Left 4k Dead is probably the best use of 4kb of Java code that I’ve ever seen!
The game is based on Valve’s Left 4 Dead, and plays surprisingly well for how small it is. You play as a small dot with a gun and a flashlight that must escape from an onslaught of zombies that are trying to kill you using only your wits (and your gun).
WASD keys move you around, and the mouse aims the flashlight and the gun, so the controls are rather intuitive. Plus, just like in the real game, the zombies and the powerups are randomly located inside of each level, so every time you play it’s a different game. The similarities between Left 4k Dead and Left 4 Dead don’t end there though, as you can still shoot after running out of ammo, only at half speed to simulate the pistols in the real game, and there are different types of zombies that all react differently to your presence as you walk around.
Beating a level means the game gets harder, but you also get more points for each zombie, so it’s a trade, and the goal for each level is to find the safe room which is outlined in red, so it’s a test of your survival skills as well as your shooting skills.
The Team Fortress 2 “Gold Rush Update” has just been unleashed by Valve, and it includes a new Gold Rush Map, a new Gameplay Type, a unique Item System, and 36 new Medic Achievements.
Gold Rush is an entirely new level featuring a new gameplay style called Payload. The level is split into three separate areas with intermediate capture zones inside of each major chapter. The teams are split between offense (Blu) and defense (Red) similar to Dustbowl. The goal for the Blu team is to push the bomb payload through the level until it reaches the next capture point, eventually destroying all three of Red’s major bases. Blu pushes the cart through the level by standing near it, with the cart moving faster when more people are close by. If no one has pushed the cart forward after 30 seconds, the cart will begin to move backward until it is pushed forward again.
The new item system is going to be rolling out over the next year, and players will be able to earn three new and unique items for each character by earning some or all of that character’s new achievements.
The new medic achievements are quite varied, and range from Quadruple Bypass (Heal a teammate who’s taking fire from 4 enemies at once.) and Play Doctor (In a team with no Medics, be first to switch to Medic after a teammate calls “Medic!”, and then heal 500 health.) to Big Pharma (Assist a Heavy in killing 20 enemies, where neither of you die.) and Bedside Manner (Be healing a teammate as he achieves an achievement of his own.)
Lastly, if you haven’t yet played Team Fortress 2 (and you really should) then you can try it out this weekend from May 2-4, during which you can play the entire game for free through Steam.
Valve is on top of the gaming world right now, and their Steam system is a great way to get new games.
If you’ve been holding off on getting yourself The Orange Box (and if you have a PC, you NEED this set of games), or any of the other titles in Valve’s repertoire (BioShock, Call of Duty, Quake, etc.) then be sure to check out their first-ever Steam storewide sale.
Every game in every genre from every developer and publisher on Steam is now on sale, and you can save 10-50% through January 1st. Plus, if you’re trying to make up for a poorly chosen gift, they also allow you to give the gift of game to friends and family through the Steam system.
Buyers of Valve’s The Orange Box quickly discovered that Team Fortress 2 is one of the best multiplayer games out right now.
Using class-based warfare, players assume a role that they must follow until they die. If they want to be a medic, they must spend their time healing other players. If they want to be a pyro, they’re armed with a flamethrower and they must spend their time burning everything in sight.
Though it makes for great gameplay, it does bring up one question: Why is the only black character in the game a grenade launching drunkard?
Games aren’t necessarily known for their racial sensitivity, but this seems to go a bit beyond mere oversight.
What do you think? Was the black player’s role intentional, or did someone just press the black button at the wrong time?
