Left 4 Dead (PC)

Zombies have become the monster of choice for any self-respecting horror film maker after Danny Boyle's genre-busting gore flick 28 Days Later.

The simple evolutionary ability of allowing the undead to run rather than shuffle - used to brilliant effect in the opening scenes of sequel 28 Weeks Later - has done more to resurrect the zombie genre, particularly given fears about scientific research and possible threat of viruses, than the original Dawn of the Dead.

So it was unsurprising when in late 2006, Valve unveiled that it would launch a zombie-related title called Left 4 Dead by Turtle Rock Studios.

Two years later, and I've finally got my hands on the game released . First impressions: f'king brilliant.

Compared other Valve games such as the Half-Life series, the game doesn't at first impression appear to have been lavished with the same high level of gloss.

There's a suitably immersive video title to get the player right up to speed with the game. Essentially, there's been an infection which has rendered a whole city as screaming, moaning, flesh-eating undead zombie - that is barring four characters.

There are then five levels through which this team of heroes have to battle their way to escape the zombie plague.

And that's it. There's no huge plotline, no massive single-player campaign, only a handful of special baddies to slaughter, while the graphics aren't anything beyond functional.

But the gameplay is sublime. I've only had chance to play a couple hours of the single-player which has got me through to the Hospital level, but it is what you don't see which makes this game as good as it is.

It's in the way that the gamer can find themselves suddenly confronted with a mass of zombies hurtling towards them when everything had been fine. In contrast, a situation that appeared doomed can be rescused with a skillfully-thrown pipe bomb.

It is the work behind the scenes to balancing the game that mean I can't wait to go online. Although only with the lights on.

I'll keep you posted on what I find.