Left 4 Dead versus Killing Floor

I’m very fussy with my choice of games, and it takes a good game to capture my imagination, and moreso to get me hooked. Since Left 4 Dead was released some 9 months ago, there have been times where instead of sleeping and indulging in normal activities (useful, healthy pursuits like eating and going to the gym), I’ve been on my Left 4 Dead server (another sure sign I really like a game is when I go to the effort to run my own server!). It’s safe to say I’m a big fan of the game.

And then, at the beginning of May, Killing Floor stumbled along. Killing Floor, The budget priced pretender, perhaps even usurper to the zombie-style gameserver crown.

And while Killing Floor didn’t perhaps have the polish round the edges that Left 4 Dead did (and a multi-million dollar budget to suit), it’s certainly sent shockwaves in the direct of Valve, rich from the successes of a game many considered to the best of 2008.

Going head to head, Killing Floor is pretty much akin to Left 4 Dead, in the newly formed versus mode. Wave after wave of Zombies, with achivements for simply staying alive. Left 4 Dead certainly has the depth and longeitivity of an impressive release; but there’s just something about Killing Floor, and a reason why I’m playing on my Killing Floor server at the weekends, and not on my permanently full Left 4 Dead game servers.

Killing floor servers- the bad bits

• Some have likened the game to an old version of Quake (wrong really, because its based on the UT2004 / RO:OS engine). Overall, I feel this is a little harsh. The graphics aren’t the best, but in-game, and through the menus, they do reflect their price tag.
• Bugs, and more bugs. While the development team appear to be frantically ironing out problems, glitches in the server browser and in-game (Stalkers getting stuck, and being invisible to find!) haven’t helped the mixed reviews.
• Although I’ve not found myself too bored yet (gaming hours are testament to this), I do wonder how long it’ll be before I and the community grow bored of the same old game play (although it’s said new gametypes will be introduced over time).

It’s fair perhaps to say in reflection, the ‘weaknesses’ in Killing Floor, aren’t plenty, but they are glaring in places.

Left 4 Dead game servers- the sucky

• Fans of the game will wonder why L4D2 is being touted for release in November. Still no proper SDK support, so you can automatically download custom maps. And thus a real lack of support for custom map, bar through plugins such as Sourcemod. They really should have sorted that out before plotting the sale of the sequel.
• The scare factor. My hypothesis is that Left 4 Dead is more ‘cartooney’ to appeal to a younger market. It’s ok to headshot zombies if they look like they are out of a comic book. But with this, Left 4 Dead just isn’t as scary as Killing Floor, which looks far more raw, and despite the inferior graphics, more real.
• In light of the above flaw in Killing Floor, perhaps not a fair observation. But for the extra money we paid for this game, the campaigns seems a little on the light side. I can’t be the only one that was expecting more gameplay for my £?

Killing Floor- the juicy

• The Max Payne style slow-mos are fantastic. Particularly when you have a fully loaded pistol. Nothing more satisfying than blowing Zombie brains to pieces, with extreme precision.
• Map support. Where Left 4 Dead fails in this department, full custom map support has been met enthusiasm from the gaming community. More customisation = more longevity.
• The crappy characters. The cockney cries of “Money, money money”. And “Stand still, I’m not trying to shag you”. While others might point to this being another unpolished part of the game. It’s a light relief from being attacked by a half-human arachnid.

Left 4 Dead – why its a Zombie classic

• Wide choice of gameplay. Campaign, versus and survival give way more scope and variation that Killing Floor just doesn’t.
• While Killing Floor seems more of a shooting frenzy, Left 4 Dead is far more tactical and offers a superior sophistication of coop. You can’t afford to run off Rambo-style on this game. You’ll get eaten.
• It would be unfair to criticise the cartoony style characters on Left 4 Dead, without complimenting the smooth and aesthetically pleasing environment the source engine gives you with Left 4 Dead. The levels are polished, and the bugs and glitches are fewer.

Shall I buy a Left 4 Dead server or Killing Floor game server?

The obvious answer is both, because What Left 4 Dead servers offer, Killing Floor gameservers make up. And vice versa.

If you were to pick one, the big deciding factor as always is the price. Killing Floor costing a tad over £10, which is excellent value for money.

In conclusion, I might upset a few by suggesting Killing Floor a marginal winner. And I base this decision on Left 4 Dead seemingly making way for Left 4 Dead 2 in November. And the fact that Killing Floor has only just started with the more open customisation base.

But really, if you like your Zombie Games, I’d definitely be owning a copy of both