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You can always count on a zombie game to deliver thrills and chills. The original Dead Island, launched in 2011, did just that — and fans have been clamoring for a sequel ever since. However, whileDead Island 2was announced in 2014, it took almost a full decade for the game to shuffle into existence, resurrecting a series that seemed long dead.
RELATED:Things Only Players Of The First Game Noticed In Dead Island 2
The City of Angels has taken a mighty fall, become a mecca for the lumbering dead — and you must navigate through the rot, armed with whatever you may find. Dead Island 2 has taken time to get here, so you may wonder whether this gory adventure is worth undertaking. We will answer your burning questions by giving you an overview of time commitment, price, and our review and thoughts on the game.
Review
As Jade King succinctly notes in the very title of her review, “Dead Island 2 Review: Better And Bloodier Than It Has Any Right To Be,” Dead Island 2 is surprisingly good for a game that lurched on for almost a decade. And, while the overall interest in zombie games has waned, there’s always room in people’s hearts for a bit of undead ultraviolence.
Dead Island 2 isn’t going to change the world of zombie games, nor does it intend to, but the fact it has emerged from the ashes in a state this immaculate is a miracle in itself.
Which is just what Dead Island 2 delivers. The combat system is fairly robust and progresses throughout the campaign — sure, you’ll have to make do with pool cues for the first little bit, but rest assured that the items you can collect later on in the game are overdramatic and delightful. King mentions using a flaming sledgehammer and how destructive it was, saying, “Every limb, layer of skin, and piece of anatomy can be reduced to nothing if you’re savage enough, and this laughable brutality isn’t just for show.”
Dead Island 2 is a proudly gory game in the realm of extravagance. Yet, the gore serves an essential function in combat — if you destroy flesh and bone, tear limbs from sockets or cut legs off at the knee, you’ll be dealing with much slower zombies. This is especially helpful regarding the quicker variants, though it feels satisfyingly gross.
King’s review highlights the bombastic, unserious setting and storytelling. It’s a satirical playground set in the City of Angels — there was no way this game would go for anything but cheesiness. It doesn’t really want you to take it seriously, and its gore mechanics reflect that. It isn’t a stress-inducing nightmare factory like Dying Light or Dead Space — instead, it’s a romp.
you’re able to choose out of six playable characters, each with unique stats and personalities. There are plenty of abilities to mess around with, and the game offers some almost immersive-sim-like qualities in dealing with enemies. As Los Angeles is notoriously vehicle-based, plenty of cars are around. Plenty of cars means plenty of batteries, which you can use to electrocute your enemies. And, of course, there’s oil for you to light on fire. It’s not a free action, though — these elements affect you too.
You have a lot of wiggle room in your ability set. Zombie fiction is keen on the concept of infected main characters, and Dead Island 2 is no different. Your player character is infected. Sad, because obviously, you will become one of the droning hordes. Awesome, because you have access to some genuinely ridiculous powers. King didn’t mind how nonsensical they were — just that they were fun. If you’re going to become a shuffling zombie baking in the hot sun of Los Angeles, becoming overpowered in the process isn’t a terrible way to do it.
However, its long development time does show in its mechanics and tone. King calls it an experience out of time, noting that traversal feels archaic, with load screens between each zone and first visits requiring you to deal with undead hordes, creating a somewhat tedious experience. Still, as King notes, this is a game whose creative vision is a decade old. So, of course, it feels a little out of place.
Yet, King feels the game executes better than it had any right to. While some of the gameplay can be tedious, Dead Island 2 has the kind of confidence that other games wish for. It is a product of its time, but that doesn’t negate its better qualities.It knows exactly what it isand doesn’t shy away from giving you all the zombie guts and makeshift weapons you could ever ask for.
Related:Dead Island 2: Achievement/Trophy Guide
Cost
Dead Island 2 retails for $70 onPlayStation 5,PlayStation 4,Xbox Series X/S,Xbox One,andWindows. Regarding physical editions, you can choose the base game, the Pulp edition — which comes with pre-order bonuses and cosmetics, or the Hell-a Collectible Edition. The collector’s edition is a little more expensive at $130 but comes bundled with the Expansion Pass and a few physical goodies like tarot cards to put on display.
Digitally, you’re able to opt for the Deluxe or Gold packages to upgrade from the standard edition. Deluxe offers pre-order bonuses, weapons, and character cosmetics, Gold offers another cosmetic pack, along with the Expansion pass for future story-based DLC. You can buy the Expansion Pass separately for around $40.
Time Expenditure
Dead Island 2 has enough meat on its bones to keep you busy for around17 hours of play-timeif you’re focused mainly on the main campaign with some forays into side quests. In addition, plenty of open-world-like spaces (called Neighborhoods) allow you to explore and experiment to your heart’s content, and they can be accessed easily.
If you want to really sink your teeth into Dead Island 2 and 100 percent it, then you can expect to spend anywhere from 25 to 30 hours in-game. A complete run will have you explore the neighbourhood to the fullest, discover unique zombies, search for collectibles, and engage in side missions.
If you enjoyed your time with Dead Island 2, you may replay it with a different character, as you havesix to choose from. The roster is varied, so you can experiment with other characters, challenge yourself, or just see the game through different eyes. There is no New Game Plus, so be prepared to go in without upgrades or better weapons.
What People Are Saying
A Delightful Romp Through The Streets Of HELL-A! - James Kennedy
I won’t pretend that my expectations were high heading into Dead Island 2, but despite my initial reservations, what I experience was an awesome time. The combat isextremelyvisceral andverysatisfying, the gore is fantastic, and — on the PS5 — it runs like a dream. This is pretty impressive, as the game is a looker and will often flood the screen with zombies. However, most shockingly, the story is atonof fun! It is a biting (pun very much intended) satire, and it is frequently able to draw a chuckle. That being said, your character will have an impact on that element, so your mileage may vary —I strongly recommend Dani, who may just be the best video game protagonist of 2023. Ultimately, the tone may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and the combat-first gameplay may wear on some people, but if you are down for an irreverent, action-packed romp through the zombie apocalypse, it is hard to imagine a better fit than Dead Island 2. It is a HELL-A+ zombie game!
Sleeper Hit Of The Year - Vaspaan Datoor
In a year where everyone is building bizarre contraptions in Tears of the Kingdom and desperately dodging chainsaws in Resident Evil 4, Dead Island 2 is the perfect in-between game. Do not let that statement fool you, it takes a great game to make crushing a skull with a hammer for the hundredth still feels good. The game tells you where to go, and what to do, allowing you to give your brain a rest while splattering those of others. Dead Island 2 features some of the best first-person melee combat I’ve encountered, and the drop-kick is up there with gaming’s most satisfying attacks. And if you really want to go on a power trip, the game eventually gives you guns as well - but you probably won’t need them.
