Although more known for the gaming platform Steam these days, there was a time when Valve put out hit after hit. One of the company’s most well known games was Left 4 Dead, and its sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, was even better. The co-op zombie shooter has been a favorite pastime for many a friend group, and desire for a remaster of Left 4 Dead 2 has been strong for a long time.
The premise of Left 4 Dead 2 is not unique, but it is exceptionally well executed. Four survivors, piloted either by players or reasonably smart A.I., must escape a horde of zombies through a map across several checkpoints and the final rescue at the end. Setting the game apart from others is the emphasis on teamwork and precision, as well as the unique zombie types like the Smoker and the dreaded Tank. Being such a smash hit, it seemed like only a matter of time until Left 4 Dead 3 was announced.
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Unfortunately, Valve had bad news for anyone waiting for Left 4 Dead 3. While some images for the game were supposedly leaked recently, it turns out the game is as dead as its zombies. However, it seems that the Left 4 Dead franchise is not quite licked, as fans received some startling news a couple of days ago. It has been announced that a brand new update is coming to Left 4 Dead 2 for the first time in 11 years. The update, called “The Last Stand,” is “created by the community, for the community” according to the official announcement.
A trailer released at the same time confirms the Last Stand Update, although it does not reveal much. At less than a minute long, the trailer shows off a desolate, cliffside coast and a car. The most notable part is a lighthouse, which Left 4 Dead 2 fans will no doubt find familiar. While a ship’s horn sounds in the distance, no ship is seen. Also missing is any gameplay whatsoever.
It is highly likely that the new content in the Last Stand update will relate to the original survival mode of the game, also called Last Stand. This took place in a lighthouse, and rather than a full campaign, saw players simply trying to survive for as long as possible. The hope of some players is that the community has been allowed to create a full, official Last Stand campaign. The Left 4 Dead 2 community certainly has experience creating campaigns, with the Chernobyl fan campaign releasing 9 years after its announcement with lots of polish.
Players are certainly excited, and whether the update turns out to be a re-vamped survival mode or a full campaign, that hype will likely stay alive for a while. In the meantime, there are many great Left 4 Dead 2 custom campaigns to check out, several of which may provide a taste for what players are in for with The Last Stand.
Left 4 Dead 2 is available on PC, and was also released for the Xbox 360.
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