It's unknown if this new down loadable content is to appease the hordes slobbering teeth gnashing upset persons. You know the ones that felt a boycott of some sort was appropriate because not even a year later A left 4 Dead 2 is coming (Well not even a month away now). Feeling more down loadable content was needed for the first one... whether or not it was planned all along, or it's a clever marketing maneuver...the new campaign for Left 4 Dead is here. It's called “Crash Course” and is only two levels long, but what a two levels they are.

Masterful design in levels combining dread, surprises, humor and out and out suspense spiraling into a crescendo of horror as the hordes attack. I am a firm believer in not telling so much about a level that it takes away from the players experience. So doing a review is always a balancing act of sorts.

Now rumor has it there is more down loadable content coming for the first Left 4 Dead and I hope that is so, it would be a wonderful thing indeed. So keep a watchful eye out for more after “Crash Course”.

“Crash Course” small campaign that it is, is extremely satisfying, gibing hints of some new visuals and design elements to come for the series. Check out some of our in game screen shots we took for the gore filled visuals. Poor victims, torn in half, perhaps in the middle of a feeding frenzy, or it's an infected that got run over by a car from an escaping survivor.

Some may feel a bit disappointed at first, as you may think, oh great more of the same levels...streets and ware houses... not to worry fellow Impulse Gamers. My wife Donna would give the new levels a 10 on the finger nail biting meeter.

The well designed levels offer a funnel effect in some areas, so going around over and through areas gives that old sense of dread...what can be lurking around the corner? Some times nothing...sometimes thanks to the AI director, you feel like Han Solo in that one scene from Star Wars...walking around the corner into a Mass of undead who notice you at the same time you notice them. Holy Crap! I kid you not. There are more weapon pickups and even a plentiful supply of gas cans and propane tanks, and they are well needed. Used with a bit of skill, some of the horde rushes re very manageable.

There are some tried and true elements also, get to one point in the level and hit a switch, perform an action that causes the hordes to home in on you like rotting flesh eating missiles! Trust me, for an even more tense experience, play it at the highest difficulty level.

It's odd to rate an add on, down loadable content for an established game, though none the less here we are. Left 4 Dead maintains it's solid 10 all around.

Have fun, play games
Edwin Millheim
Impulse Gamer