OK guys, now that we've all had a bit of a blast on L4D2, go and rank the campaigns in order, would be interested to hear your comments about them all, and the order you'd place them.

For me,

1. The Parish.
2. Dead Centre
3. Dark Carnival
4. Hard Rain
5. Swamp Fever

The only bad bit of the Parish, for me, is the second half of the fourth level (after the trigger event with the moving carnival vehicle), it's long, samey and pretty bland. However, on the flipside, that panic event means we rarely get there!
The rest of the campaign is beautifully crafted and very clever, a joy to play. I love the park area and evacuation trigger on the second level (contrast the wide open areas of the park, to the 'tunnels' of the panic event).
The Bridge, although really pretty short, must go down as one of the most spectacular levels in FPS history, just love it. It's very clever, giving both sides opportunities for victory. Infected can smoke off and charge off easily, but scaffolding, barriers and height advantage means the tank doesn't dominate.

I'm not a huge fan of Swamp Fever just due to it's dull surroundings, although they are done well. Maybe I just wouldn't be a fan of swamps
The panic event on the first level (the boat on a rope bit) is nice and tough though. The downed airliner panic event is pretty sweet although balanced heavily towards the infected. For me, some of the level design once we're into the elevated shacks is a bit mediocre.

Dark Carnival beats Hard Rain into third because of Hard Rain's stupidly easy fourth level. I understand that the point of Hard Rain is for the survivors to retrace their steps and return to the Burger Tank, but surely "something" could have blocked off part of the street on the return visit and forced a longer route. That said though, the Sugar Mill and abandoned factory is one of the best levels in the game, both in coop and versus.
The tunnel of love in Dark Carnival gets a little tedious, but the "screaming oak" coaster does make up for it - shame we're all so low on health by that point! The opening level of Dark Carnival, on the highway and into the Motel complex and steep hilltop is a brilliant opener, my favourite of the game.

I love the way all the campaigns string together if you play them in order, and ALL the finales are fantastic and varied in their approach. Looking back to the finales in L4D1, they're just poor now, especially the boat house after we all took to the water each time (although I do still have a soft spot for the roof of Mercy Hospital!).

Love the game though, love the players.

I tend just judge the campaigns on opening level and the final levels' rescue part.

I like Dark Carnival's final level because the stage and arena offer some good tactical
situations for both teams but the levels inbetween (Tunnel of Love etc) are just annoying
for both sides. And this problem tends to repeat across all the campaigns.

#1 : Hard Rain - I like it because of all the Witches. They add more intensity and planning
to a campaign that can also be sprinted through if your team is brave enough. (And the
rain effects are great too. Very atmospheric.)

#2 : The Parish - I like the bridge ending. You can take it slow but everyone seems to panic
and chaos quickly ensues. Weather I'm on the panicking team and wasting ammo or playing
as an Infected and waiting for a Survivor to make a mistake... that level is always fun.

#3 : Swamp Fever - The levels feel nice and open but that's just clever level design trickery
and that's what I enjoy. The crescendo event with the bridge in the hut is almost as annoying
as the Mudmen slapping you in the face but at least it throws some variety in the mix. The mansion
finale is pretty good too. Enough room to circle the tank(s) but enough hedges etc to allow
the Infected players to force you into a corner whilst you're focused on the tank.

#4 : Dead Centre - The opening level really annoys me with it's lack of primary weapon until
you've got to the bottom floor. Boomers become a nightmare if the team has taken 100% melee
weapons (but Jockeys are easily stopped.) I enjoy most of the Mall part, especially the dash
to switch off the alarm. But the rescue level isn't my favourite by a long shot. I don't mind getting
the cans or waiting for the cans to be thrown down to me, it just feels like that level has too
many things that can go wrong with it. The devs should have settled on either "Cans can be shot" or
"Cans be removed with Spiitter spit". Not both. (That's just my opinion though.)

#5 : Dark Carnival - Probably my least favourite because it's probably the one we've played the most.
The campaign has a habit of getting early tanks and I think we can all agree that early tanks have
the potential to ruin the level. (The weird thing is, I WANT our teams tank to kill everyone but I feel
we've cut the fun short if he/she DOES manage it.)I like the rescue event with the concert and the music to rock out to. But by the time we get there, after SUFFERING through the poor level designs of The Tunnel of Love and the Stable area... I just want a quick rescue/death.


Might be almost time to play with the map editor and look into some custom campaigns.

I don't think I have played them all yet