Review: Left 4 Dead - The Sacrifice DLC

I finally had a go with Left 4 Dead's new DLC The Sacrifice. Is it AWSUM?!?

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But wait! I realized I didn't do a review of Left 4 Dead 2 when it came out, nor its DLC The Passing. So I'll probably mention those "in passing" (LOLOL) as it does have a very strong relation to The Sacrifice.

For those that don't know, The Sacrifice and The Passing are narratively interesting in that they happen in chronological order and ends with the survivors of L4D2 briefly meeting the survivors of L4D. It isn't a hug and kiss moment though, in fact, when the survivors of L4D2 chance upon the three remaining L4D survivors near the end of The Passing campaign, the mood is somber. And with good reason, Bill is dead forever. Yes, I just spoiled the story, but you should've read the splendid comics by now.

Anyway, when you play L4D2's DLC The Passing, you see Bill's corpse propped up against a generator after having taken on three tanks to save the others. The comics play that moment up with such emotional power that I couldn't help but tear. But the exciting thing about L4D's DLC The Sacrifice is that you get to play out that very moment - but instead of it being Bill, anyone in your team can play the sacrificial hero.


But I'll get to that later. First, how is the The Sacrifice's gameplay? Well, it's pretty much just more of Left 4 Dead, which isn't a problem because more zombie shooting is always welcome. And Valve's got the visceral combat and cooperative mechanics refined to a T, so I don't have to go into that now.

Though disappointingly, it appears they mostly reused current game assets, rejumbling them to form a new, albeit linear map. This time you're fighting close to a port, with abandoned ships, back alleys, and warehouses. Nothing really spectacular and nothing we've not seen before. There's a bit early on where you have to prepare before opening a derailed train door to release a trapped tank who'll quickly reduce you to pulp. And another tense moment slowly climbing a hill to a narrow bridge to board a ship with infected snapping at your heels. Other than those highlights and the finale, the DLC's a breeze to play through.

The final of three maps in the DLC is where things start to get interesting. There's a bridge to escape on, so you have to power up three generators scattered across a little street area to get it started (I still don't see why the generators are spread far apart), and each time you power one up, it sends a horde of infected and one tank. All those are relatively easy to deal with for veteran survivors, just hold up in a corner and set canisters alight or throw molotovs.


But the Director does get sneaky and occasionally brings out the tank before the horde. Anyway, after you've powered the generators and get on the bridge, you can't breathe easy because the bridge stops half-way and three tanks appear for epic destruction. One person needs to get off the bridge and power the faulty generator (it always is) back on so as to let the others escape, and if someone doesn't do it soon, the three tanks will pulverize everybody.

It's a frenetic chaotic moment that requires the utmost coordination because even the person who has to leg it to the generator has to contend with hordes and the three tanks on his or her way there. So the other three survivors on the bridge has to defend them. Also, I must add that the finale cannot be completed without at least two survivors. Obviously, otherwise the sacrifice mechanic fails.

My problem with all this is that it's not epic enough. Like I said, the comics showed Bill's sacrifice with such heart-moving images that I imagined the sacrifice in-game to be ten times as rousing. Hans Zimmer or Michael Giacchano employed to provide some tear-jerking strings as the chosen martyr cuts through ashen gray monsters, life flashing before their eyes as they say one last goodbye to their teammates, saves them and then blackout.

But no. Instead, a sign pops up that says "looks like this is a one-way trip", you reach the generator, there's a quick victory cut-scene and it's over. You don't even get to see the remaining survivors boat away to the island as in the comic. Lameness.


Sure it's free and all, but owners of L4D are getting the short end of the deal in comparison to those with L4D2's The Passing. The latter has far more interesting level design, meandering mazes of apartment buildings and streets, storm effects added to confuse survivors, a near pitch-black sewer for a gauntlet, new weapons like the M60 and a new infected type. As well as the fact L4D2 survivors get to interact with the L4D survivors for a brief moment at the end, whereas L4D survivors have to play alone. It also seems that the journey for our favorite survivors Zoey, Francis and Louis has come to an end at the island, whereas I'm sure we'll be hearing from Ellis, Coach, Rochelle, and Nick again sometime in the indefinite future.

Anyhoo, there isn't much to complain about when the DLC is free. It's just a little underwhelming as compared to the hype. If it's any consolation, I've always preferred L4D over its sequel. I like the simplicity of gameplay, maps, and there isn't a glut of firepower or the annoyance of melee weapons to choose from. The focus is on survival plain and simple, and the constantly dark setting makes it all the more bleak and tense. Day time just ain't as freaky, and frankly, I like the original cast of L4D better than the wise-cracking, Southern-tooting L4D2 peeps.

R.I.P Bill.