Dead Island 2 is a long-awaited sequel to the 2011 zombie-slaying game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. The game was released on April 18, 2023, after several delays and changes of developers. But was it worth the wait? Here is our review of Dead Island 2, based on its gameplay, story, graphics, and features.

Gameplay: Fun and Brutal Combat, Boring and Repetitive Missions

Dead Island 2 is a first-person action game that lets you choose one of six playable characters, each with their own skills and abilities. You can play solo or with up to two co-op friends, as you explore the open-world map of Southern California, from Hollywood to Venice Beach. Along the way, you will encounter various types of zombies, from the slow and shambling to the fast and furious, as well as some human enemies and bosses. You will also meet a variety of quirky and hilarious characters, who will give you quests and rewards.

The game’s combat system is one of its main strengths, as it offers a lot of weapon variety and customization. You can use melee weapons, firearms, explosives, and even environmental objects to kill zombies in creative and gory ways. You can also upgrade your weapons with blueprints and materials, adding effects such as fire, electricity, or poison. The game’s gore and dismemberment system is very satisfying and realistic, as you can chop off limbs, heads, and torsos of your enemies, and see blood splatter everywhere.

The game’s RPG elements, however, are not as impressive. The game has a level system, where you can earn skill points and unlock new abilities, but most of them are not very useful or noticeable. The game also has a loot system, where you can find and collect various items, such as weapons, ammo, health kits, and money, but most of them are not very valuable or interesting. The game’s inventory system is also very clunky and limited, as you can only carry a few items at a time, and have to constantly manage your space and weight.

The game’s missions are also very repetitive and boring, as they mostly involve fetching items, killing zombies, or escorting NPCs. The game’s story is also very weak and nonsensical, as it does not have any coherent plot or meaningful choices. The game’s humor and tone are also very inconsistent, as it tries to balance between being a serious zombie survival game and a parody of LA culture and stereotypes.

Some of the game’s features that make it more enjoyable and replayable are:

• A crafting system, where you can create and modify your weapons and items, using blueprints and materials that you find or buy.
• A scavenging system, where you can loot and search for items and resources, such as food, water, and fuel, that you need to survive and maintain your health and stamina.
• A driving system, where you can use and customize various vehicles, such as cars, bikes, and trucks, to travel faster and run over zombies.
• A horde mode, where you can face waves of zombies in different locations, and compete with other players for the highest score and rewards.
• A PvP mode, where you can fight against other players in different modes and maps, such as team deathmatch, capture the flag, and king of the hill.

Graphics: Stunning and Detailed, but Buggy and Unstable

Dead Island 2 is a visually stunning game, as it uses Unreal Engine 4 to create a realistic and detailed representation of Los Angeles. The game’s environments are very diverse and colorful, as you can see the iconic landmarks, such as the Hollywood sign, the Santa Monica pier, and the Griffith Observatory, as well as the urban and suburban areas, the beaches and the hills, and the day and night cycles. The game’s lighting and shadows are also very impressive, as they create a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.

The game’s character models and animations are also very good, as they capture the expressions and movements of the humans and zombies. The game’s gore and blood effects are also very realistic and gruesome, as they add to the game’s brutality and horror. The game’s sound effects and music are also very fitting and atmospheric, as they enhance the game’s mood and tension.

The game’s performance, however, is not very smooth, as it suffers from some technical issues and bugs. The game’s frame rate is not very stable, as it drops and stutters in some areas and situations. The game’s loading times are also very long, as it takes a while to load the game and the map. The game’s AI is also very dumb and glitchy, as the zombies and NPCs often get stuck or behave erratically. The game’s online co-op mode is also very laggy and buggy, as it often disconnects or crashes.

Conclusion: A Guilty Pleasure, but Not a Masterpiece

Dead Island 2 is a fun and simple zombie-slaying game that does not offer anything new or innovative but still delivers a satisfying and hilarious experience. The game’s combat system, weapon variety, and gore effects are its best aspects, as they make killing zombies a bloody good time. The game’s graphics, humor, and co-op mode are also its strong points, as they make the game more immersive and enjoyable. The game’s RPG elements, story, and missions are its weakest aspects, as they are very shallow and boring. The game’s performance, AI, and online mode are also its flaws, as they are very buggy and unstable.

If you are looking for a serious and deep zombie survival game, Dead Island 2 is not for you. But if you are looking for a lighthearted and silly zombie parody game, Dead Island 2 is a great choice. Dead Island 2 is not a masterpiece, but it is a guilty pleasure.

Rating: 7/10.

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