Left 4 Dead Preview

Over at IGN you can find the first Left 4 Dead preview, taking a look at the Turtle Rock Studios zombie shooter. The article details gameplay, the Infected and other baddies, use of the Source Engine and AI among other things. Various screenshots are included as well.

The game's five map campaigns each take around an hour to complete if you know what you're doing. We had the opportunity to play through the Hospital campaign a few times, where the main goal was to clamber through ruined urban areas, access the hospital, then scurry to the roof and get picked up by a rescue chopper. Other than that goal, the game doesn't seem to have any real storyline, it's mainly about shooting. There were a few action set pieces in the campaign, including a rather treacherous elevator ascent where zombies poured into the car through an overhead vent, and the final rooftop defense. During the end battle, the Survivors are set up in a tower and given a stationary gun. Wave after wave of zombie then spawns to try and wipe out the party. If they're successfully taken out, the remaining Survivors will need to bring down two hulking Tank Infected, which is no easy feat.