The Parish
Parish Level 1 (E3M1)
Left 4 Dead 2's first official look at E3 only shown the Parish Campaign level's 1 and 2. In comparison to Left 4 Dead 2's retail release, there has not been any major changes to the map that impact its gameplay. However, there are still key differences that are noticeable including its weapons, itemization, structures, music, and even its loading screen. See below for its key changes in chronological order.
The beginning of level 1 spawns all four survivors in using idle stance animations with no support from an in-game cutscene or Vergil's boat. Survivors can only choose from the Silenced SMG and Chrome Shotgun at this time. Unlike the final version, most weapon spawn locations also include a corresponding ammo pile.
Most signage was different across the campaign. However, the most notable change is at the dock, where the introduction to the campaign shows a "No Entry" and "Stop" sign, unused in the final release. Also located here is the unused yellow "Warning: Restricted Area" sign. If survivors were to explore this area further, located on both right and left, survivors have a chance of finding pre-deployed incendiary ammo packs and other items. This gave new players the ability to try out this new feature
The following area has some unused "Caution" and "Clean Hands Save Lives" flyers located on the brick wall. Also located on the town's balconies are different colored banners that later went unused.
The crashed bus location displays different colored banners, and different item spawn locations. Inside the apartment was a pistol spawn point, while under the balcony has a chance for spawning the fire axe, incendiary ammo, molotov, pipe bomb, or pain pills. The retail release removed any items from this location, as inside the apartment later spawned tier 1 and melee weapons.
Slightly further in is the diner location, which originally had a cigarette dispenser. This prop was later replaced with a jukebox. Also at this location are items spawns which can include a chance for the fire axe, incendiary ammo, molotov, pipebomb, or pain pills.
Towards the back of the diner is an alley way that used Left 4 Dead 1 dumpster textures, much like most structural assets throughout this build.
Inside the kitchen had a weapon spawn location that included the tier 2 weapons SCAR machine gun (M16 replacement) and SPAS Shotgun (Autoshotgun replacement). Also located on the table was an ammo pile, while the freezer had a chance to spawn pre-deployed incendiary ammo packs inside.
Outside this second diner was a road with a parked car that triggered an alarm. The E3 build uniquely allowed this car's glass to break upon a survivor interacting with the prop. This feature was removed in later builds. Additionally, there are some unused orange "Quarantine" flyers placed on the back wall.
The first safehouse had item spawns including tier 1 weapons, molotovs, pipe bombs, and most uniquely gas cans or propane tanks. If players did not grab a tier 2 weapon, they would not be able to find one until the crescendo event in level 2. The safehouse also had unused "Quarantine" flyers posted on the wall, while the remaining wall space remained empty.
The Parish
Parish Level 2 (E3M2)
The beginning of level 2 introduced the survivors to a crashed ambulance and Left 4 Dead 1 Police Car (lights actively lit up). Later builds replaced these structural props with a military Humvee and newly designed Police Car. Also adjusted are the barricades located behind the vehicles, which used to have cleaner-looking textures. When survivors moved up the stairs, they are greeted with "Report the Sick" and "Stay in Your Group" flyers that were later unused.
The Park (center) location originally displayed a different horse statue, which can also be found in the files of Half Life 2 and Counter Strike. Additionally, the structure this statue was placed on was a different "stand" also located in similar game files, thereby making it unclear if the two models were ever merged together in the first place. Also located on the horse's stand were three different "Quarantine" checklist flyers, also used in multiple Left 4 Dead 1 campaigns. This location also had the cleaner barricade textures, as well as a Left 4 Dead 1 crate encompassing only a pistol item spawn point. This pistol spawn location was later replaced with a tier 1 weapon, tier 2 weapon, or ammo pile in retail.
The Park (left) location had a consistent fire axe melee weapon spawn on the ground near the gazebo. This spawn point later replaced this item with a tonfa, frying pan, cricket bat, or baseball bat in the retail release. Inside the gazebo is a chance to spawn pre-deployed incendiary ammo packs, molotovs, pipe bombs, and pain pills. This general location also has a small chance (based on footage) of the AI director spawning a Tank infected.
The Park (right) location had a pistol item spawn point on the picnic table, a fire axe spawn inside the bathroom, and an unused "Clean Hands Save Lives" flyer located on the wall of the bathroom entrance.
At the entrance of the alley way is an unused "Quarantine Zone" flyer, later replaced with a CEDA trademark flyer. Under the tent, there were no health kits at this spawn location, as was most notable in the retail release.
Under the interstate highway was an open area that majority of playthroughs would spawn a Tank Infected. Also at this location is the unused "Warning: Restricted Area sign", a barricade with a pistol spawn point, and an unused version of the crashed Interstate highway sign. This location later spawned ammo, tier 1 and tier 2 weapons.
The quarantine trailer used to have a "Warning: Restricted Area" sign at the front of its entry way. Inside the trailer are three unused "Stay In Your Group" and "Clean Hands Save Lives" flyers. Additionally, the exit of this trailer originally lacked the small staircase.
At the first turn of the alarm originally placed was a Left 4 Dead 1 Humvee. This was replaced with the Left 4 Dead 2 Humvee design. The CEDA tent also placed a tier 2 weapon with a chance of spawning pre-deployed incendiary ammo.
Throughout the crescendo event, survivors pass two barricades, which were removed in later builds. Survivors were able to temporarily hold out on these barricades to stall Common Infected or protect against Special Infected. It is believed that these structures were removed to prevent the survivors for having a defensive edge during a newly developed running-based event.
The alarm originally used the active control panel prop from Left 4 Dead 1's Death Toll campaign. The item was later placed in Left 4 Dead 2's Dark Carnival campaign. Originally, the Military Sniper, an ammo pile, would guarantee a spawn, while pre-deployed incendiary ammo, molotovs, pain pills, and first-aid kits would spawn by chance.
The bus depot parking lot originally had barricade railings to separate each bus parking zone, making the layout seem more organized. Also at this location were unused "Quarantine" flyers occasionally posted on the walls.
The final saferoom consistently spawned a SCAR, Chrome Shotgun, two ammo piles, and four first-aid kits. When all four survivors entered the room, the campaign will fade till the game's main menu reset activates.
The Parish
Bonus Features
Soundtrack
Uncommon Infected
Special Infected
