Valve details Left 4 Dead 2: melee combat, AI Director 2.0

by David Hinkle on Jun 1st 2009 3:00PM

In conjunction with the Microsoft press conference unveiling, Valve has provided additional Left 4 Dead details. First, the new melee combat options. We saw the chainsaw teased in the trailer, but players will also be able to wield a frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and additional blunt-force objects. Valve has also detailed the new AI Director 2.0, which will not only affect how many of the undead you'll be tackling at any given time, but will also dictate weather effects, world objects, and pathways provided to the players.

Left 4 Dead 2 is scheduled for release on November 17 on Xbox 360 and PC, with new co-op campaigns, Versus campaigns and Survival maps.

Tags: left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, Microsoft, valve, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (65)

The gameplay looks much more refined, but I hope they polish up the graphics. I wasn't too impressed with the textures in the first one.

Meh...

It does look like a lot more is available here. Lets hope that when it comes out they'll have mod tools available easier for it.

PEELS HERE!

When a game receives fantastic reviews, has a lot of replayability, and is still selling very well... then yes it is way too early for a sequel that will barely improve upon the original.

A year is a long time but for video games it really isn't. On a side note, some of you guys are excited/impressed way too easily.

TRAILER http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJp9-P-gLP0

Why can't that be the in game graphics? I thought that was in game till I saw some gameplay footage. Kind of disappointed...

I'm slightly disappointed with Valve at this one. Valve is not a company known for banging out sequels like this. I'm actually very curious about why they did something like that. They could've easily had a massive update to the current game to implement AI Director 2.0, and made a whole new set of campaigns with the new characters as a mod/add-on.

Interesting so then does this mean they are going to stop support of the current game or are they looking to incorporate both titles. Alot of people would like it if the current roster was larger so more people can play maybe this is Valves way of adding more players into the mix.

Kinda like the Sonic & Knuckles game back in the day on the genesis. You didnt really need the other games since it is a stand alone cart but if you did it added more to the experience.

What a great way to charge $60 for what should be more DLC for $10-20. Unforunately, I'll buy it like the sucker I am.

wasnt expecting this so early, couldnt they release some of this stuff as DLC?

I highly doubt they could implement something like AI Director 2.0 as DLC. An advancement like that sounds like something that wouldn't be too problematic an update for PC, but too much of a hoop to jump for consoles. Valve's not the type to go for the quick cash-in, so I believe that the nature of consoles is to blame here and they just decided to take PC goers for a ride with them. If Valve could have easily uploaded AI Director 2.0 as DLC, they'd have done it.

Doesn't really matter. I welcome a new L4D...especially since I haven't bought the first one yet.