1. Left 4 dead can be really fun with strangers if they at least have half a clue whats going on, i have had some awesome verses matches with strangers, but on the flipside occasionally your team may be useless and be in it for themselves hence you die sooner, but overall most online games with strangers have been positive for me.

2. People do sometimes quit but more often that not it only takes a matter of seconds before that person is replaced by someone who wanted to join a game in progress.

3. Communication isn't essential but is more of a help than a hinderence, my headset is semi broke so i can only listen and NOT comment, there always seems to be one person on your team who will bark out a few commands or ask which infected you have spawned as, but i like to hear what people on left 4 dead are saying so i would say its 50/50.

Thanks. That sounds perfect.

I'll have to get this game sooner or later.

biased against Left4Dead is all. I own 360 so of course I rented it to see what all the hype was about. I just didn't find it that fun at all.

Well, it would appear that the majority of people who have posted here think that Left 4 dead is great & the reviews speak for themselves.

I can't understand how people can justify paying full new game price for it. It's just Source engine mod comparable to Counter Strike or Day of Defeat.

I got it as a gift. But I would pay full price for it because I like it and I can afford it. I don't know if this helps you understand.

 A game that plays similar to another game?

yup, Rainbow 6 vegas 1 & 2 dont play anything like one another.

Niether do Sonic 2 & 3 or mortal kombat 2 & 3

Did you expect an entirely different experience to anytrhingelse available out there?

Whatever Left 4 Dead is doing........... Its doing it well.

I won't say it is the best of this gen ... but it is a next step into quality online gaming where people are inevitably pushed to work as a team.

In that way, it is inovative and one of the best... if not the best .

Problem is that people have to be in that kind of game.

I think you missed the point:

Day of Defeat Source is 10$ on steam

Counter Strike Source is 20$

and IIRC both are parts of Orange Box

yet Left 4 Dead is 50/60 (pc/x360)

That's freaking ripoff

Games go down in price, but personally for me it was worth every penny of the £38.99 that i paid for it.

Still best online game of 2008.