Joystiq [Xbox]

2008's Reason Xbox Live Exists Award - Left 4 Dead

I've gotten some flak for not including Castle Crashers in the poll for the Reader's Choice XBLA Game of the Year. In a discussion during this week's Fancast Dustin asked "If Left 4 Dead didn't have online would you feel the same way you do about it that you do about Castle Crashers?"

The answer is absolutely, yes. Left 4 Dead IS its online mode. Without it, I would think it would make a decent budget game but it, like Castle Crashers**, was always pitched as this unique and fun online experience. It requires online to be as good as we know it should be.

I tried playing Left 4 Dead alone and liked it but it felt like just another shooter. Not until I had my first online experience, attempting to survive an Advanced Zombie attack, complete with two tanks in the span of five minutes with friends screaming in my ear did I "get it."

Left 4 Dead was a real contender for my Game of the Year and even though it didn't 'win' my vote it stands out as the absolute reason to own an Xbox Live Gold Membership. Hell, they might as well start bundling the game with Xbox Live Renewal Cards.

**Also, I don't dislike Castle Crashers. It's great.

28/12/08