Mezzanine Mayhem

Pulverized by the Planters

It can be a bit of a mess at the bottom of the stairs, as you can still expect Special Infected attacking from above (or down the escalators). So move into the dark, sunken area with the scattered chairs that usually holds an item or two.

8A

Push onward past the planters, crossing a wide section of tile floor with a security gate on your left. Infected tend to charge in around a kiosk, so it’s a good idea to spread out across the width of the floor and catch foes in a cross fire.

8B

Frenzy at the Food Court

The horrific carnage continues as you head into the food court, popping zombie heads near Rooke’s Steakhouse and the always-delicious Taco Bucket.

Don’t expect the savagery to let up as you methodically turn and check behind each of the portable kiosks (one team member on each side works well for catching wayward foes), and head under the escalator and around to the end of this section of mall.

8C

Or ascend the left escalator without checking the far end. Watch for foes above you once you hit the escalator.

No Going Back

Race to the top of the stairs, and fight a mixture of Common and Special Infected, paying particular attention to foes that can strangle or ride you to a drop, and those that are difficult to kill.

8D

This is a possible location for a Belt Item; lobbing in a Pipe Bomb to preoccupy the gaggle of seething undead can allow your team a quick escape. And at this point, the route is the open door to the right near the empty white planter. Get through into the maintenance corridor, now!

No Room for Error

8E

Now that you’re in a small maze of narrow maintenance corridors, you need to find a way up to the third floor, and despite the fact you can funnel Infected down these corridors to easily dispatch them, there are severe tactical shortcomings to deal with as well.

More powerful Infected, such as the Tank (the worse-case combat scenario in here), can pummel you easily, forcing your team to backpedal or throw a Molotov on the beast.

8F

Don’t bunch up and check the first storage room on your right, with someone guarding the door armed with a Melee Weapon while any items are scavenged. Then watch for other intrusions, such as Chargers and Spitters, which can be a real pain.

Move to the T-junction at the end of the first corridor. There are a blocked stairwell and minor items on your right and restrooms plus another two storage rooms on your left.

Kidz Unfriendly

8G

The maintenance corridor eventually allows access through a door on your left, which leads into a storage room with ammunition and a First Aid Station.

Don’t simply rummage around here without effectively guarding this chamber, as the Infected have a nasty habit of charging in from the entrance and exit to this room.

Place one teammate at the entrance door, closing it so the Infected take more time getting into the room.

A second (and possibly third) teammate should close the exit door, so the slobbering foes inside the Just for Kidz store don’t sandwich you.

Rearm and grab the items and Health you need, guarding the doors in turns, and then burst through into the toy store (Location 9A). Alternately, you can enter into a service tunnel on the bottom floor, depending on the A.I. Director.