Shacknews recently had an opportunity to go hands-on with the Infected side in Left 4 Dead. Just how much fun is it playing as one of the Infected bosses and getting to ambush a group of unsuspecting humans?
As a zombie, you begin the round--and every subsequent spawn--directly on top of the humans. Unfortunately, you can't hit them yet--your first objective is to reach a place on the map where no human can see you. You are basically invisible in this preparatory mode, able to walk through doorways and quickly position yourself for an optimal spawn. Later on, as the humans venture further into the level, the fact that you "spawn" directly on top of them allows for a very quick turn-around, keeping the action flowing despite the 20-30 second respawn timer.Their hands-on preview includes detailed descriptions of each Infected boss and the role each plays during a round. Read more of the preview over at Shacknews.
After leaving the ghost-spawn mode and coming alive, you'll see your human targets clearly outlined through the level architecture, as if using a Counter-Strike wallhack. At this point, it's all about finding the right time to attack. Brazen charges into a coordinate team of humans inevitably lead to instant defeat. A good zombie is a smart one, finding just the right time to make prey of the players. And though the primary goal is to stop the humans, you are ranked within your group of Infected based on the highest damage caused, so maximizing your individual effectiveness will also be part of the competition.