There is a MUCH bigger story to this game, It's starting to get real good story wise.
So does that mean there is more than simply linking one campaign to the next? Like an overall plot with unified storyline? Is the endgame more than just 'you survived campaign X' yet again? (not asking for spoilers)
How about adding non-hostile NPCs? Where are police/army forces that can occasionally assist you? How about a whole campaign designed around rescuing helpless uninfected? Where is the 'Find the Cure' campaign? I realize certain campaign designs would be entirely unbalanced for Versus mode, but why should that hinder a talented dev team unless they just have no interest in evolving the game? Personally I'd rather have some unique campaign design rather than the exact same gameplay in every 5-map sequence.
The new campaigns are gorgeous. Honestly, its actually amazing how good they look, its an INSANE visual step up from L4D1.
This is a screenshot that i go back to time and time again, it has honestly some of the best foliage in any game in my opinion.
Yes that does look good, but the biggest things I notice are sunlight and a brighter color palette. Exactly zero of the original L4D maps featured broad daylight, and I think some of the forest scenes would look just as good as that L4D2 screenshot if they did. Either way, I'm by no means a graphics whore. I think I clocked 4+ years on a Ti4200 before an upgrade. ;)
Melee is actually really great ... the axe is amazing if you get swarmed by common infected.
Don't get me wrong, I do like the melee weapons, I'm just disappointed at the absolute minimal implementation of them. How about weapons with unique combat properties? Wouldn't a riot shield be sweet indoors? 1 or two survivors could crouch and defend the whole group while the others rain gunfire from behind. Maybe a survivor with a shield and >75% health could stop a Charger in his tracks?
That's another thing, the SI could use a bump in power, IMO. Honestly, the only SI that makes me slightly nervous is the Tank, because he's the only one with a good chance of taking out an entire team. I think they should all strike "Holy Sh**!!" terror in gamers when they show up. Instead they just require a dodge and a few extra bullets. (And is it me or did Valve nerf the Witch?)
Honestly not much has changed in the end, but its still an insane step up in every possible direction from the first game.
OK,
NOT trying to be an ass, but isn't that a contradiction? Personally I haven't seen what I would call major new developments. L4D2 does offer something new, just not $50 new IMO. If the game had launched @ $30, I probably wouldn't have bothered posting to this thread. I guess I just see a ton of untapped potential, and add the fact that Valve committed to content updates to L4D1 that ended up being paid content in a full sequel...it just leaves me a little let down.