It all began with an amazing trailer, one which captivated gamers and zombie fanatics alike. To some, it was projected to be the most epic zombie game ever created! Well…almost. I can recall after watching the 30-odd, brief second commercial I said in an ironically zombie-like tone “gotta get that game”. The problem however, just may have been the hype. Read me out. The game Dead Island (never mind the trailer for a moment) is by far one of the coolest, addictive zombie games I’ve played in a good while.
You begin your zombie mashing quest on the fictional island of Banoi. You awake to find out that you’ve been bit by a zombie yet miraculously you, and only you, are immune to the zombie “infection” that has infiltrated the island. You are then sent out to complete various missions while also trying to find a way off the island. Of course, this is the game in a very tight nut shell, but you get the idea.
Played in first person, Dead Island is a zombie game that strays from the pack. Unlike other zombie games (Call of Duty: Black Ops) there’s a point to all the bloodshed! Rather than barricading yourself in an old, blown to bits, refuge waiting to die, you are continuously following quests and searching for either a cure or a way off the island. Furthermore, you are completing missions while hacking zombies to bits! (Of course this is all done for the protection of the other survivors and not for the sheer enjoyment). Dead Island also offers a great deal of discovery and has the detailed graphics to go along with the experience.
The bulk of your gameplay is going to rely on questing and exploration but it’s a gorgeous island to explore. Another point of interest is the open concept within the game. You are on an island! You are not surrounded by cement walls or debris covered roads but rather lush trees and a sparkling ocean which I think adds to the creepy factor. I mean, think about it…taking a vacation to a sandy beach resort is nothing out of the ordinary. Now imagine if that was your vacation ruined by zombies!
In terms of characters, there is enough character choice to satisfy and not overwhelm. Four characters, each of whom have their own background stories and their own weapon of expertise. For example, I played as Sam B who is skilled in the use of brass knuckles. Ha ha yeah, I thought it was pretty gritty too. I would change one thing though in regards to the characters; I would have preferred the ability to create your own character and the choice to choose your own expertise. I figure by creating your own character this allows you to better connect the game to the player.
Now for the zombies themselves, it’s nice to finally see some variety! You have your traditional “walkers” who can only be described as resembling something stumbling out of a bar at 2 in the morning, and you also have your “infected” who can occasionally sprint at you from any direction while releasing an ear piercing scream. Hell, there are even ones that go boom! The variety in zombie types requires you to be a quick thinker and an even quicker player. When you’re being attacked by a gang of eight zombies, ranging from useless to deadly, you need to utilize your weapons effectively and efficiently or else it’s game over.
Finally, let’s talk weapons. Of course you can use anything that’s lying around: a paddle or broken stick, but you can also improvise, upgrade and modify your weapons. For example, you can begin with your ordinary baseball bat, find some nails or barbed wire and you have one mean heavy hitter. This really gives you a chance to test your creativity and get the big points. All the random objects you find around the island are good for something, especially weapon modification so even the exploration has a purpose. Find yourself a stick, rags, nails and gasoline and you have a torch as well as a weapon! There are guns to be found or traded on the island but I actually preferred not using them. I mean let’s just pretend for a moment that zombies really did break out on my tropical island vacation, the chances of me finding a gun on the island….slim. So I played with what I had and what I could create. This method actually tests your abilities more than you’d think.
Overall, Dead Island is what I’d like to call a pallet cleansing game. It’s a break away from the shoot em’ up zombie games and provides a fresh new take on the idea of “infection”. However, I should mention that if serious amounts of blood and gore ain’t your thing, then perhaps Dead Island should stay on the shelf otherwise, it’s money well spent! Have fun gamers and remember to double tap! For the Silo, Holly LaRue.
Thanks for the comment Phil and thanks for reading!
…You’re aware that stating “Coming from a gamer” before going into elements that have little to do with the technicalities of ‘gaming’ sort of calls afoul your qualms with my evaluation. But I suppose if your just ‘picking up a controller’ matters of technical depth would elude you anyhow. Think a tad harder friend, you might end up something cogent rather then sounding like a puffed up internet fatso.
Hey man, I think you should put the controller down cause your reading way to much into it. Coming from a gamer I think her detail to the story line is great. Sure she doesn’t get into the controls and in depth gaming features, but for someone who just wants to pick up a controller I think these reviews are excellent… so I think you should shut your hole and sit back and enjoy a good read. Thank you holly keep up the good work.
Jay, I applaud your gaming expertise and will admit you have way more knowledge of gaming than I should probably ever hope to have. I write to gain experience and any feedback I receive (whether positive or…harsh)I try to put it to use. I’d also like to think that with every review I write, whether game related or not, that my writing improves. I’m sure I will look back on this review and others and think “what the hell was I thinking” but for now, I rely on people such as yourself to help me improve. So once again, thanks for reading and commenting! It means a lot to me and The Silo. 🙂
A fair response I guess:
The Silo: Well if you want to get technical you could turn to the ZX Spectrum’s “Zombie Zombie”, which I suppose is the first to actually have the word ‘zombie’ in it, since the Robotron humanoids are actually robots (as per the info scrawled on the side of the stand up arcade and the overlays for the abysmal Commodore and Atari 2600 port’s instruction manual)
Holly: Not to be an ass or anything but… for a writer of gaming articles there seems to be a lack of historical perspective here, which, by your own admission above, should have the screws tightened up abit if you are to represent the community. I normally don’t do this, but I guess I was compelled to from my own adoration of the gameage and what not. Also that my own experiences with Dead Island call afoul to your own, particularly the obvious relationship Dead Island has with Dead Rising, Capcom’s seminal contribution to the zombie slashing genre. As well as the honing of the player skills (I used Logan) so that they become proficient in other abilities ala Bethesda style grinding.
Still, glad at least that there was a response.
Jay,
First of all, thanks for the comment and input!
Second, everyone’s got their own opinion when it comes to video games and what you’ve read is simply mine. What you may expect to get out of a game review is obviously going to be different than what someone else expects. I have mentioned the fact in previous reviews that I do not consider myself a “gamer” or a die hard for video games but I do partake nonetheless. Hence, my review may not consist of all the specifics you are looking for. On that note, why not write your own review?
Jay, I to have read others reviews and they all cover the same things, the same things that you are hoping to find. That’s why I try not to make my reviews so “cookie cutter” if you will, – afterall, The Silo prides itself on 100% original material 😉
However, at the end of the day, you have read my review and what’s even better is you have commented! For that, I thank you! I enjoy the feedback and I’m glad to see that you took the time to read it, regardless of how “mindless” it must have seemed.
Thanks and visit again soon!
Hey Jay thanks for your thoughts. I’m gonna start by contacting Holly and asking her to answer your questions but for my $ i’d have to say that Robotron 2084 predeates Left4Dead and House of the Dead by bringing zombies into the gaming realm by over a decade…do mutated humans count as zombies? …. CP
Yikes, where do I begin…
Firstly, citing CoD as a Zombie game is pretty erroneous to say the least, considering both Left 4 Dead and House of the Dead have attempted to bring the the zombie genre into the gaming realm. Secondly, There doesn’t seem to be any substance to this and other game reviews on here. There is no critical assessment of the content or of the mechanics. Should I not expect that in a GAME review? These read kinda more like mindless endorsements of the game rather than practical attempts to review the content.
Maybe I’m just knit picking here, but c’mon… Do you even really play games?