Johnny Ringo said:
For those that have played both, how does the second L4D compare to the first? - I'm considering getting them since they've suddenly become very cheap.
Had that discussion just one page back, look for posts by me and xhonzi.
We talked about the differences and what we liked about each, but for me the bottom line was that I would highly recommend both. The first one pulled off some things better than the second, and the second added some really nifty stuff. Really, by owning both it just means you have more levels to choose from.
If you do buy both, I'd recommend starting in the first level of the first campaign of the first game, and working yourself through the whole thing in order.* I'd also recommend playing it online with stranger or with friends, playing with live players is where the game really shines. I originally tried to get into the thing with a typical story based FPS in mind, and was really disappointed with what seemed like a really shallow and short game. Since I gave it a second chance and decided to buy a mic and play online with real people, it has quickly became one of my all time favorite games, and what once seemed to me as a short and fairly unenjoyable game suddenly became the game I find with the most replay value out of any game I have ever played in my life.
*I recommend playing it in order not for story line reasons, as there really isn't much in the game by way of story (it is more about setting and atmosphere), but rather so that you are introduced to and become adjusted to the game play mechanics in a natural order. I would be afraid that if you played part two first, it may rob you of some enjoyment of the first game on account of certain features being missing. Once you get use to those features it can be slightly irksome to do without them. If you begin with part two and become used to utilizing those new features from the start, it may be hard to step back and learn how to get by without them. However, if you start out without them and play through One, then go onto Two, and eventually revisit one, you will still have the proper skills to play and enjoy the game without those new additions found in Two.