“Zombies!”
When I think of zombies, the drowsy, slow-paced, swaying idiots that are typically portrayed in movies come to mind. Sure, in a horde they’re deadly, but catch one on their own and they’re easy enough to evade. I never thought a zombie apocalypse could involve sprinting. Then I watched Dead Set.
For those outside the UK, or for those that never watched the recently aired 5-part horror TV show, Dead Set focused on what would happen to those cooped up in the Big Brother house if the majority of the world was to become infected. It was an interesting concept, with the Big Brother house being - in Left 4 Dead terms - a safe house where inhabitants were initially oblivious to what was unfolding outside. Dead Set showed hordes of zombies darting towards their nearest victim, and cleverly reacting to sudden noises.
This theme I’ve recently been introduced to seems to have continued with Valve’s 4 player zombie survival horror (minus the Big Brother house of course), Left 4 Dead. I had intended to pick Left 4 Dead up a lot sooner, but other games got in the way and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find at least 2 other people to play it with. Much like Army of Two, this game was designed to be played with friends - not computer controlled AI, though that is an option.
Playing on Expert, Left 4 Dead can be an extremely intense experience (with equal amounts of frustration). Having yourself pinned to the ground by a Hunter while the rest of your friends fight off a horde of zombies, regretfully having used the last pipe bomb on the horde before, watching as a Tank approaches and inevitably taking the 3 standing players out in one fell swoop while the last remaining team mate - who is already down - has to wait patiently for her impending death. 
It’s one of the most atmospheric games I’ve played. Especially the first campaign, No Mercy, which just so happens to be my favourite. I’m not so sure it would be as scary if the zombies were what I’ve come to conventionally know them as. Having said that, it seems not all zombies are sharp, and you can often encounter one standing with his back to the room and face in the corner looking like he’s taking a piss. Even after you’ve taken out the rest of the room with your assault rifle he’s still none the wiser.
Despite not having played since Sunday (and it’s now Tuesday, eek!), I’ve not been able to turn my attention to anything else. I’m truly addicted to taking out zombies with my friends, and I doubt that would be the case if we were looking at Left 4 Dead’s co-op mode meets Dead Rising’s lethargic infected. It just wouldn’t be the same if zombies were slowly clambering over one another to get to some fresh meat. What makes this game scary is that you have less of a chance at survival.
If we do encounter a zombie apocalypse any time soon, you sure as hell don’t want to be fighting for survival with me; I may accidentally take your head off with my trigger happy shotgun. Regardless, if fighting infected becomes a reality I do think I’ll want to see the Linford Christie zombie types - the slow movers just don’t cut it any more. Do they?
I don’t have anything derogatory to say about Alan Wake. My advice to you? Spend a night in Bright Falls and soak up the eerie atmosphere. Alan Wake excels at thrilling you psychologically. Which is why it’s called a psychological thriller, I guess…
Jack Osborne