Dario on 15/11/2008 at 13:36
Hmm, I thought I would love this game, but the demo left me completely unimpressed for some reason.
I thought the zombies were way too fast to allow for any kind of strategy or setup... you know, it's like one second it's clear, and the next there are 10,000 zombies in your face. It FEELS like they don't even travel to reach you at times, and are just spawning out of your nostrils (and at completely random times... wtf). Didn't like that at all, as I was expecting the game to have a great sense of planning/preparation, and a feeling of realism (you know, zombies not dying with 1 suggestion of a bullet, or grabbing you with a stupid rope)...
I thought it would feel more like Dead Rising (the game with the zombies at the giant mall), where things are more paced, and killing is harder (although that game was usually TOO hard, at least where objectives were concerned). Instead, it feels like super-zombie-rush mania, and I really, really can't stand the way it feels. :( Was very surprised I'd see it that way...
I'd vote for them slowing it WAY down, making the zombies harder to kill, and not allowing them all to magically know where you are, and swarm at random times. You know... make it feel natural, with some planning, and maybe give you a DX-style inventory with placeable mines, etc, so that you can drop traps and things in front of you (or fire a giant rocket) when you're faced with an advancing horde.
Jackablade on 15/11/2008 at 17:12
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Surely you kid.
Well, the graphics are good and they fit the game. It was just something I noticed and not a big complaint of mine. I'm not sure what I was expecting because it is still Source and I like the Source engine, but it was just a thought I had when I was playing through it.
Also, I totally agree with Dario.
catbarf on 15/11/2008 at 21:28
Dario, I agree with you about the lack of strategy but keep in mind the settings we've played in- apartments, alleyways, and a subway, with a very brief street segment. I imagine that there will be levels (I believe one level involves defending a farm) that are more open and naturally more conducive to such strategy.
Dario on 15/11/2008 at 21:31
Hope you're right... I really want this game to rock.
foldy on 16/11/2008 at 06:59
Eh. Kids, do your research. Previews were always very forthright about this game, and we all knew about the random waves of running zombies. If anything, I expect playing as the boss infected will provide more strategy and tactics, as you lurk about, waiting for proper moments to strike. We're not talking about Fable here. It's one thing to be disappointed if you were mislead, but that's not the case here.
Aja on 16/11/2008 at 09:03
Well, I tried the demo, knowing next to nothing about the game (didn't follow previews, trailers, whatever). I think I need a better computer to run it, because on the recommended settings it became a slideshow every time a huge pack of zombies appeared (but it was smooth in between, so I dunno, I hate fucking with video settings).
I've never seen a zombie movie but man why do they have to run so fast? Not especially immersive, either, but I suppose that's because it's a multiplayer game... but then again it's also a zombie game so it should have a very distinct atmosphere, instead it felt kinda... unfinished? Like okay don't worry we'll add stuff like ambient sound and objectives and storyline later but at least we have the coop and shooting parts and pressing E to pick stuff up, we got that down for now. I did like how when I shot a zombie with a machine gun he jittered around with every bullet and blood splattered everywhere. Pretty satisfying, that part. But then they move so fast that it's kinda hard to enjoy it, especially when you have to just fire blindly into a million of em.
Maybe the crux of the game is the AI Director, the function of which was not made entirely clear from my playthrough.
I'll try the xbox demo later and report back.
june gloom on 16/11/2008 at 10:33
What? You've never seen a zombie movie? What's wrong with you? Go watch Night of the Living Dead please. The original. You can get it for free, legally, off the internet.
Also recommend 28 Days Later. Purists will whine but that's because they're purists.
Jason Moyer on 16/11/2008 at 15:31
I found the demo sadly underwhelming. I don't really feel like I can form a real opinion on it without trying "versus" though, which seems like it should be the meat of the game. The singleplayer doesn't really seem up to the quality I'd expect from Valve.
Koki on 16/11/2008 at 16:37
Well, count me in as a zombie purist. The bosses are fine, but a zombie is a goddamn zombie, goddamn!
