Do zombies repopulate in areas you've already cleared out?

Do common infected return to areas of the level that have already been cleared out?

Based on my knowledge of the game's AI Director - who is responsible for spawning zombies - special zombies and hordes will come indefinitely. However, it wasn't made clear if common infected also load back in to the level after they've been killed.

For instance, in the second level of the Dead Center campaign The Streets if I were to kill all of the ambling common infected between the beginning safe room and the overpass' point-of-no-return could I then roam that section of the level with relative impunity from common infected?

Similarly, in the first level of the Death Toll campaign The Turnpike there aren't any points-of-no-return. If I killed all of the common infected could I explore that level freely?

left-4-dead-2

Best Answer

It seems to depend on the map, maybe even the area within the map.

I have doubled back before on the first stage of No Mercy, and not seen any respawned zombies. But in Death Toll, in the stage that begins in the bell tower, I have stood up there sniping zombies for a half hour or more, and I keep seeing more. It's a big place, so I suppose it's possible I had simply hadn't noticed them earlier, but I doubt it.

I am interested to know as well if anyone has more concrete evidence.