The Passed.

The Passing: is it worth it?

Gladly, the PC users got The Passing for free. Don't read into my words too much, Valve is my favorite video game studio of all time, the creator of immersion. The Passing was supposed to tell us the story of how the first survivors we are acquainted with become intertwined with the survivors of the sequel. Does Valve achieve this? No. Why? The way to say it simply is to tell a story you actually have to make one.

Randomly when you start the level a random character from the first game will tell you they can't lower the bridge because the generator is not fueled and to go fill it up on the other side of the map. As you venture through the level you have zero contact with the survivor. (Sounds like real immersion right?) At the end you finally meet up with the old crew with the exception of Bill. If you haven't heard already... he is dead, from seemingly unknown causes. Then the game gives a scavenge mode in which you race to fill the generator except it takes literally zero skill. Louis mans a 50 cal, while Francis and Zoey are sniping with amazing skull exploding accuracy.

You fill up and you're on your way. Sound bland and short? It is. Disappointed? Hell yes I am. I expected a whole thought out story and a full release of L4D and L4D2 content. Maybe even a cinema. No. Valve, whom I consider the heroes of the game industry, have put out a hot steaming pile of shit that gave 10 minutes of fleeting joy.

At this point I have the bitter taste of copper and dirt in my mouth about the next installation of the Half Life series. The next up to bat is the rest of the DLC showing how Bill gets ninja owned, whereas the new survivors say nothing of it other than "We are tired of the military." You're a top tier gaming studio Valve, start acting like it.

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