- Status
rly:
damn, i already tried all the passwords i normally used... oh well, at least it ligs-in automatically... i'm sure i'll remember eventually what the pass was.
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------
And the game froze on me... stupid multicore rendering...
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------
And the game froze on me... stupid multicore rendering...
C
Chibibar
Steam account: chibibar Steam name: Chibi-Dragon
I should be on tonight but Dragon Age finish installing all the extra addon that I got free with pre-order so I might tinker with that a little.
I should be on tonight but Dragon Age finish installing all the extra addon that I got free with pre-order so I might tinker with that a little.
figmentPez
Staff member
As Shego said, plotwise: ZOMBIES!
You should be able to pick up controls pretty quick as well, since you've played other FPS.
Strategy and play style... this ain't TF2 or HL. Not huge differences, but the subtleties of when to use items can take a while to pick up. Compounded by all the new items in the game as well.
Here's a quick rundown of what's different from other FPS or isn't obvious in-game:
- Generally you'll want to move around less when firing, to avoid getting hit by your teammates.
- All weapons secondary fire is a shove, in campaign mode you can shove as much as you want. If you're using a firearm and zombies get close, shove 'em back before shooting them. You can even shove while reloading.
- Wall and zombie bullet penetration is a weird thing. Trying not to go into advanced detail: Projectiles will go through one wall at most, rifles go through thicker walls. There is no friendly fire from bullets that have gone through a wall. Shotguns and hunting/sniper rifles have infinite zombie penetration (before they go through a wall), but this also means they can cause friendly fire damage through zombies. (i.e. a zombie is between you and a teammate. If you shoot the zombie with a pistol, your friend is safe. Shoot the zombie with a hunting rifle and your friend can get hit too.)
- Health-packs vs defib: Generally go with health packs, because defib only works on otherwise dead players.
- Pills vs adrenaline: Pills give +50 temporary health. Adrenaline gives speed boost and +25 health that may last longer than pill health. Toss up, IMO.
- There are lots of sound cues to pay attention to. Each special infected makes it's own sounds. The horde music plays before each zombie swarm. Plus the characters often say helpful things.
- Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. More than any other game I've played, it's important to stick together, help each other out and generally be aware of what the other players are doing.
C
Chibibar
As Shego said, plotwise: ZOMBIES!
You should be able to pick up controls pretty quick as well, since you've played other FPS.
Strategy and play style... this ain't TF2 or HL. Not huge differences, but the subtleties of when to use items can take a while to pick up. Compounded by all the new items in the game as well.
Here's a quick rundown of what's different from other FPS or isn't obvious in-game:
- Generally you'll want to move around less when firing, to avoid getting hit by your teammates.
- All weapons secondary fire is a shove, in campaign mode you can shove as much as you want. If you're using a firearm and zombies get close, shove 'em back before shooting them. You can even shove while reloading.
- Wall and zombie bullet penetration is a weird thing. Trying not to go into advanced detail: Projectiles will go through one wall at most, rifles go through thicker walls. There is no friendly fire from bullets that have gone through a wall. Shotguns and hunting/sniper rifles have infinite zombie penetration (before they go through a wall), but this also means they can cause friendly fire damage through zombies. (i.e. a zombie is between you and a teammate. If you shoot the zombie with a pistol, your friend is safe. Shoot the zombie with a hunting rifle and your friend can get hit too.)
- Health-packs vs defib: Generally go with health packs, because defib only works on otherwise dead players.
- Pills vs adrenaline: Pills give +50 temporary health. Adrenaline gives speed boost and +25 health that may last longer than pill health. Toss up, IMO.
- There are lots of sound cues to pay attention to. Each special infected makes it's own sounds. The horde music plays before each zombie swarm. Plus the characters often say helpful things.
- Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. More than any other game I've played, it's important to stick together, help each other out and generally be aware of what the other players are doing.[/QUOTE]
Let me stress TEAMWORK!
It nice to have voice chat on (no one seems to talk when I play with random group) cause it is easier than trying to type when a horde of zombies come your way.
It is hard not to shoot your teammate. People move around a lot and of course there might be accidental fire, of course there are griefer abound that will just "jack you up" cause well... they are griefers.
You don't miss much not playing L4D1. there are new + old bosses type that will be new to you.
Actually, pills vs adrenaline is simple:
- If your health is yellow or red, use the pills and pick up the adrenaline.
- If your Health is 75 or higher, use the adrenaline and pick up the pills.
- If you have full or near full health, take the adrenaline. It's more useful for emergencies.
This is assuming you don't need to worry about sharing pills/adrenaline of course.
The REAL hard decision is pistols/magnum/melee weapon. Dual pistols have the higher DPS, Magnum reloads faster and does more damage a shot, and Melee weapons are VERY useful for taking out enemies if they get too close.
Another choice is what grenade to take. Molotovs are mostly useful for stopping hordes at choke-points and for lighting up the Tank when he shows. The pipe-bomb is a life saver when you get hit with boomer bile. Boomer Bile bombs are... tricky. They call out a horde to attack whatever you throw them at and the horde will group around the location you threw it at once the target is dead. The problem is the horde will turn on YOU after a short amount of time. It's useful but handle with care.
- If your health is yellow or red, use the pills and pick up the adrenaline.
- If your Health is 75 or higher, use the adrenaline and pick up the pills.
- If you have full or near full health, take the adrenaline. It's more useful for emergencies.
This is assuming you don't need to worry about sharing pills/adrenaline of course.
The REAL hard decision is pistols/magnum/melee weapon. Dual pistols have the higher DPS, Magnum reloads faster and does more damage a shot, and Melee weapons are VERY useful for taking out enemies if they get too close.
Another choice is what grenade to take. Molotovs are mostly useful for stopping hordes at choke-points and for lighting up the Tank when he shows. The pipe-bomb is a life saver when you get hit with boomer bile. Boomer Bile bombs are... tricky. They call out a horde to attack whatever you throw them at and the horde will group around the location you threw it at once the target is dead. The problem is the horde will turn on YOU after a short amount of time. It's useful but handle with care.
figmentPez
Staff member
Oh, I almost forgot. When someone is snared by a smoker, you can free them either by killing the smoker, shooting his tongue enough (not advised), or by meleeing the trapped survivor. That last one isn't obvious, and many don't think to do it. Same goes for hunters and jockeys as well. Don't stand there reloading while someone is trapped, charge towards them and knock off their attacker.
---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------
Does anyone else think molotov fires are bigger than they were in L4D?
---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------
And do share your pills/adrenaline! Alt-fire can be used to throw these a short distance to another player. You can't throw medkits, but you can use them on someone else.
I base my decision party on weapon choice. Melee weapons go well with sniper rifles, because they have lots of ammo and are good at long range. Pistols go well with shotguns because they're better for helping friends in trouble. Not sure when I'd got with a magnum, I'm still puzzling over that one.
No kidding. I threw one on a witch, just to see, and one of my teammates threw a molotov at the horde it summoned. So the Witch was chasing me with very few surviving zombies harassing her. (reports vary as to if this tactic would have worked even without the fire getting in the way). I've definitely seen a tank get bogged down in a horde attacking him, though. And it's great fun to watch riot zombies fighting with other common infected.
Does anyone else think molotov fires are bigger than they were in L4D?
The Magnum is better if your on the ground, dying, because it fires as fast a normal pistol and reloads faster than dual pistols. This means you can drop a special infected attacking your friend in 2-3 shots as opposed to 6-8 from a pistol. I also think it's just plain easier to use... making 8 shots hit is much simpler than 15 or 30.
Just tried the single-player game.
Wow, you're right, this is a whole different kettle of fish from TF2 or HL2. Quite an intense adrenaline rush, though not all that scary, I find.
I dunno if I did anything wrong, but I found melee weapons to be borderline useless. If there's a zombie close by, chances are it's brought friends, and chances are they can claw me faster than I can hack them with my machete. It's much better to just take them out from a distance. The only time a melee weapon was useful to me was when I needed to pick off stragglers and wanted to conserve ammo.
I can tell the game would be much better with human team mates, that way you could coordinate tactics, movements and weapon choices.
On the whole, I'm still not sure if I'll be splashing out for the game. Maybe I'll give the demo a few more whirls before I decide.
Wow, you're right, this is a whole different kettle of fish from TF2 or HL2. Quite an intense adrenaline rush, though not all that scary, I find.
I dunno if I did anything wrong, but I found melee weapons to be borderline useless. If there's a zombie close by, chances are it's brought friends, and chances are they can claw me faster than I can hack them with my machete. It's much better to just take them out from a distance. The only time a melee weapon was useful to me was when I needed to pick off stragglers and wanted to conserve ammo.
I can tell the game would be much better with human team mates, that way you could coordinate tactics, movements and weapon choices.
On the whole, I'm still not sure if I'll be splashing out for the game. Maybe I'll give the demo a few more whirls before I decide.
Actually, melee weapons will take out more than one zombie per a swing. They are VERY useful for holding a horde at a choke point like a doorway, or you can quickly kill Special infected with them.
figmentPez
Staff member
Yeah, the L4D2 demo took out pretty much any scary L4D had in it. The music, lighting, pacing and atmosphere in general were very different in L4D. It took me a while of playing L4D before I stopped creeping around listening intently for every sound. The game encouraged that kind of feeling with it's music. Maybe Valve realized long-time players just aren't going to be scared anymore, or maybe they're saving the scary for the nights in the swamps and circus. Either way, they're very similar games in raw gameplay, but the feeling you get playing them is still very different.
As for melee weapons, I felt that way about the frying pan at first. It just didn't seem to kill zombies fast enough, but after using some of the other melee weapons I kind of got into the groove, and it's easier to use them. I still prefer dual pistols, usually, but a melee is nice to have if you're crouched in the doorway while your cohorts stand behind you firing.
Also, Valve has put in areas in the full game where melee is going to be the way to go, like a parking lot filled with car alarms.
---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------
I've often wondered if it would be possible to make a crossover. A TF2 team against hordes of zombies. I'm not sure how you'd balanced it (no respawn, let smokers pull down sentries, who knows?) but it sure would be fun to see a hunter try and pounce a heavy only to find the heavy is to big to be knocked over.
People have converted TF2 maps for Left 4 Dead. I remember seeing a Dustbowl 2 map. There is also a Zombie mode mod for TF2, where if you die, you come back as a heavy without weapons and keep respawning as such until everyone is dead.
Just tried it a bit more.
I think my favorite weapon is the Hunting Rifle. It combines close-range stopping power and a long range scope. Sure I can't cut down swarms now with a wall of bullets, but that's what team mates are for.
Also, is it my imagination or are shotguns not all that useful? Reload times are too long. Seems like it'd be improved with human team mates, when you can coordinate your reloads, I suppose.
Also, in my first encounter with a Witch, I managed to kill it fairly easily. Next playthrough I encountered another Witch, decided to shoot it.
Wow that ended badly.
I think my favorite weapon is the Hunting Rifle. It combines close-range stopping power and a long range scope. Sure I can't cut down swarms now with a wall of bullets, but that's what team mates are for.
Also, is it my imagination or are shotguns not all that useful? Reload times are too long. Seems like it'd be improved with human team mates, when you can coordinate your reloads, I suppose.
Also, in my first encounter with a Witch, I managed to kill it fairly easily. Next playthrough I encountered another Witch, decided to shoot it.
Wow that ended badly.
I always found that once you stop sucking at FPS's none can be scary anymore, as it's hard to be scared of stuff you've been killing by the truckload.
But yeah, L4D2 happening in the daylight takes away from the creepy atmosphere.
It's best to lead them between shots, cuts way down on the idle time. Forgetting to do that is always an annoying moment for me...
C
Chibibar
LOL. I have been thinking of the same thing!!! A sentry.... mmmmm
Shotguns are IMMENSELY useful for killing Hordes for the same reason Sniper Rifles are: They have infinite penetration against Infected. You can literally take down an entire horde with a just a few shots. They also do great damage up close, making them great against Special Infected in Close Quarters. The ammo doesn't really become a problem unless your in a situation where everyone on your team has been boomed.
Yeah, whatever you do, don't let your clip go empty with a shotgun. The extra time needed for the cocking animation for an empty shotgun can and WILL get you killed.
C
Chibibar
Yeah, whatever you do, don't let your clip go empty with a shotgun. The extra time needed for the cocking animation for an empty shotgun can and WILL get you killed.[/QUOTE]
Yea... Thanks to shego I hardly ever run out of shells until I run OUT on shell (i.e. totally out of ammo in reserve)
Yeah, whatever you do, don't let your clip go empty with a shotgun. The extra time needed for the cocking animation for an empty shotgun can and WILL get you killed.[/quote]
Yea... Thanks to shego I hardly ever run out of shells until I run OUT on shell (i.e. totally out of ammo in reserve)[/QUOTE]
I feel so lonely right now...
figmentPez
Staff member
One thing I don't like about L4D2 is the increased gore in the game. It's increased to the point where it makes me queasy sometimes, and it's not something I want to play when my sister coudl see the screen, since she's far more sensitive than I am.
Not finding a reduced gore setting in the options menu, I sent an email to Valve asking for one to be added. It's pretty cool that I got an email back from Chet Faliszek, but the answer left me puzzled. "You got it Bruce. Check under options." Uh, I checked under options and couldn't find it. Can anyone double-check for me and see if I'm just being blind to the obvious?
Not finding a reduced gore setting in the options menu, I sent an email to Valve asking for one to be added. It's pretty cool that I got an email back from Chet Faliszek, but the answer left me puzzled. "You got it Bruce. Check under options." Uh, I checked under options and couldn't find it. Can anyone double-check for me and see if I'm just being blind to the obvious?
C
Chibibar
you know. I don't know either. I check all the settings from video, audio, anything really and I don't see the option for gore. I presume it will be on release version.
I know it's possible to do it via the console. I also know it can give you up to a 40% increase in performance, if the benchmark tests are right. I just don't know what the console command is.
figmentPez
Staff member
On the Steam forums, posters say putting -lv (low violence) in the launch string will reduce the gore. I haven't had a chance to test it yet.
I found out some stuff about the jukebox. It will play 5 songs, 4 regularly and one rare, hidden, song. One of the four it plays normally is Jonathan Coulton's "Your Brains", and this song will draw the horde at a lyrically appropriate moment. The hidden song....
is "Still Alive" from Portal, also by Jonathan Coulton
- Status