See video, impressions of Left 4 Dead's Survival mode

by Justin McElroy { Mar 5th 2009 at 10:56AM }

Even without any first-hand accounts, we probably could have told you everything you needed to know about Left 4 Dead's forthcoming "Survival" mode. If you'd asked, we would have told you that you'd probably be shooting a lot of zombies for a while and then later, they'd kill you. But it is helpful to have IGN to support our theories with their hands-on impressions and the video we've put right after the break.

Apparently, Survival is designed for quicker play, with matches rarely going longer than 10 minutes (and by rarely, we mean never: Valve [the people who made the thing] have only barely been able to break nine minutes). Ironic, as nine minutes is our personal record for ... actually, never mind.

Tags: dlc, left-4-dead, pc, steam, valve

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Vitamin A @ Mar 5th 2009 11:00AM

Nice, I hope this drops by the end of the month. I can't wait to score the genocidest cheevo. Only have had the game a few weeks and am at about 17000. This should rack things up quickly.

Marmot @ Mar 5th 2009 11:02AM

Is it heresy to be unimpressed?

MrSpaceCowboy @ Mar 5th 2009 11:05AM

Yes. Please leave.

CaptNink @ Mar 5th 2009 11:05AM

If it is, then we'll both be burned as heretics.

Obie @ Mar 5th 2009 11:09AM

How about you play it first..THEN make up shallow conclusions?

WRE @ Mar 5th 2009 11:10AM

*grabs pitchfork, lights torch*

baby sea tuna @ Mar 5th 2009 11:11AM

I'm with you. I wanted to love the hell out of this game, but I ended up having a couple of semi-memorable games, getting a couple of hundred ACH points, and trading it in toward Killzone 2. No regrets.

CaptNink @ Mar 5th 2009 11:16AM

Don't get me wrong, I love this game - best co-op I've ever played.

But "survival" modes just don't do it for me.

McWilly @ Mar 5th 2009 11:36AM

Yeah plus it's free so you have no right to complain about it. (Or so PS3 fanboys keep telling me).

grover96 @ Mar 5th 2009 11:39AM

"Marmot darlin', you should heal up."

Smak @ Mar 5th 2009 11:42AM

I'm unimpressed as well.

Playing World at War's 'zombie' mode made me excited to see what Valve would do with this type of game play. Based on that footage it looks like all they do is plop you in the corner of an existing map. If it wasn't for the timer and the survivors not progressing through the map, it could be typical game play footage.

They could have done a lot more with it. I'm glad it's free, because based off this video I wouldn't pay a dime for it. This is coming from an avid L4D player that owns it on both 360 and PC.

Blazur @ Mar 5th 2009 12:40PM

Nah, I feel the same way. With so little maps in the game I'm quite sick of playing them over and over, which is what this would amount to. Only with no feeling of accomplishment.

Survival mode might be interesting on a dynamically created map. But playing over and over again will inevitably result in either closet or corner campging for maximum results.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 5th 2009 1:49PM

Ouch, really? Well I guess that's what you get when you voice an opposing opinion on gaming's sacred cows, Valve.

Still, no regrets.

Lord Negatron @ Mar 5th 2009 2:53PM

Well add me to the fire as well. Bought the game 1 day after its release, and played it enough to warrant my opinion. I would like more maps and objectives other than just run from safe house to safe house, which was fun while it lasted. Yet the most interaction in the game is, turning on a generator which brings a horde and using a radio which, guess what?... Summons a horde...

Same how people think GTA is repetitive, well just add this to the soup. My real reason for trading it in, is that friends were trading it in and/or not playing it at all in which i followed suit. I am still recovering from injuries sustained from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. You can tell i have some crafty friends since i thought he was going to jump but he faked me out.
:P

xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 5th 2009 3:50PM

BURN THE BABY SEA TUNAS AND NEGATRONS OF THE WORLD! BURN THEM, I SAY!

Seriously though...can't hate on you guys for not loving it. I love it, but it REALLY needs moar maps/game modes. If it would come to PS3, my 360's fate will be sealed...er, sold.

Lee @ Mar 5th 2009 11:06AM

So these rounds last 9 minutes on the 360 version, 109 minutes on the PC version?

fatalhashbrown @ Mar 27th 2009 8:42AM

Only because of the RROD. You can finish your round 3 weeks later when you get your 360 back.

All kidding aside, I love this game. So much.

jarhead906 @ Mar 5th 2009 11:09AM

Do I dare ask if this update/DLC is going to be free on Xbox 360?

Of course I'm assuming that the PC version's update will be free.

WRE @ Mar 5th 2009 11:10AM

Totally free.

Obie @ Mar 5th 2009 11:10AM

Yup, confirmed as free.

Tiptup300 @ Mar 5th 2009 11:47AM

Yep, free, problem is that it will come out next year, yah know, soon.

joeybeast @ Mar 5th 2009 11:10AM

Sweet Sweet zombie horde.

Obie @ Mar 5th 2009 11:11AM

We got DLC here!

Sounds like fun, I wonder if there will be new achievements with this.

WRE @ Mar 5th 2009 11:16AM

"We got DLC here!"

lol

Adriaan @ Mar 5th 2009 1:59PM

I second the motion for new achievements linked to Survival mode.

Chalky @ Mar 27th 2009 12:07PM

"Gonna grab everything I can."

xx Beta Max xx @ Mar 5th 2009 11:11AM

Wait a second, Valve made this game?!1 Since when?

WRE @ Mar 5th 2009 11:17AM

Uh...since it...came out.

Obie @ Mar 5th 2009 11:19AM

To be fair it was initially developed by Turtle Rock Studios at first, then acquired and published by Valve. Valve did a bunch of additional development for the title as seen in the 2007 update.

xx Beta Max xx @ Mar 5th 2009 11:26AM

To Be Fair... I was kidding! Your backs must hurt from that fall!

Robert Maynard @ Mar 5th 2009 11:43AM

your joke is a waste of pixels.

WRE @ Mar 5th 2009 12:18PM

xx Beta Max xx,

Your joke is as worthless as the format your name espouses.

xx Beta Max xx @ Mar 5th 2009 12:34PM

Hey Beta Max, more like Beta FAX, like a fax machine! What a jerk right?

xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 5th 2009 12:43PM

I lol'ed. A little.

Deck @ Mar 5th 2009 11:23AM

Wow.. this is going to be a lot of fun. Yay DLC!

AwesomeTown @ Mar 5th 2009 11:26AM

Awesome. It's like the end segment in different locations and longer (if you don't die), which is alright by me.

Plus, it's not like I needed another reason to play more L4D.

Nadril @ Mar 5th 2009 11:37AM

Sounds awesome. This, the extra vs maps and the toolkit being released should be getting me back into L4D. I can't wait for all of the maps that will be made.

iFester @ Mar 5th 2009 11:38AM

Sweet! An even more hectic version of horde mode from Gears 2. Bring it on!

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Mar 5th 2009 11:42AM

I don't think this game is currently suited for a straight up survival mode and without some tweaks, it will quickly change to "whoever finds the best corner and spams melee for longest wins".

Robert Maynard @ Mar 5th 2009 11:47AM

I'm not sure how you plan on killing tanks by sitting in a corner and swiping your gun, but okay.

Spartan @ Mar 5th 2009 11:52AM

I laughed out loud because 2 days ago I got frustrated with a tank and ran up to it and melee'd it.

p.s. it doesn't work and is a bad idea.

Kevin @ Mar 5th 2009 12:42PM

In one of the videos there's a tank spawn about 45 seconds into the round. It looks to be about an Advanced/VS tank I think. (As opposed to Normal or Expert). No camping when that shit is coming at you.

Obie @ Mar 5th 2009 1:10PM

Yeah good luck with meleeing two tanks while hiding in a corner.

They should make a "tank manage-a-trois" achievement just for you. ;)

Spartan @ Mar 6th 2009 5:09PM

Obie, I laughed SO hard.
Thanx, I haven't laughed like that in a while.

Melee'ing two tank trapped in a corner. Gold.
And the achievement. Priceless.

Brucie B @ Mar 5th 2009 11:44AM

Awesome, Can't wait to DL this!!!
A+ Valve

Mazrael @ Mar 5th 2009 11:53AM

could be good if I knew anyone who played it.. playing with randoms on Horde, where either people would quit, not have a clue what they were doing.. I've found that I'm good at Horde but rubbish at Gears MP (but then people on my team always seem to quit for 5v3)

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Mar 5th 2009 11:56AM

Nine minutes? I... I envy you... I just... I do. :'(

Knyle2 @ Mar 5th 2009 12:06PM

I think every game needs a survival mode its the only way u can really push ur self without being called tons of nasty names in online play. I can remember with ALOT of other games how its replay value would have 10 times Higher with a survival mode.

Cant Wait!

Also, Is this video pc gameplay or 360 gameplay?