So far, we’ve hyped Far Cry 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Fallout 3 as possible candidates for Game of the Year. There’s only two slots left and a TON of games to consider. In considering what is Game of the Year contender, I’m sure many of us look back on our experience with any particular game and ask ourselves an honest question, “What about this experience stood out from the pack?” For me, as with all of our Nominees, this game stands out from the rest of the pack because of the strong emotional response that the game elicits every time I play it.
One word. Survival.
Wanna see what it is? Hit the jump.
The emotional and psychological drive to survive is a strong one. There’s no doubt about it. You now what else drives my emotional and psychological well being… Shooting Zombies in the face. That’s why Left 4 Dead is our fourth Nominee for Game of the Year.
As you may know, Left 4 Dead is a first person shooter set during a Zombie Apocalypse, but you already knew that. Look, we all know it’s a fantastic game, but I’ve got a few reasons why it rises to the top.
1. Left 4 Dead turns traditional shooters on its head. With four separate “Movies” to play through, Left 4 Dead does it differently than any shooter around by developing four different experiences to play through at four different difficulty settings. Think you can play through any of the Movies in less than an hour on Expert mode? I doubt it.
2. Director AI. I know a lot has been said about how the pacing in the game is structured through an AI routine that helps pace the game out. The game measures your health, ammo, hit percentage and a number of other factors in determining when and where Zombies and super infected Zombies will attack and where weapons will be placed and how much health you’ll get in any particular level. What this does is change up each play through, every time you play it. So, you could play the “No Mercy” movie 100 times and have a different experience every time. I think that’s advancing the genre and will be THE “thing” that is copied from L4D in future games.
3. Cooperative Multiplayer. This game is THE blueprint for cooperative multiplayer in video games. Sure Horde mode in Gears of War 2 is pretty great, but the difference is that you’re constantly moving and strategizing in Left 4 Dead. You’re not just sitting in one place, waiting for enemies to come to you. In Left 4 Dead, not only MUST you play together, but you MUST rely on each other for health and to get you up off of the ground if you become incapacitated. Some would say that the inherent reliance on playing with three buddies means that the single player experience is lessened. While I’d partly agree with that statement, the same could be said about any cooperative multiplayer component of any game.
4. Versus mode. Playing as the bad guy is always fun. Playing as a Zombie Bad Guy is the proverbial icing on the cake. Playing as a Zombie in the Versus mode may just be the most fun part of the game. Strategizing with your teammates, separating the survivors and going in for the kill provides a white knuckle experience that is sadly missing from most multiplayer games.
Look, if you aren’t a fan of shooting Zombies in the Face, this isn’t going to convince you otherwise. Left 4 Dead is a visceral first person shooter that pulls no punches. It will get your heart racing and make you want to come back for more. While limited to four “movies” at the moment, the promise of future “Movies” on the PC and perhaps Xbox Live Marketplace, whets my Appetitie for Zombie Destruction even more.
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No way does this game deserve to be named GOTY. I understand that you are Valve are sort of like this (Crosses index and middle finger) but come on. If this wins GOTY…let’s just say I will be disappointed.
I havnt played it i don’t know but from what i have heard any you have said i think it sounds good enough but i think there are many other games out there to chose from for the last 2 slots.
Oh come on! Where the hell is Gears of War 2?
I seriously don’t think this should be game of the year, it has no real single player mode, and there are a majority of people who dont play online, or with friends, and therefore this game offers nothing. Yeh theres a story mode, but there’s also no real story, its generic zombie outbreak 3. Sure its a good multiplayer game, but multiplayer do not win game of the year.
I’m guessing number 5 is either dead space or gears 2. most likely dead space.
It’s a Nominee people…. put the pitchforks down!
Honestly, I think this was a very good pick. Besides, it’s just his opinion, what HE thinks is GOTY material doesn’t have to be what YOU think is GOTY material.
OMG…. I am literally tingling with anticipation to the reaction to the 4th nominee
I think people are gonna freak out at what the fifth pick is…. lol… I can’t wait.
Dead Space?
It feels a lot like IGN’s comment section here. LOTS OF WHINING ABOUT GOTY.
i played the demo through many times and i know that all 3 of you guys from the red show have been looking forward to it for a long time but, L4D would be a disappointing GOTY for me, and i also think that if you were going to do that then you would have to include gears 2 and CoD WaW and all the other shooters that came out this year because they all offer a similar “unique” MP experience (as in they all have their own unique experience), i dont mind if it is nominated to show that yes it is a good game but if it wins ill be quite disappointed
dun dun dunn…. what will it be?
Jeez guys! Calm down. Who cares if a game you dont like gets named GOTY by the SG guys. Will you’re life end?
Oh and I bet the fourth one is Cooking Mama.
I wasnt this or far cry 2 to win.
Interestingly enough nobody even mentions GTA IV. It’s funny how the games that come out at the beginning of the year almost never get GOTY even if they deserve it. Personally I think Fallout 3 and GTA IV are tied in my books. Damn near every reviewer gave GTA IV a 10 out of 10. How is it not a nominee?
No….
I’ve played severl hours of L4D, and it really does seem to be different every time.
Like getting two tanks at once while trying to get the the chopper. Now that’s a different experience! (only one of us got out alive)
You know..I was banging this out to myself that Left4Dead would be a game of the year, but I was wrong!
The game has no story for goodness sake!
I would go for Gears of War 2, but that game’s online is beyond terrible!
There are only 2 games this year that REALLY deserve the GOTY award: MGS4 and GTA: IV.
Any other game getting the award would be an embarassment to the gaming industry!
…why is this tagged “fake news”?