The original four were pretty much the definition of stereotypes. I mean Bill was the grizzled Vietnam Vet, Francis the tough biker dude, Louis was the token black guy ("Awww hell no!") and Zoey was the token girl.
The new four also feel like stereotypes, but at least to me, they felt slightly more original than the group from L4D1. That's not a sleight against the first four survivors either, ultimately it's just about the personalities and how they come through. About the only character I haven't seen much... er... character from would be Rochelle, and that's pretty much because we've only seen two levels out of the whole game.
See, the thing people don't understand about Left4Dead (for whatever stupid reason) is that it is one big giant homage to every zombie and horror movie ever made
Hence the fact that all the characters are distinct archetypes from various horror movies (tough smartass biker dude, sassy black chick, token black guy/office job-having everyman, grizzled veteran of foreign war, thieving scoundrel with/without a heart of gold, overweight guy, southern good-ol'-boy)
The only place the games deviate from the typical horror archetypes is that they all cooperate and get along, at least in the context of the story. In an average horror movie they should all have some sort of grudge or hatred against at least one other survivor
The original four were pretty much the definition of stereotypes. I mean Bill was the grizzled Vietnam Vet, Francis the tough biker dude, Louis was the token black guy ("Awww hell no!") and Zoey was the token girl.
The new four also feel like stereotypes, but at least to me, they felt slightly more original than the group from L4D1. That's not a sleight against the first four survivors either, ultimately it's just about the personalities and how they come through. About the only character I haven't seen much... er... character from would be Rochelle, and that's pretty much because we've only seen two levels out of the whole game.
See, the thing people don't understand about Left4Dead (for whatever stupid reason) is that it is one big giant homage to every zombie and horror movie ever made
Hence the fact that all the characters are distinct archetypes from various horror movies (tough smartass biker dude, sassy black chick, token black guy/office job-having everyman, grizzled veteran of foreign war, thieving scoundrel with/without a heart of gold, overweight guy, southern good-ol'-boy)
The only place the games deviate from the typical horror archetypes is that they all cooperate and get along, at least in the context of the story. In an average horror movie they should all have some sort of grudge or hatred against at least one other survivor
Oh I wasn't complaining, and I agree that it's one big homage. That was in response to Kupi calling the new cast a bunch of Stereotypes. And I just look at the old cast and well, what else can you call those guys?
I don't know, I didn't really see Louis as being a token black guy. He just had a blackccent.
I think it's mainly because I remember what he used to look like before they made him an office worker. All his lines still apply and in the same voice, so the way he speaks is pretty much the major defining thing with him.
Well token black guy is a bit harsh maybe. I mean it's not like he's Cole Train or anything (who as a character, I would say skips straight over token black guy and into "The Blegend of Blount Blackula" Blacksploitation flick territory ).
I wonder...will we be able to port resources from L4D2 into 1? Being able to use valve-quality daylight skyboxes and shit would be nice instead of jury-rigging something or using a community-made thing, not to mention certainely easier.
I think I need to step in here and ground everyone back to reality: this is a zombie game, about shooting zombies, zombies, and more zombies.
Who gives a shit about character development/lines/stereotypes?
Is it going to ruin the gameplay because a bit of voice-acting is off?
How do you have the time to notice when you're supposed to be blasting zombies?
If this game was meant to have a plot, I would think that it might matter a little about the obvious stereotypes and occaisional sub-par dialogue, but I use the word "might" very, very loosely. A vast majority of zombie canon is riddled with the exact same material you are complaining about.
BethrynUnhappiness is MandatoryRegistered Userregular
edited November 2009
Rochelle startles the Witch and yells, "get out my way," at everyone else like it's their fault...
Rochelle players are going to hate me. The amount of accidentally-on-purpose friendly fire coming their way is going to make the zombie apocalypse look like a storm in a teacup.
I think I need to step in here and ground everyone back to reality: this is a zombie game, about shooting zombies, zombies, and more zombies.
Who gives a shit about character development/lines/stereotypes?
Is it going to ruin the gameplay because a bit of voice-acting is off?
How do you have the time to notice when you're supposed to be blasting zombies?
If this game was meant to have a plot, I would think that it might matter a little about the obvious stereotypes and occaisional sub-par dialogue, but I use the word "might" very, very loosely. A vast majority of zombie canon is riddled with the exact same material you are complaining about.
... shoot zombies!!!
I guess we look for different things in our games.
Because I loved the implied story and the characters in L4D1, and it wouldn't have been anywhere near the same without it.
The quality of the characters in L4D2 was very important to me and I was very relieved when I found that they're likeable. It improved the game 10 fold for me.
Bacon-BuTTy on
0
AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
edited November 2009
Everyone hated Zoey at first as well.
Back before the first game was best, because everyone thought the different characters would have different proficiencies with weapons. Good times that.
I think I need to step in here and ground everyone back to reality: this is a zombie game, about shooting zombies, zombies, and more zombies.
Who gives a shit about character development/lines/stereotypes?
Is it going to ruin the gameplay because a bit of voice-acting is off?
How do you have the time to notice when you're supposed to be blasting zombies?
If this game was meant to have a plot, I would think that it might matter a little about the obvious stereotypes and occaisional sub-par dialogue, but I use the word "might" very, very loosely. A vast majority of zombie canon is riddled with the exact same material you are complaining about.
... shoot zombies!!!
I guess we look for different things in our games.
Because I loved the implied story and the characters in L4D1, and it wouldn't have been anywhere near the same without it.
The quality of the characters in L4D2 was very important to me and I was very relieved when I found that they're likeable. It improved the game 10 fold for me.
Well I didn't say that I did not like the implied arcs to each "episode" in L4D1. The theme of each campaign was well thought out and really made the maps more memorable. I also enjoyed the characters BECAUSE they were stereotypical of your average zombie flick/ comic/ book.
XOCentric on
steam: xo_centric uplay: xocentric
0
RoshinMy backlog can be seen from spaceSwedenRegistered Userregular
Back before the first game was best, because everyone thought the different characters would have different proficiencies with weapons. Good times that.
Sometimes people just assume silly things. "this screenshot has zoey holding a sniper rifle, she must be better with them!"
Honestly I was meh before on L4D2 (the issue of the updates seem like bs to me, but ill just not buy it and get it on huge discount later), wasnt really for or against.
After playing that demo, it feels like a roster update on a new map, and at face value is extremely hard to try and tell a customer they need to pay for 5 new maps/roster update/melee weapons. I feel like even in that ending video they are reaching for a feature list "five maps" "melee!" "ummmmmmmmm achivements! yeah new ones buy it whores!" "uh, if you preorder it you get special melee weapons"
Five new campaigns
For christ's sake, get it right
We both know what we meant in the context, so does it matter? Like I know you formed a sentence, even though you didnt use a period. I am not jumping all over that. Im not perfect with my grammar or spelling, but we have the ideas in our head the same through different means. If I refer to a campaign as a map because it features the same location for a set time period, I really dont see the issue. You can refer to ravenholm as a map, but its actually a bunch of maps strung together.
Anyways, It's a valid point, and I saved my opinion until I had a chance to play the game. I dont see any difference in my bitching then other people now complaining about personalities of the new avatars they play.
DiannaoChong on
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AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
Back before the first game was best, because everyone thought the different characters would have different proficiencies with weapons. Good times that.
Sometimes people just assume silly things. "this screenshot has zoey holding a sniper rifle, she must be better with them!"
Actually it was because of the movie posters IIRC.
Huh. What's the deal with that "and any unsaved progress will be lost" disclaimer on the Return to Main Menu prompt? Maybe one of the features of the full game will be to save a run to pick it up later?
Sorenson on
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Olivawgood name, isn't it?the foot of mt fujiRegistered Userregular
The thing is that Ellis' dude just does it so well. Everybody else feels kinda' rushed and maybe a bit nasal or something. That and that he seems to have about twice as many lines as everybody else.
EDIT: Ugh, I shouldn't be going through Rochelle's audio files 'cause the more I hear her the more I hate her. I hate her boring ass tone, I hate her cracked and nasal nature, I hate her pitiful attempts at humor, I hate hate hate hate hate her.
Jesus Christ, quit getting mad at video games.
Also Nick should be played as Barney in HIMYM: Suit Up!
I like the old cast, and I like the new cast. I also distinctly remember a large amount of people hating on Zoey when l4d1 was coming out.
I mean, in all seriousness, what makes you hate Rochelle? Do you hate the character's personality or just think they did a bad job with her?
I think they gave her a bad job. Listening to her sound files and so on, it seems like a producer, or whatever she is, doesn't seem like a good choice for her. A gambler, coach, war vet, biker, so on are easier to have a personality associated with them, a stereotype.
What personality do you really associate with a producer? If there is one, Rochelle doesn't really fit it. She doesn't fit her job stereotype, we think she doesn't fit.
Meh, people hated the Scout the first time they listened to his audio files on their own.
Now of course a lot of people still hate the scout, but at least they realise that his personality is fitting with the rest of the game as it takes place.
In short, give it time.
subedii on
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Olivawgood name, isn't it?the foot of mt fujiRegistered Userregular
I'm getting progressively better with my bullet-to-head ratio considering the break from l4d I took for odst and such. Headshots (and crotch-busting shots) are the only way to fly.
Zypheru on
"Kill all sons of bitches. That's my 'ficial instructions" -- Ellis
I expect Valve may have purposefully left it in. It's not like it puts any pressure on them; 'multiplayer' is currently buggy and unfinished so if people want to play that, let them.
I did play as infected, and it was kind of fun. Difficult to get the hang of jumping with the jockey, mind. The charger and spitter also have a minimal room for error.
she doesn't swear and listens to fucking depeche mode
I think she's pretty clearly meant to fill Louis' previous role as the more white-collar, polite, introverted person who's suddenly wayyyyyy out of their element
give her some time for character development
edit: she's also kind of filling the role of straight (wo)man that was sort of split between Louis and Zoe before
I expect Valve may have purposefully left it in. It's not like it puts any pressure on them; 'multiplayer' is currently buggy and unfinished so if people want to play that, let them.
If I remember correctly they patched out versus in the original L4D demo.
Should this versus hack be different from versus mode of those maps in retail it may give a bad impression.
And just one quick question: is there a reason why there's a limit to how many shoves you can do before it cuts you off for a moment? Was that in the original l4d demo and will it be in the full game? I hope not.....
Zypheru on
"Kill all sons of bitches. That's my 'ficial instructions" -- Ellis
And just one quick question: is there a reason why there's a limit to how many shoves you can do before it cuts you off for a moment? Was that in the original l4d demo and will it be in the full game? I hope not.....
Yes, because people abused it to hell and back so they had to limit how many times you can do it within ~10 seconds or so.
And just one quick question: is there a reason why there's a limit to how many shoves you can do before it cuts you off for a moment? Was that in the original l4d demo and will it be in the full game? I hope not.....
Yes, because people abused it to hell and back so they had to limit how many times you can do it within ~10 seconds or so.
But I thought they didn't have that in campaign, only versus.
I hate that fatigue with a passion. And I hate the little circle reticule they use to show you its there.
Posts
See, the thing people don't understand about Left4Dead (for whatever stupid reason) is that it is one big giant homage to every zombie and horror movie ever made
Hence the fact that all the characters are distinct archetypes from various horror movies (tough smartass biker dude, sassy black chick, token black guy/office job-having everyman, grizzled veteran of foreign war, thieving scoundrel with/without a heart of gold, overweight guy, southern good-ol'-boy)
The only place the games deviate from the typical horror archetypes is that they all cooperate and get along, at least in the context of the story. In an average horror movie they should all have some sort of grudge or hatred against at least one other survivor
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
Oh I wasn't complaining, and I agree that it's one big homage. That was in response to Kupi calling the new cast a bunch of Stereotypes. And I just look at the old cast and well, what else can you call those guys?
I think it's mainly because I remember what he used to look like before they made him an office worker. All his lines still apply and in the same voice, so the way he speaks is pretty much the major defining thing with him.
Well token black guy is a bit harsh maybe. I mean it's not like he's Cole Train or anything (who as a character, I would say skips straight over token black guy and into "The Blegend of Blount Blackula" Blacksploitation flick territory
Who gives a shit about character development/lines/stereotypes?
Is it going to ruin the gameplay because a bit of voice-acting is off?
How do you have the time to notice when you're supposed to be blasting zombies?
If this game was meant to have a plot, I would think that it might matter a little about the obvious stereotypes and occaisional sub-par dialogue, but I use the word "might" very, very loosely. A vast majority of zombie canon is riddled with the exact same material you are complaining about.
... shoot zombies!!!
Nick has some of the best lines, especially when it comes to friendly fire. "Thanks for ventilating my suit."
Ellis, on the other hand... the schadenfreude I get every time he's incapped or dies is enough to make me dizzy.
ALL
THE DRAT
TIME.
One of my only beefs with borderlands is that when I play, there isn't as much banter between the characters as in Left 4 Dead.
Rochelle players are going to hate me. The amount of accidentally-on-purpose friendly fire coming their way is going to make the zombie apocalypse look like a storm in a teacup.
generic -> specific is always a good move in my book.
I mean, in all seriousness, what makes you hate Rochelle? Do you hate the character's personality or just think they did a bad job with her?
I guess we look for different things in our games.
Because I loved the implied story and the characters in L4D1, and it wouldn't have been anywhere near the same without it.
The quality of the characters in L4D2 was very important to me and I was very relieved when I found that they're likeable. It improved the game 10 fold for me.
Back before the first game was best, because everyone thought the different characters would have different proficiencies with weapons. Good times that.
Also when you're playing Ellis: vocalize useadrenaline
Well I didn't say that I did not like the implied arcs to each "episode" in L4D1. The theme of each campaign was well thought out and really made the maps more memorable. I also enjoyed the characters BECAUSE they were stereotypical of your average zombie flick/ comic/ book.
That's probably what I like the most (so far) about L4D2. I'm so fucking tired of dark games.
Sometimes people just assume silly things. "this screenshot has zoey holding a sniper rifle, she must be better with them!"
We both know what we meant in the context, so does it matter? Like I know you formed a sentence, even though you didnt use a period. I am not jumping all over that. Im not perfect with my grammar or spelling, but we have the ideas in our head the same through different means. If I refer to a campaign as a map because it features the same location for a set time period, I really dont see the issue. You can refer to ravenholm as a map, but its actually a bunch of maps strung together.
Anyways, It's a valid point, and I saved my opinion until I had a chance to play the game. I dont see any difference in my bitching then other people now complaining about personalities of the new avatars they play.
Actually it was because of the movie posters IIRC.
Because I just heard and I sort of want to try it out
e: it is versus mode for the demo
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
Yeah, I'd love to play some L4D2 vs this evening. I missed out on the vs games yesterday :?
What's next - breakable garage doors in the parish?
Jesus Christ, quit getting mad at video games.
Also Nick should be played as Barney in HIMYM: Suit Up!
I think they gave her a bad job. Listening to her sound files and so on, it seems like a producer, or whatever she is, doesn't seem like a good choice for her. A gambler, coach, war vet, biker, so on are easier to have a personality associated with them, a stereotype.
What personality do you really associate with a producer? If there is one, Rochelle doesn't really fit it. She doesn't fit her job stereotype, we think she doesn't fit.
Now of course a lot of people still hate the scout, but at least they realise that his personality is fitting with the rest of the game as it takes place.
In short, give it time.
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
I did play as infected, and it was kind of fun. Difficult to get the hang of jumping with the jockey, mind. The charger and spitter also have a minimal room for error.
how do I do that disable multicore thing?
also I get problems with sound cutting out and looping nigh constantly during the FMVs at the beginning and end of the demo
that should probably not be happening
she's supposed to be a reporter from up north
she doesn't swear and listens to fucking depeche mode
I think she's pretty clearly meant to fill Louis' previous role as the more white-collar, polite, introverted person who's suddenly wayyyyyy out of their element
give her some time for character development
edit: she's also kind of filling the role of straight (wo)man that was sort of split between Louis and Zoe before
Has it been discussed how utterly fantastic this game is?
If it has, it hasn't been discussed enough.
If I remember correctly they patched out versus in the original L4D demo.
Should this versus hack be different from versus mode of those maps in retail it may give a bad impression.
Once again, agreed.
Yes, because people abused it to hell and back so they had to limit how many times you can do it within ~10 seconds or so.
But I thought they didn't have that in campaign, only versus.
I hate that fatigue with a passion. And I hate the little circle reticule they use to show you its there.
HATE IT
edit: i can't fucking spell today