Which one of you said my suit sucked?
Finding a match is still relatively easy as the Left 2 community is still active. It had been a while since I last played the game and this was the first time I was playing with exclusively random people (and not a single friend). I noticed early on that no headphones were being used – the task of completing Dark Carnival, was going to be harder than I thought. Left 4 Dead 2 is a game that has communication at its core; players need to work together to share supplies and protect each other’s backs, how could this be done with no voice communication?
Easily, it turns out. Valve have created a brilliant in game communication system where the in game characters will voice useful information automatically.
Pills Here.
Or
I’m really hurt.
These sound bites not only increase the atmosphere of the game, but also inform the other players what is going on. To enhance the system further, players can click down on their joysticks to inform the others in the group. For example, if you see a pile of ammunition hidden in a corner you can point towards it and click the joystick, therefore informing your party of its existence. Valve have managed to create a communication system that works when no one is talking. This system has been used before and since (Brink), but as my random pals and I sailed through the Left 4 Dead 2 campaign, it was clear that Valve do it best. I never knew what any of those silent folk sounded like, but I knew that we were a team.