The Screamer

The Screamer

I kind of figure that the Screamer and the Boomer's vomiting attack are essentially the same thing when it comes to difficulty in dealing with a horde, both can't go on forever. While it's true that the Boomer's vomit is far easier to deal with (pack tight in a corner and attack with the butt of your gun) it's kind of...repetitive. I'm not really saying that action is something Left4Dead is lacking, I just think that the Screamer would have been a nice touch.

Maybe if they were to tone down the horde drawing attack they could have kept the Screamer. For example, if the Screamer could only scream twice every minute (with thirty second intervals breaking the two attacks in half) then it could be possible for the team to rush out and search for the maniac during this little gap in action. Right? Not much time to look but still enough to get the job done. Of course I'd imagine the time differences would vary based on the level of difficulty, Expert being thirty seconds to get the job done, easy being fifty or so.

As an additive to this Valve could also include the Screamer cackling while hiding away. He's maniacle,make the man laugh. It would be easier to locate if you're getting closer or further from his position while the horde is at bay. Of course, since they are practically mindless from the neurotropic disease eating away at their thought, the hiding places wouldn't be difficult to locate. In an open room/closet or behind a table of some sort are always options.

As for difficult to spot in crowds, give him something easy to recognize--or there's always the possibility of making him stationary, much like the witch. This would force someone to agrivate him, such as stepping into his line of vision or popping a gunshot. He'd be far easier to "startle" than the witch, naturally, and more abrupt while standing up so someone can't just simply slip behind him and give an orderly shot to the head (it's not like he can attack you anyway). But I find that to be reasonable.

Or, another posibility, is to have him scream upon contact so the horde is alerted [while he's in the process of standing up], giving the survivors ample time to shoot him and prepare for the upcoming wave.

Of course, needless to say, the Screamer would only appear in a stage once or twice. Around the middle of the level, giving the survivors plenty of time to get prepared for him yet not near the finale sequence--being half dead from a wave of zombies before dealing with two tanks and two fresh hordes would not be considered my day at the beach, but that's just me.

This is just how I think Valve could introduce a fair version of the screamer into their upcoming game Left4Dead 2.