Characters: Looking for Charisma
Evolve and Left 4 Dead 2‘s minimalist storytelling style result in heavy reliance on character design to sell the experience.
Evolve features 12 characters across four Hunter classes. The cast hits all the conventional archetypes, from the big-brawler that stops at nothing (i.e. James Parnell) to the support character that backs everyone up (i.e. Valerie Wolski). The problem is that none of these characters particularly stand out. The stars of the show are actually the Monsters, who don’t say anything at all. Their goosebump-delivering appearances, especially the Kraken, play a role similar to Michael Myers in Halloween.
Left 4 Dead 2‘s excellent writing does a better job of spotlighting its smaller cast. There’s nothing particularly special about Coach, Ellis, Nick, and Rochelle, but their frequent banter is worth listening to. After playing the game for more than 10 hours you’ll feel like you know each of them. And even if Evolve‘s Monsters stand out more than Left 4 Dead‘s special infected, The Boomer, The Tank, and The Witch are all designed extremely well. Left 4 Dead 2‘s cast is simply more well rounded.
Winner: Left 4 Dead 2
Fun Factor: What We Play Games For
Although Evolve and Left 4 Dead 2 strive for similar goals, they feel very different in their execution.
Evolve is a game that tends to emphasize competitive play over entertainment. Instead of readily focusing on making the minute-by-minute experience fun, it places you in scenarios that are tense, and your thirst for climax is what drives the entire system.
Left 4 Dead 2 is much more conventional in philosophy. Sure, battling hordes of zombies can be overwhelming, but you have the option to play against A.I. on various difficulty modes. So, if you just want to chill and take out endless waves of enemies, you can do so. Or, if you want to compete, you can ramp the difficulty up and utilize your stellar communication skills and aim to conquer objectives with comrades.
Evolve‘s prioritization of competitive play makes it overbearing at times with no real options for relief. For this reason, Left 4 Dead 2 is the better option for players seeking a fun time.
Winner: Left 4 Dead 2
Presentation: I Like What I See
Back in 2009 Left 4 Dead 2 was considered yet another solid game on the Source engine. It looked good enough that it wasn’t subject to criticism, but didn’t push any boundaries. On the other hand, Evolve is run on the CryEngine where complex lighting and shader techniques bring the game to life. It goes without saying that Evolve is the more progressive game of the two.
Left 4 Dead 2‘s more simple design extends to the user interface, where it’s easier to get where you want to go and do what you want to do than in Evolve, but not by much.
Where Evolve really excels is in its audio design. There’s a great sense of ambiance on each of its maps, making downtime uneasy and action-packed moments enthralling. Hearing a Monster roar across the map in the distance while your Trapper attempts to snare it is unlike anything you’ll see in another game.
Both Evolve and Left 4 Dead 2 are well polished games, but the former goes above and beyond when it comes to presentation.
Winner: Evolve
Winner: Left 4 Dead 2
Although each of these two Turtle Rock Studios’ works is a lot of fun to play, Left 4 Dead 2 is the more well-rounded game of the two. It understands what makes a game consistently enjoyable, and hits hard where it matters most.
Also See: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Pre-Order Any Games in 2015
Though, Evolve is just the first game for its IP. If the title is commercially successful enough, chances are we’ll see a second installment, and maybe then Evolve can stand toe-to-toe with the co-operative giant that is Left 4 Dead 2.
