Recent reviews by Bobinsox

Incoherent

The ending isn't any more important than the moments leading to it.

I guess that's ONE way to stop the crack epidemic.

If you're looking for an actual review of the game and not "Epick Gamyms servers, one year delay durr" steam points cash grab #183, then you've scrolled to the right place.

I've beaten Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide many times back on the Xbox 360, as I'm sure many of you have as well. This review will mostly be comparing gameplay elements of the old Techland developed Dead Islands with the base game of this one. No spoilers, either.

In terms of the gameplay, if it weren't for the graphics and MAYBE the skill card system, it'd be hard to convince me that this game didn't came out sometime during the mid 2010s. That's the best way I can describe it, and it's meant as a good thing. Genuinely feels like a upgrade to the Dead Island 1/Riptide formula of combat without too much extra.

Also, utilizing the environmental element-enhancing systems barely focused upon in the former games to it's fullest potential, as well as pulling more emphasis on special resistances and weaknesses to the various zombies types, gives elemental weapons much more situational appeal and encourages weapon diversification in your arsenal. It would get slightly annoying doing absolutely ZERO damage to a zombie due to a elemental resistance but it was a good type of annoying that again encouraged using more than one weapon.

The blueprints upgrades in comparison to the older games did the job but albeit to a much more simplified degree. Say goodbye to basically any weapon selection specific blueprints, any weapon can rock just about any blueprint minus some outliers regarding the type (blunt, sharp, gun.) The blueprints themselves weren't even really unique either, they're all usually just direct upgrades to one another and typically given to you via obvious area progression and mission completions. I find that a little disappointing but like I said, it gets the job done so whatever.

The skills in this game, however, are very underwhelming in my opinion due to the lack of feeling unique. Some of the skill cards are obviously better or worse than others, and every Slayer gets access to all same abilities over time, just some sooner (at lower levels) than others. Each character will have like one skill card specific to both them and one other character, as well as their two unique passives but that's just about it. It's real shame because I feel as if one of the many highlights of the older Dead Islands were that each character was specifically better at certain things and that made them a valuable asset to the synergy of the COOP team effectiveness. In this, you can basically mold your character into anything you want at about any time with no consequence instead of formerly learning how to utilize a specific curated skill set based on who you pick.

Whilst not much of a spoiler since many expected this iconic gameplay feature to return, the Fury mode comes back later in the story but is admittedly pretty bad. No more special weapon or quirk associated with it, everyone shares the same fist attacks (kinda like the Sam B fury ability). There are skill card abilities for it but it falls under the same issue as earlier: nothing being really character unique (some Slayers unlock a certain ability from the get-go but eventually everyone gets all of them later in levels).

Unfortunately, the base game story isn't much of an upgrade to the last two installments. Don't go into Dead Island 2 expecting poignant storytelling that'll stick with you for the rest of your life, it'll just be enough to make you feel like there's a purpose you're running around everywhere.

The gameplay is pretty good, the systems are (in my opinion) disappointing compared to the older Dead Islands but still do the job, and the story is pretty meh overall: I give this game a 8.5/10. This game certainly is good and I had a lot of fun playing it COOP. Hell, we'd even consider this one of the funnest games we've played together in a while. The only reason I didn't give it a full 9/10 rating is because the simplicity or lack of uniqueness regarding the weapon blueprints and characters skills is honestly a bit disgraceful to the former games in the series. Looking past it's true potential though, know that this still a great game to play with a friend or friends.

When I'm in a best video game ever competition and my opponent is is Ken Gao:

That's what I'm talking about!!!
That's why he's the MVP!!!
That's why he's the ZOTE!!!

I NEED TO KNOW THE SPELL OF YOUR LOVE

WHY OH YOU ARE, L.O.V.E.

Kan Gao

If you love saying "I have absolutely no idea what's going on or where to go." over and over again, play Yume Nikki.

Windows