Left 4 Dead (PC Games, 2008)

Graphics: Great 10/10
Sound: Great – 9/10
Gameplay: Spectacular – 9.5/10
Replay Value – 9.5/10
Overall – Must Buy 10/10

Graphics: Good 10/10
The graphics is what gives Left 4 Dead its apocalyptic atmosphere and suspense. Although the graphics are not the high-end high-resolution textures that we might see in games like Crysis, this allows Left 4 Dead to be played on a greater variety of hardware, so all your friends can probably get this game, not just the one with the best hardware, and would you want a beautiful game that runs like a slideshow, or a game with good-enough graphics that runs at playable speeds? And being based on the Source engine, it has HIGHLY optimized for almost all setups. The lighting, textures, shadows, all come together to convey a feeling of loneliness and the occasional goosebumps.

Sound: Great – 8.5/10
Each zombie and survivor come with their own unique voices and sounds. The game is largely dependent on sound, as each of the special zombies produce a distinctive sound that allows you to identify when one is nearby. Even when playing alone, the conversations that the survivors engage in give you a sense of community and the occasional humor. With a 5.1 surround sound set-up, and a dark room, the sounds put you in the mix. The only thing that is perhaps missing is the lack of a variety of weapon sounds.

Gameplay: Spectacular – 9.5/10
This is perhaps one of the most fun multiplayer and singleplayer game I have encountered in a long time. What makes the gameplay so amazing is the A.I. Director, the name given to the AI in the game. The Director sets up each game so that you will have a different experience each time you play it. Zombies will spawn in different places each time, and the amount of zombies and their actions will change depending on your health, how fast you move through the map, how close your group members are to each other, etc. The game forces you to cooperate with your other group members in order for you to survive, which I have rarely seen in a game. The single player will take roughly 6-8 hours to beat on normal or advanced, but the main value is in the multiplayer experience.

Replay Value – High 9.5/10
The multiplayer experience is the real gem of this game. It allows anyone to keep replaying the game without getting bored. Finding a game takes about a few seconds, and there is always one to join. You don't have to worry about griefers, as you can vote out people who are ruining your multiplayer experience and the computer AI will take over. The versus mode is also extremely entertaining and fun. Finding ways to destroy the Survivors never gets boring.

Overall – Near Perfect 9.5/10

This is a great game for any PC gamer to pick up, even if you are not a fan of multiplayer. This is one of the only games I have seen online where cooperative play is required and is the essential cornerstone of the game. The game experience is constantly changing and never the same. If you want a fun and entertaining game that you can play with anyone, especially your friends, then definitely pick this up. Even if you are not a fan of zombie games, you should try this anyway. And knowing Valve, more updates to Left 4 Dead will probably come that brings even more replayability and features to the game.