Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, Windows)

common sense media says

Intense, violent shooter with zombies requires teamwork.

parents & educators say

66% say violence is an issue
41% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Left 4 Dead 2 is an incredibly gory, violent shooter meant strictly for adults. Players must survive a zombie apocalypse by using a myriad of weapons, including handguns, shotguns, grenade launchers, axes, chainsaws, baseball bats and many others. Attacks look and sound vicious. When a zombie is hit with a bat, for example, you can hear a dull thud. Zombies' heads, arms, and legs will often fly off, and spew lots of blood that blankets the environments. However, it does promote teamwork more than most games. Players have to work together, healing, helping, and protecting one another, in order to survive. That means, though, that open voice chat is nearly mandatory, which opens the floodgates for the sharing of inappropriate words, ideas, and information.

Educational value: Not applicable.

Positive messages: This game glorifies the violent and vicious slaying of zombies. Players are meant to gawk at and appreciate the extreme levels of gore and the wide variety of creative ways in which zombies can be slain.

Positive role models: Players determine their characters' actions. Consequently, the survivors are only as good or bad as players make them. Those who act on their own eventually hurt their team's chances and may cost them the game. Players must learn to work together and protect each other to survive. When one player is injured or falling off a ledge, another can choose to heal them with a health pack or pull them up. Or not.

Ease of play: Although the game doesn't include any kind of tutorial to walk players through the controls, they are pretty easy to pick up. There's one trigger to attack and another to push away zombies. Since there's no aim function, players simply point and shoot (or melee attack).

Violence: Players use a wide array of firearms and explosives, including handguns, shotguns, assault rifles, hunting rifles, grenade launchers, molotov cocktails and pipe bombs to kill zombies. They can also grab melee weapons such as axes, baseball bats, guitars, police batons, chainsaws and crowbars to pummel zombies. Zombies' head get knocked off, or arms and legs may be severed, spewing tons of blood.

Sex: Not applicable.

Language: The worst words used were "s--t" and "asshole."

Consumerism: Not applicable.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Players can take pain pills or a shot of adrenaline to gain a health boost. None of this is depicted in a glorious light. Survivors use them simply to stay alive long enough to escape.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about whether a video game can be scary without being gory? Can you think of any games that fit this description? If a game has an option to lower the amount of gore seen on screen, do you ever use it? Why or why not?
Families can also discuss how the game places strong emphasis on using teamwork to survive. What do you think of this design? Would you rather be able to go off on your own? Does it feel strange to have to work so closely with strangers? Or do you prefer to play games like this only with close friends?

What's the story?

LEFT 4 DEAD 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter in which four people must survive a zombie apocalypse infesting the southern United States. Each campaign is a stand-alone adventure following a foursome of survivors as they attempt to escape. The game is a team effort, requiring players to work together and watch out for each other in order to survive. Players can tackle the campaigns alone, but the game is best played with others online. The game also features a Versus mode, where players can assume the role of zombies and attempt to eliminate the survivors. The game also includes a Survival mode, where players must outlast zombies for an extended time period, as well as a variation on the Versus option called Scavenge.

Is it any good?

The follow-up to last year's Left 4 Dead adds plenty more options in terms of weapons and enemy types. Players not only battle generic zombie hordes, but zombies with special powers. The Spitter, for example, spews acid. The addition of new weapons -- and especially the debut of melee items -- adds a greater level of variety to the action. The locales also feel fresh, taking players through various environments including an abandoned carnival and a shopping mall. While there are only five campaigns to choose from, there are plenty of modes available to enjoy, including Scavenge Mode, during which survivors must keep energy generators running while zombies attempt sabotage. Left 4 Dead 2 is also great at leaving the player feeling overwhelmed by throwing dozens of zombies in their direction. It's this kind of tension and thrill that makes it one of the year's best games for mature players.

Online interaction: Players can freely speak with each other in open chat, which means there is potential for inappropriate words, ideas, and information to be shared. Common Sense Media does not recommend open online play for children under age 12.

Game themes & details

Game Details

Available on: Xbox 360, Windows
Available online
Genre: First Person Shooter
Developer: Electronic Arts
Released on: November 17, 2009
Price: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language,

Screenshots

This review was written by Brett Molina

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 29 parent & educator reviews:

66% say violence is an issue
41% say language is an issue
31% say there are positive messages
28% say there are positive role models

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

WhatGore
parent of 14 year old

Fine for kids 11+ or 12+ not people under that!

This game is fine for kids use to rated Mature games. If parents are concerned, they shouldn't be. I mean its zombies and all, but seriously its just a game. It's a blast but has a TON of gore. THE GORE CAN BE TURNED DOWN OR EVEN OFF! There's no sexual profanity or anything like that, just blood, guts, and some mild swearing. When i first saw this game i just thought no way my 12 year old son is going to get this. That was the trailer, the game itself really isn't too bad. It might be bad for people sensitive to gore, extreme violence, and language. No more than S*** and A-hole really. No F-bombs going on in this. Really 11+ or probably 12+ can handle this game easily. Plus, your kid won't even play this game that much so you don't have to worry. My son has it and enjoys it, i even play it sometimes. It can give nightmares to people creeped out by zombies.

What other families should know

Game Details

Price

Available on

Genre

Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, Windows)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Left 4 Dead 2

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Game themes & details

Game Details

Screenshots

Review It

Review Left 4 Dead 2

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Fine for kids 11+ or 12+ not people under that!

BEST

Positive message within: this game DEMANDS teamwork, helping others and communication.

Good Game

Just a stress relief and a game for zombie fans

Generally acceptable for 13+

Violent bloody shooter

The best zombie/shooter game!

A great sequel.

Ok for tweens on up.

good for mature tweens

Good for older teens. Not for anyone under 15.

zombies

for kids

l4d2 isnt that good

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