"Left 4 Dead 2" maybe the best zombie game ever. It's a sequel that expands and improves upon the original in exactly the right ways. If you liked the first game, then you'll love this one. But if you were a never a fan, no amount of tweaking will change your mind about the arcade-style gameplay. After all, part 2 is still all about shooting zombies as a team in order to get from Point A to Point B alive. The game consists of five different modes; Campaign, Realism, Versus, Scavenge and Survival.

Campaign is the story mode broken down into five different chapters. Just like the first game, it features four characters (three males and a female) who have completely different backgrounds, yet stick together to survive. This time, the action takes place during daylight hours in the colorful state of Louisana. It's a far cry from the urban/nighttime setting of the original, and it's also alot better due to the variety of locations. In "Left 4 Dead 2", players navigate through a swamp, a concert stadium, a mansion, a carnival funhouse and more. "Cresendo" events (triggered zombie horde attacks) now require for players to move and search for a "switch" which causes the waves of zombies to stop. Additons include more firearms, 2 new ammo types, new items (such as laser dot sights and adrenaline shots) and the introduction of melee weapons. My favorite melee weapon is the chainsaw, but using a katana to decapitate zombies is also great fun. The A.I. "Director" also returns, which changes item locations, zombie attacks, etc. depending on player performance. 

If you want a real challenge with the Campaign, not only can you change the difficulty, but you can also enable "Realism" which ups the tension considerably. Zombies are tougher, the Witch instantly kills, and players cannot be healed. Additionally, team members and weapons/items are not highlighted making group communication a high priority. VS. Mode plays the same as before; once you choose a Campaign chapter, four players try to survive it, while the other four are cast as the Special Infected who try to stop them. You can now play as the three new zombie types; the Spitter, the Charger and the Jockey who are great additions to the series. Scavenge mode is a VS. mode in which you must stop the other team from scoring points. Players score points by refilling a generator with gas cans. In both Vs. and Scavenger, teams alternate between playing as zombies and survivors. Which ever team has the most points, wins. The best thing about the Versus modes is the ability to play as the Special Infected. You have to take a very stealthy/team-based approach in order to win due to low health.

Survivor mode is the most simple one; the challenge is to stay alive as long as you cna from horde attacks. Your reward for surviving four minutes is a bronze medal, silver is 7 minutes and gold is virtually unattainable. Survivor is ultra tough and for fans of dying. It's fun, but probably the least of the five modes. Overall, "Left 4 Dead 2" is Valve's horror masterpiece. It's a much better, more refined experience than the original game. The classic look of 'b' grade zombie flicks is still there, gore effects are more pronounced and the XBOX 360 achievements are great (not too hard nor too easy). For zombie-themed arcade shooter fans, this is a must buy.