Left 4 Dead Versus Preview – Witch, Conclusion, Tips
Witch
The Witch is present in Versus mode and, of course, is still unplayable. She functions just like she does in the campaign.
The most important thing about the Witch for an Infected player is the opportunity she presents. Do whatever you can to force the Survivors to wake up the Witch.
Conclusion
First, the bad news: although playing Versus is great, to really experience it right you have to play with 8 people. Survivor bots often feel “too good” and can be really frustrating for a player Infected who is trying to sneak up on the Survivors. Also, there are no Infected bots in Versus mode – so if you’re on a team of three, there will only be three bosses spawning. There’s no AI to fill in. While you can play with less, the game is balanced with 8 human players.
That said, Versus mode is the most fun I’ve had with the game. It’s significantly harder because of how fast the bosses spawn, with little to no breaks. The game is much faster paced and every mistake counts in your final score. While the game still stays close to its cooperative roots, it has a much more competitive Counter-Strike feel to it where you’ll get mad and frustrated and itching to get another chance.
Zombie play won’t be for everyone. You die often, sit out for 20 seconds at a time, and failed attacks can be frustrating. But when you finally manage to rip down that Survivor team, it’s the sweetest feeling in the game. During our playtest, I kept asking to try Versus mode just one more time. When we played, I was always looking forward to my turn in the Infected seat.
We’ve all seen competitive games before, but you’ve never played it like this.
Tips
- Hold Back. Three failed attacks do nothing to help your team. If you wait a few moments for the right time, you’ve got a lot better chance.
- Work Together. You can see your teammates at any time. Use your ability to see both teams to your advantage.
- Capitalize on Tanks and Witches. These two can be your best chance. Distract the Survivors to help out the Tank.
- Practice the Hunter. You’re going to be playing the Hunter the most. Practice your wall jumping and pounces.
- Wear them Down. A successful attack doesn’t have to mean a kill. You’ve got the whole map to take them out and with each successful strike, they’ll get weaker.
- Don’t Give Up. The increasing difficulty modifier of each map means there’s always a chance for a major upset at the end.
- Relax. You’re going to die. Get used to it.
That’s it for our Versus preview! Stay tuned to Left 4 Dead 411 for all your Left 4 Dead needs. A big thanks to Valve for allowing us the chance to come out to play Left 4 Dead!
