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Left 4K Dead: Zombie Hunting Under 4 Kilobytes

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Games Editor
Posts: 4253
Joined: 20 Dec 2005

Left 4K Dead: Zombie Hunting Under 4 Kilobytes

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Want to fight off swarms of the undead, but your computer can't run Left 4 Dead? Try Left 4K Dead: the concept of the original game distilled into a 2D, top-down shooter less than four kilobytes in size. Then, get a new computer.

Sure, it's no Mirror's Edge 2D, but Mirror's Edge 2D wasn't smaller than four kilobytes, either. L4KD is the brainchild of Markus Persson (his entry for the 2009 Java 4K Competition). Even if it resembles the real deal in much the same way that a brick resembles a house, squeezing the core concepts of a full game down to something you could have easily fit on a floppy disk back in days of yore is certainly worth a pat on the back or five.

The premise is simpler than that of the original (itself pretty damn straightforward) - you are controlling a character in a 2D, top-down world. There are lots of zombies. Kill the zombies before they kill you. Advance through levels. Go you! Sure, it's not particularly complex (though the flashlight effects are actually pretty cool, especially given the file size) but it's a fun time-killer.

If, to quote the Bard, "brevity is the soul of wit," then condensing a full-budget blockbuster title like Left 4 Dead (or Mirror's Edge) into a simple browser game and still retaining the essence of the original must be the soul of game design. Or something like that, anyway.

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On the Record
Posts: 6208
Joined: 10 Mar 2008

Well, this is going to be the closest thing I will be able to get to the real Left 4 Dead.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1107
Joined: 9 Mar 2008

God, I'm so old. I found this instantly more enjoyable than actual Left 4 Dead.

Sort of funny, isn't it? We have all these new super-powered graphics and AI scripts, but the essence of a game is still in the numbers, and a primitive shooter can be just as fun as a contemporary one if the numbers are strong.

Or maybe I'm still just really old.

On the Record
Posts: 5490
Joined: 13 Aug 2008

Has anyone noticed that a lot of new games are getting flash versions made of them? First Portal: The Flash Version, which was really good in my opinion, then Mirror's Edge 2D, and now this?

Red Guard
Posts: 3500
Joined: 18 Sep 2008

xitel:
Has anyone noticed that a lot of new games are getting flash versions made of them? First Portal: The Flash Version, which was really good in my opinion, then Mirror's Edge 2D, and now this?

But this is different! It's really dame small!
Sweet.

But I get what you're saying. It's really just another way of marketing, I think.
Especially if the development or publishing company makes it (Or pays to get it made).

And if they don't, then it's free advertising for their game.

Press Junketeer
Posts: 443
Joined: 1 Feb 2008

Sorry if it seems nit picky (because it probably is) but Left 4K Dead lacks the team work of its inspiration, so by that ... yeah, you are definitely feeling old gamer nostalgia Bluesader. Welcome to the club, we have pie =D

If you are feeling nostalgic for 2D shooting, then I think I know of a game you might enjoy if you enjoyed this. Check out Starscape on Steam, which has a sale on everything going on right now =D

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3915
Joined: 7 Nov 2007

Damn damn damn, why does this run WORSE than my laptop can run real thing!?

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3638
Joined: 3 Apr 2008

Because its opposite day

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3895
Joined: 4 May 2008

That was better than expected. By a very, very long shot.

sirdanrhodes:
Damn damn damn, why does this run WORSE than my laptop can run real thing!?

Because you're cursed by the Gods of Gaming?

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2301
Joined: 20 Feb 2008

TheBluesader:
God, I'm so old. I found this instantly more enjoyable than actual Left 4 Dead.

Sort of funny, isn't it? We have all these new super-powered graphics and AI scripts, but the essence of a game is still in the numbers, and a primitive shooter can be just as fun as a contemporary one if the numbers are strong.

Or maybe I'm still just really old.

Do not worry it is not just you and it is not your age. You can have all the graphics and technology to try and make a game look good but if it does not play well, then it is going to suck. Also there is nothing wrong with 2d games, they are under used in the console market leaving indie developers to build their portfolios by producing games like these that carry the soul of the game. And yes I did like the 2d mirror's edge better than the actual game because that had better gameplay and stuck with the basics and did not try to do different things(although they still never explained what was in the packages in either game).

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2770
Joined: 13 Feb 2008

Oh goodness. I foresee much time lost with this.

On the Record
Posts: 6208
Joined: 10 Mar 2008

PRO TIP!

Don't reload compulsively. I know you have that itch on your "R" finger every time your ammo is depleting, but hear me out! Always use up your clip fully, never leave a single bullet inside. If you press reload, regardless of how much ammo is left, you'll use up a full clip!

Don't waste your clips! Spend all your bullets and then press the "R"!

Helping the zombie community, one step at a time...

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3915
Joined: 7 Nov 2007

Johnn Johnston:
That was better than expected. By a very, very long shot.

sirdanrhodes:
Damn damn damn, why does this run WORSE than my laptop can run real thing!?

Because you're cursed by the Gods of Gaming?

It's not easy to game once you're a "Sir" you know!

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3320
Joined: 23 Oct 2007

You know, they could have done it even better if they hadn't crippled themselves with that toy programming language that is Java. If they'd used a proper language, like C, C++ or assembly language, they could have attained decent performance out of that 4kB file size. I mean, it's an impressive achievement, but when the .kkrieger team managed to fit an FPS with Doom 3-quality graphics into less than 90kB, it shows you that you can do a lot with a small amount of disc space.

I do, however, have to thank the Escapist for consistently delivering news of these cool competitions, as they've delivered more great gaming moments than most commercial games I've played this year.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1684
Joined: 7 Feb 2008

RAKtheUndead:
You know, they could have done it even better if they hadn't crippled themselves with that toy programming language that is Java. If they'd used a proper language, like C, C++ or assembly language, they could have attained decent performance out of that 4kB file size. I mean, it's an impressive achievement, but when the .kkrieger team managed to fit an FPS with Doom 3-quality graphics into less than 90kB, it shows you that you can do a lot with a small amount of disc space.

I do, however, have to thank the Escapist for consistently delivering news of these cool competitions, as they've delivered more great gaming moments than most commercial games I've played this year.

The whole Doom 3 quality bit is classic. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

BANNED
Posts: 552
Joined: 9 Dec 2008

Could have used sound, but then it wouldn't be so small...

User was banned for: Archie Andrews Chooses a Bride!. (Permanent)
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3664
Joined: 21 Jan 2008

RAKtheUndead:
Post

I heard about that... I wanted to see how it played, but I don't think you can find it on the Internet.

As for this game, I'll probably pass. Though, I did have a lot of fun with Portal 2D.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3252
Joined: 8 May 2008

smallharmlesskitten:
Because its opposite day

Don't you watch Unforgotten Realms? Opposite day is impossible.

This is really cool looking, I will have to try it out.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3320
Joined: 23 Oct 2007

stompy:

RAKtheUndead:
Post

I heard about that... I wanted to see how it played, but I don't think you can find it on the Internet.

As for this game, I'll probably pass. Though, I did have a lot of fun with Portal 2D.

It still exists on the internet, actually. It's pretty impressive for the file size, although compared to more expansive games, the physics engine is poor, the enemy AI is terrible and the sound is crap. Still, nice graphics because of the use of procedural generation.

Beat Writer
Posts: 209
Joined: 14 Aug 2008

Hey, that Mirrors Edge 2D was kind of fun...

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3085
Joined: 13 Jul 2008

This....

This is incredible.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1652
Joined: 1 Oct 2008

Meh...
Not the best, but better then alot of things a saw on the web...

Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 604
Joined: 17 Oct 2007

I don't know how he managed that, I've made a couple games, and even on the smallest project its larger than 4kb the graphics are usually what does it.

Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 882
Joined: 1 Jan 2008

sirdanrhodes:

Johnn Johnston:
That was better than expected. By a very, very long shot.

sirdanrhodes:
Damn damn damn, why does this run WORSE than my laptop can run real thing!?

Because you're cursed by the Gods of Gaming?

It's not easy to game once you're a "Sir" you know!

I'd say it a karmic retribution for using Awesome'd Hitler as your avatar.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3915
Joined: 7 Nov 2007

JakubK666:

sirdanrhodes:

Johnn Johnston:
That was better than expected. By a very, very long shot.

sirdanrhodes:
Damn damn damn, why does this run WORSE than my laptop can run real thing!?

Because you're cursed by the Gods of Gaming?

It's not easy to game once you're a "Sir" you know!

I'd say it a karmic retribution for using Awesome'd Hitler as your avatar.

But I only put this on last night, I played this game last week!

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3664
Joined: 21 Jan 2008

RAKtheUndead:
It still exists on the internet, actually. It's pretty impressive for the file size, although compared to more expansive games, the physics engine is poor, the enemy AI is terrible and the sound is crap. Still, nice graphics because of the use of procedural generation.

That's not saying much, since every game now-a-days has an impressive physics engine, 5.1 Surround Sound and well... alright, crap AI is inexcusable.

BANNED
Posts: 819
Joined: 22 Dec 2008

left for dead is fun...

Copy Clerk
Posts: 56
Joined: 2 Jan 2009

That game was harder than the real thing!

Of course, in the real thing, we had teammates.

Oh well.

 
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