PAX adds fuel to the buzz for the much anticipated Left 4 Dead 2.
Judging from the massive lines for Left 4 Dead 2 at PAX this year, it’s clear that the upcoming online shooter is one of the most anticipated games of 2009. Valve debuted the Dark Carnival level at PAX, which pits the unlikely group of survivors against zombie attendees, as well as some horrific circus monstrosities. The “uncommon common” (a terms Valve uses for level-specific enemies) in Dark Carnival is the clown zombie, which you can hear approaching by the squishing sound their blood-drenched clown shoe make. The clowns will also drag themselves along the ground when partially wounded, which makes them that much more grotesque. The stage itself was more brightly lit than those found in the original game, and the bright colors of the carnival setting are counterbalanced by the macabre mood of the whole engagement. Among the new boss zombies was the Jockey, who sprints at the survivors at lightning speed, carrying them away from the group so the common infected can have their way with them. Though the PAX demo was just a taste of what Left 4 Dead 2 will offer upon its release, the fanboy hate that has been so prevalent since its announcement should subside once they get a look at what Left 4 Dead 2 brings to the FPS table.