is no way to make the teams "even" none of the stuff of othre valve games, team rebalance, or mixing. you can play on a team that cant geto out the saferoom door, and you can play on teams that never take any dmg to speak of from infected. Unfortnalty the L4D game play experiance is based on your teamates as much as the game.. and we all know the people on the net can be good and bad.... and in online games the griefers seem to outwiegh the players.

 

[Molondo]

Speaking from a non VS view, i liked the athmosphere of the first one better. But as the user said above, the l4d2 feels alot more complete in terms of content.

 

[tokie]

I own neither because both the demos sucked, and trying it at friends' houses showed they were bad games. Valve's only bad games to date IMO.

 

[KeithTalent]

I own neither because both the demos sucked, and trying it at friends' houses showed they were bad games. Valve's only bad games to date IMO.

I think calling them bad is a bit much, they are not bad, just not great. Not enough to keep me interested in playing the game for more than a couple of weeks.

KT

 

[rudder]

I own neither because both the demos sucked, and trying it at friends' houses showed they were bad games. Valve's only bad games to date IMO.

You did read the thread title didn't you?

Anyway... I vote for l4d2. The realism mode makes the game so much more enjoyable. Although it is hard to find people that will play through a whole campaign.

 

[Tristicus]

Left 4 Dead 2. Now while I was way more addicted to L4D1, and really like certain things about it, I do love melee weapons and the upgraded weapons of 2. It's probably even for me.

 

[viivo]

I spent over 500 hours on L4D1 (PC version of course. The 360 versions are a joke,) It was awesome for its time. L4D2 just doesn't have that "wow" feeling that the first elicited.

 

[zerocool84]

I spent over 500 hours on L4D1 (PC version of course. The 360 versions are a joke,) It was awesome for its time. L4D2 just doesn't have that "wow" feeling that the first elicited.

500 hours??? WOW

The second is more of a game with more things obviously but still liked the first more. I really hate how weak they made the tank in part 2. It dies too easy now.

 

[simonizor]

Anyone with a brain can see that Left 4 Dead was basically the beta version of Left 4 Dead 2. They didn't really add a whole lot to the second one other than melee weapons and the ability to shoot zombie's body parts off. Add a half assed story and you've got a new game. Oh yeah, don't forget to take a few monsters that users came up with in the forums and add them into the game. Then Valve says "Hey everyone, look at this great new game that totally should not have been an expansion pack to the first one. We added about 5 new things and a new story, so you guys are fine paying full price for it now, right?"

Don't get me wrong, I fully enjoy both games. Left 4 Dead 2 is obviously the better of the two (although the story does seem a little half baked). I'm still just upset about how often video game companies get away with releasing a sequel that is merely an update to the first game, and then instead of releasing it as an expansion pack, they charge full fucking price.

You did read the thread title didn't you?

Anyway... I vote for l4d2. The realism mode makes the game so much more enjoyable. Although it is hard to find people that will play through a whole campaign.

Really? You find realism more enjoyable? Why? It takes out all of the features that L4D pioneered, and the features that make L4D a TEAM BASED GAME. It takes out all notifications that tell you where your friends are, whether they're being attacked or not, who needs healing, ammo, etc. What are you left with? A clusterfuck of idiots running around trying to do their own thing and not paying any attention what-so-fucking-ever to what is happening to their teammates. Realism, IMO, is a HUGE step backwards, and it's quite obvious that the rest of the people playing L4D2 think the same thing when you try and find a game of Realism to play.

 

[Skott]

Well, for me its a close and tough call but I found that L4D2 had a few more gripes than the original did so I'll say L4D. Both are worth having especially if you got them at a the sales prices like I did.

 

[Maximilian]

A clusterfuck of idiots running around trying to do their own thing and not paying any attention what-so-fucking-ever to what is happening to their teammates.

Thats not just realism thats a good 75% of all games played in L4D2 lol, particularly those with french people, theyre hopeless.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

L4D2 is probably the better game but the community ruins it, at least the last time that I played the game. People will run right infront of you with a melee weapon just to hit a common zombie that you are shooting at, hitting your teammate in the process. The guys that just do not want to stick together are much more common and annoying in places like the Parish. It's been a while since I last played L4D2 but I didn't play much of it for reasons like this, I had more fun in the first game.

 

[Imp]

L4D2 is the better game overall. Better guns, better NPCs, zombie hit detection, specials, weapons modeling, melee, graphics, and overall level design for the first time*. However, the first game is miles better for Versus mode due to level design. They were simpler, and easier to play versus in. In L4D2, servers primarily play the Mall, and it gets a bit boring cause of how open and bland the levels are. At least in L4D, most servers played hospital, and that was a really well done map. I hope they "port" some of the original maps over.

 

[NickelPlate]

I have them both. I find myself playing the old L4D more often. I prefer it's gloomy atmosphere which I find more immersive, like something has truly gone horribly wrong. The characters are much better IMO. I don't know what Valve was thinking with the new characters. They're just not that likeable. Almost everyone it seems prefers the old characters. L4D also has better music more like a horror movie as opposed to L4D2's over the top rock/country music and drum solo crescendos.

That said, L4D2 is alot of fun also and I enjoy playing it. The new maps were welcome after playing L4D for a year. It's atmosphere is too comical and just downright silly at times, giggle humping jockeys that remind me of Beavis, zombie clowns with honkable noses and squeaky shoes. I do like the better selection of weapons and the addition of melee is a fun touch.

In spite of what you read on the steam forums (which BTW are filled with absolute the lowest common denominator of humanity), the original L4D is still very much alive and kicking.

 

[JoshGuru7]

You're missing a "like them both" or better yet a "no preference" option that covers people who disliked them.

I've enjoyed both L4D1 and L4D2 a lot. L4D2 builds off of L4D1 so you would expect it to be a better product in most areas. I haven't played either with random team members though and imagine it could be really annoying.

 

[vital]

I used to play L4D1 so much that when I went to sleep, I would still hear the Hunter, Witch and zombies screaming in my sleep... L4D1 was more addicting for some reason.

 

[fleshconsumed]

I have them both. I find myself playing the old L4D more often. I prefer it's gloomy atmosphere which I find more immersive, like something has truly gone horribly wrong. The characters are much better IMO. I don't know what Valve was thinking with the new characters. They're just not that likeable. Almost everyone it seems prefers the old characters. L4D also has better music more like a horror movie as opposed to L4D2's over the top rock/country music and drum solo crescendos.

That said, L4D2 is alot of fun also and I enjoy playing it. The new maps were welcome after playing L4D for a year. It's atmosphere is too comical and just downright silly at times, giggle humping jockeys that remind me of Beavis, zombie clowns with honkable noses and squeaky shoes. I do like the better selection of weapons and the addition of melee is a fun touch.

In spite of what you read on the steam forums (which BTW are filled with absolute the lowest common denominator of humanity), the original L4D is still very much alive and kicking.

Pretty much my exact sentiments. L4D2 could have been a great game, but they ruined the music, ruined 'specials' sound effects, ruined zombie animation, ruined the characters, ruined the atmosphere. Technically it is better because of the addition of spitter and jockey that prevents corner camping and forces everyone to keep up and stay together. But overall, there are just way too many little flaws which ruin atmosphere and make me prefer the first one.

 

[pcslookout]

Wow interesting poll results and explanations. I was almost sure most people in the anandtech community was going to vote for Left 4 Dead 2 and it would win by a landslide. I played both so I can see where all parties are coming from.

 

[rudder]

Really? You find realism more enjoyable? Why? It takes out all of the features that L4D pioneered, and the features that make L4D a TEAM BASED GAME. It takes out all notifications that tell you where your friends are, whether they're being attacked or not, who needs healing, ammo, etc. What are you left with? A clusterfuck of idiots running around trying to do their own thing and not paying any attention what-so-fucking-ever to what is happening to their teammates. Realism, IMO, is a HUGE step backwards, and it's quite obvious that the rest of the people playing L4D2 think the same thing when you try and find a game of Realism to play.

You have just explained why the realism mode makes it a much better TEAM BASED GAME. In normal mode you can get away with idiots not paying attention, running around doing there own thing, not caring what is happening to their teammates. Team communication is essential in realism mode. No blue outline when someone is getting dragged away. People don't play realism because they don't know how to play, they die easily, then have to wait till the end of the level to respawn.

 

[Nik]

I own both and refuse to play either one. I played the shit out of 1 though.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Neither. I bought L4D one of the times it was on a discount early last year (before L4D2 was released), but I only played it a few times. Wasn't impressed. I'm glad I got it at a lower price because it's not worth $50.

 

[inspiron]

I didn't vote because I have no tried either of them... I am really tempted to get LFD1 because on ebay it is only around $19.99 new.

I would buy it without thinking twice, but I am not sure my laptop/ internet connection will be able to handle it.

 

[simonizor]

You have just explained why the realism mode makes it a much better TEAM BASED GAME. In normal mode you can get away with idiots not paying attention, running around doing there own thing, not caring what is happening to their teammates. Team communication is essential in realism mode. No blue outline when someone is getting dragged away. People don't play realism because they don't know how to play, they die easily, then have to wait till the end of the level to respawn.

Not really. Your argument makes no sense. In normal mode, people are actually notified when their friends are in trouble and are persuaded to help them. In realism, no one gives a flying fuck whether you're caught by smoker or getting pummeled by a charger.

Realism brings nothing to the table. It only takes things away. It's hard enough to find a game of competent players when they have the game telling them what to do. You're assuming that only good players play realism, which is not the case. You're just as likely to get into a game full of half brained two year olds as you would be in regular campaign mode, but now you don't have anything to help those half brained two year olds figure out that you're getting face fucked by a jockey while they wank off in the corner because they can't figure out what they should be doing.

 

[Maximilian]

Not really. Your argument makes no sense. In normal mode, people are actually notified when their friends are in trouble and are persuaded to help them. In realism, no one gives a flying fuck whether you're caught by smoker or getting pummeled by a charger.

Realism brings nothing to the table. It only takes things away. It's hard enough to find a game of competent players when they have the game telling them what to do. You're assuming that only good players play realism, which is not the case. You're just as likely to get into a game full of half brained two year olds as you would be in regular campaign mode, but now you don't have anything to help those half brained two year olds figure out that you're getting face fucked by a jockey while they wank off in the corner because they can't figure out what they should be doing.

So dont play realism then? I dont get what you are moaning about because not that many people play realism so its not taking people away from other modes, its just another option... options are always good. Realism is for pro teams who have mastered expert or who are fed up with versus or who just want to fuck about and try somthing new, its not for random teams. None of the modes are geared for random teams tbh.

Play with randoms on realism if you want, be a masochist, but dont come and moan about it afterwards.