By now, I’m sure you’ve heard about Valve’s newest project – Left 4 Dead 2. Already? Yes. Why Not? The first L4D was great, and without much effort, they can put out a follow-up title that fans devour faster than you can say “Got Brains?”. At first, I was skeptical. After all, Valve runs the risk of pissing off a lot of people if they put out a game that is basically a map pack extention of the first game. If we pay out another $50 or $60, we want a new game.

Have you watch the trailer yet, though? I’m drooling. L4D2 doesn’t look like the same-old-same-old. Sure, there’s still four people kicking some zombie ass, but the environment looks very different…and chainsaws? Hells yes! That made me start thinking of a complete L4D2 wish list. Here are the seven things I want from the second title:

1. A Better Melee Combat System

Looks like we’re getting this one. Not that smacking a zombie with my gun wasn’t fun, but I said from Day 1 that there should be a crowbar or other non-ammunition weapon available. The chainsaw in the trailer far exceeds my expectations. I LOVE that idea. Other confirmed melee weapons: frying pan, axe, and baseball bat. Sweet.

2. The Ability to Play with Four People

There are four people in the game, so when I play offline co-op, why can’t I play with four people? It just doesn’t make sense. When I’m hanging out with my friends, I don’t want to pass the controller so others get a turn. It’s so frustrating. Seriously, if this isn’t fixed in L4D2, I might write Valve some hate mail.

3. More Map Variety

I liked the maps in L4D, but they were all fairly similar – dark, woods-y areas, run-down buildings. I liked Blood Harvest, because that map really stood out as different from the rest. I’d love some original ideas like that. What about an amusement park, for example. We’re definitely getting new maps, and I have a feeling they’ll be very different from the original L4D maps, since is looks like it takes place in the deep south. On top of that, the AI will now control the weather, which is a freakin’ awesome idea.

4. The Ability to Play as a Zombie Offline

I’m pretty sure we won’t get this, and I may be one of the few who wants it…but I’d like to be able to play as a zombie when I’m offline. I don’t always like to play online, but I want to practice being a zombie. I think it would be a neat feature. Like I said, I’m probably one of the few people with this on their wish list, though, so I doubt we’ll see it.

5. Better Sounds

I don’t know – is anyone else finding that this is an issue…when you hear a hunter or boomer in your headset, it doesn’t coincide with where the zombie is located. For example, I could hear a burp in my left ear, and sometimes the boomer will be on the left, but in other cases, he’ll appear from the right. I haven’t heard many other people taking issue with this, but it bothers me. I want the sounds to fit the location of the zombie, so I can use my sense of hearing too.

6. More of a Story

I liked the non-traditional campaign mode and the lack of cut scenes in the first L4D. That said, the story was COMPLETELY focused on getting out of the zombie-infested area. I’d like some more clues as to what is really going on here, which I think they can definitely do without cut scenes.

7. The Ability to Carry More Items

I don’t like being able to carry just one of an item at a time. Especially items that fall into the “bomb” category (one health pack is fine). I think it makes more sense to be able to carry two or three moltavs at a time. We’re getting new items, so I’m exited to see what they will be.

Overall, the trailer makes the game look really solid, not just something they threw together to make a little money by rolling with the punches. That’s the type of quality I expect from Valve, though – awesome games, awesome sequels, awesome spin-offs.

What do you want to see in the second Left 4 Dead?

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