Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead 2 vs. Modern Warfare 2, which is better, and why?

When asked the same question, a good friend of mine, said “Infinity Ward’s creation was a small expansion, a story that in hindsight was somewhat weak and sloppily thrown together from a series of premade levels. And a multiplayer that lacks the same draw that was ever so magical in the original.

However, I do not regret spending $60 on Modern Warfare 2. I just know I will spend much more time playing the PC version of Left 4 Dead 2.”

To me, both Left 4 Dead 2 and Modern Warfare 2 bring very little new to their respective styles of play; with Left 4 Dead 2 aiming for a cooperative-driven experience, and Modern Warfare 2, with a distinctly competitive experience. The two shooters have featured an array of new weapons, painstakingly-crafted maps and levels, and environments ideal for slaughter and headshots galore.

The question then is, whether or not this is enough to justify another $60-purchase verses last year’s original Left 4 Dead, or even 2007’s original Modern Warfare.

According to VGchartz.com, after seven weeks since its release, Modern Warfare 2 has currently sold 8,406,931 copies [Xbox 360], with Left 4 Dead 2 trailing behind it, selling a relatively modest 2,299,483 copies [Xbox 360] since its launch six weeks ago.

Even putting Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 side-by-side, they still don’t compare: six weeks since Modern Warfare 2’s, the game went on to sell an incredible 7,790,333 copies [Xbox 360]. The enthusiasm behind Modern Warfare 2 is undeniable.

Despite having a questionable reputation, aggregate site, MetaCritic.com lists Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions of Modern Warfare 2 with a rating of 94, while its PC counterpart, listed with an 86 — which was primarily flogged due to the lack of dedicated servers. Left 4 Dead 2, on the other hand, received positive ratings of 89 for both Xbox 360 and PC versions. Being a sequel released one year after the original, critics cited Left 4 Dead 2 as losing “that new zombie smell”, while others more positively said “L4D2 did manage to become more, than just a full-price-addon”.

By all accounts, Modern Warfare 2 is a more attractive product to consumers. I feel this is the case as the prospect of smack-talking, playing with, or against more than a mere three to seven friends (based on your mode) in Left 4 Dead 2’s case, the class customization, and the compelling ranking system all contribute to what most gamers perceive, ‘an undoubted game of the year award winner’.

Imaginably, devout Modern Warfare 2 fans might then begin to mention Spec Ops mode as an alternative to anyone who isn’t particularly a fan of being tea-bagged, yelled at by saccharine ten year-olds, spawnkilled, endemic camping, or even simply dealing with the superficial accolade-driven subculture of “hardcore” gaming that Infinity Ward have helped nurture.

As for me, you can read my feelings regarding Modern Warfare 2 right here: http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/why-i-say-to-not-purchase-modern-warfare-2.html , although I have sadly not yet had the opportunity to play Left 4 Dead 2, so I can’t comment on the gameplay.

All in all, Call of Duty franchise behemoth will need to continue to innovate in order to stay ahead of the curve and to maintain their enormous captive audience. And I’m pretty sure all it takes is for another Call of Duty 3 to come out, and poof, the Call of Duty name is more or less ruined. So let’s hope Treyarch can carry the torch without aping Infinity Ward’s efforts and making a Modern Warfare 3, (because by their track record, they seriously lack originality) which might handily lose the Call of Duty franchise’s reputability all in one fell swoop.

And for Left 4 Dead 2, we all know Valve will continue to patch and fix any bugs plaguing the game, while steadily releasing new expansion packs that will surely keep the game fresh and exciting. There’s nothing Valve would do that might upset their fans this time. (Given that we don’t see Left 4 Dead 3 by next year that is, but I digress…)

Agree, disagree, thoughts, questions? Feel free to comment.

Thanks for reading!
— Michael Lenoch