Is the first Left 4 Dead game in any way connected in story to Left 4 Dead 2? Will I need to play the first Left 4 Dead to enjoy the second one better?

Sto... Story line? Hah!

But really, no. There's hardly a storyline at all, it's basically an online multiplayer zombie shoot-em-up.

So there's no campaign mode or anything?

Yes, the stories are somewhat related. No, you will not need to play the first to enjoy the second.

Honestly, there's hardly any "story" to speak of. There's no character development, no plot twists, nor plot advancement at all for that matter. Both games are just a matter of "get to the end of the level."

Edit: Campaign mode is identical to co-op and versus modes.

Should I get the first Left 4 Dead?

No you don't need to play the first to understand the story. I personally liked the first one much better though.


I don't see why not but you should have bought both games when they where on sale a little while ago.

Actually, now that I think about it, doesn't Left 4 Dead 2 have all of the Left 4 Dead 1 maps now? I think there's no reason to get the first one at all anymore.

Edit: Yeah, just double-checked. L4D2 has all of the maps. The only difference is that Left 4 Dead 1 has fewer Special Infected (which might be a good thing,) but I think that'd be a waste of money. Just get L4D2. More people play it online anyway.

If you are tight for money, just pass on L4D. Get L4D2. I got it on Steam and I got all the DLC maps, plus the L4D1 maps. I don't know if you have to pay for the L4D1 maps on consoles, though. L4D2 was quite enjoyable, adds more ways to physically destroy a zombies body and there is more weapon and Infected variety.

Alright, just bought it. Thanks for the information.

Edit: There's a Left 4 Dead 2 DLC?

Pretty much this.

It still MIGHT be worth picking up L4D1 if you're interested in the fanmade custom maps for it though.

And yes, both games take place along the same storyline and in the same universe; they just follow different people. However, you do briefly team up with the original survivors in one L4D2 campaign.

EDIT: And yes, there is DLC, but you should receive it automatically. It's free on the PC version.

Yes, L4D2 had two DLCs if I remember correctly. The Passing and The Sacrifice I believe. I know they at least had one DLC campaign.

Yes, the L4D stories are all connected, though all the narrative was scrapped from the original game(s?) because Valve felt that it dampened the experience.

I suggest you read The Sacrifice comic if you're into the L4D story at all.

It's more of a setting than a story, but you won't really miss anything. It's shortly after a zombie apocalypse, and a small group of survivors are trying to fight their way to some sort of safety (military transport, planes, boats, etc). The campaign is a series of maps with this in mind; you're just trying to survive from point A to B. The characters have personality and comment on their surroundings, but there's no ongoing plot or other events to follow. The second game is basically the same deal, but with a different group of survivors. In one of the L4D2 DLC maps ("The Passing" I think) you come across the survivors from the first game. If I'm not mistaken the maps from the first game transferred into the second (also free DLC on the PC version) use the characters and voice files from the first, so you don't even miss out on their personalities.

I would definitely go for L4D2 as they ported L4D1 content over with shinier graphics. Personally, I see no real reason anyone would purchase L4D since its content is pretty much in L4D2.

Story wise...yes there is a story, but it's mostly there only if you decide to look for it and study it.