Those of you thinking of picking up the Left 4 Dead 2 game guide should be aware that there are numerous and significant changes to the franchise, and we’ve made sure this guide’s 240 pages are crammed with only the finest (and newest) zombie-hunting information. It all begins with a comprehensive Training section, where you’ll learn how to effectively work with your team, what landmarks and scenic obstacles must be faced, and how to maximize your threat level as both a Survivor and an Infected. This is further extrapolated in the second chapter, which is devoted to biographical information of all four new Survivors, and then information on the Common, Uncommon, and Special Infected you’ll face (or play as). There’s some vital information in here, from the specific Uncommon Infected you’ll face during each Campaign (and their weaknesses), as well as a comprehensive field guide to studying the offensive capabilities of each Boomer, Jockey, Charger, Hunter, Spitter, Smoker, and other frothing mutation to encounter, or control.

Actually figuring out how to leave your undead masses twitching in their death throes with a massive torso hole or missing appendage is completely covered in the third chapter, which deals with all your weapons and equipment. Complete statistics for all firearms are given, so you know the range, firing rate, and chamber capacity of each piece of offensive ordnance. Can’t decide between a Desert Rifle and a Chrome Shotgun? Then read up on the tactical uses (including strengths and weaknesses) or each before picking one up in the combat zone. The Chapter ends with a complete list of equipment, how and when to use these helpful items, and which items are most useful in different (but no less horrific) combat situations.

The bulk of this tome is made up of complete and thorough tactical evaluations of each of the five Campaigns, from the fairground fracas of Dark Carnival to the maelstrom of wet weather and Witches known as Hard Rain. For each Campaign, we begin with a massive poster, and separate the stages so you can quickly dip into the portion of the Campaign you’re needing more information on, or read everything through chronologically. Then comes a meticulously-labeled map showing every building, vehicle, tree, and tiny, piece of scenery in unmatched detail. Every map contains the main routes, possible item locations, and most importantly, the chokepoints where the action is likely to become fraught. Then a multitude of screenshots and tactical text walks you through every section so you know what to expect, and how to deal with it. Yes, that includes the search for a gnome, and how not to miss every Campaign-based Achievement. We even include complete knowledge on how to play as an Infected in every area during Versus games, too.

The back of the game guide is bulging with tactical goodness, including full maps and strategies for the Survival and Scavenge modes, listing every tip on maximizing your combat and victory potential in each of the 16 maps. This is rounded off by an Achievements appendix. Figuring out how to obtain all the different Achievements can be a daunting task. Whether you’re throwing Bile Bombs at a Tank, killing Clowns who collect Common Infected behind them, or carrying a Gnome to a helicopter, this concluding chapter lists every single Achievement, and gives tips on ways to obtain each one.

The result is a packed guide designed to maximize the amount of gruesome screenshots I took; a book with Valve Software’s seal of approval, and one that really helps you fend off the doggedly-determined hordes of Infected, no matter how overwhelming the situation becomes. Y’all come back now, y’hear?

by David Hodgson