No zombie game is complete without a few survivors to take on the apocalypse, and Deep Silver's Dead Island series has been known for its focus on relatable heroes. Players who are just diving into Dead Island 2 will be met with a pretty diverse roster of zombie slayers, mostly differentiated in how they negotiate combat. Some are built for greater survivability, while others are quick on their feet, but these characters aren't limited to strict specializations either. With the game's Skill Deck system, players are free to customize the ability loadouts, which means Dead Island 2's power curve is flexible in ways that can differ from the first game.
Another point that makes Dead Island's heroes unique is how they vary in terms of looks and story. In comparison with prior entries, Dead Island 2 includes six slayer characters from the start, each having their own respective backgrounds and gameplay boosts. The sequel sticks to a familiar formula, and those who enjoyed the original should be able to find a character that fits their desired playstyle or personality. Dambuster Studios introduces an entirely new cast, so it's worth comparing how the characters of Dead Island 2 stack up against the classic lineup.
The Characters of Dead Island Versus Dead Island 2
On the sequel's roster, players can choose from Ryan, Dani, Bruno, Carla, Amy, and Jacob. Each hero is equipped to handle Dead Island 2's variety of melee weapons, with Ryan and Carla being two of the more versatile, hard-hitting character options. Alongside the rest of the crew, Bruno is a street hustler that gains an advantage when sneaking up on zombies or blocking their attacks, while Jacob is a former stockbroker from London who is built to support fast attack combos. Dead Island 2 gives its characters many opportunities to crack wise or switch up their skills, which may be appreciated by fans who may have felt restricted by the first game's classes.
Going back to the original games, Dead Island featured four playable characters, including Sam B, Xian Mei, Logan Carter, and Purna Jackson. Then, Dead Island: Riptide added a fifth character, John Morgan, who acted as more of a hand-to-hand melee specialist. Sam B, a rap star who returns as an NPC in the sequel, was considered a tank character capable of absorbing large amounts of damage. In terms of gameplay, his closest analog might be Ryan in Dead Island 2 who is built as a strong, brutish fighter capable of enduring swarms of foes.
Additionally, Xian Mei was an expert in bladed weaponry and an informant posing as a hotel employee, and for those who preferred ranged combat, Logan Carter and Purna Jackson were viable options as well. Logan Carter was a football star and the team's jack-of-all-trades, while Purna Jackson had a background as a bodyguard skilled in firearms. Unlike the skill card system seen in Dead Island 2, the original Dead Island heroes generally began with proficiencies connected to weapon types. Even though their character systems are mechanically divergent, Dead Island 2 and its predecessor offer a wide range of archetypes that complement their respective settings.
Visually, Bruno, Dani, and Amy stand out in comparison with the first game's less colorful characters, showing that the sequel embraces its stylish nature right off the bat. Dead Island 2's best slayers all benefit from starting buffs, known as Innate Skills, which reward players for keeping a rhythm between certain combos and abilities. On the whole, the larger, free-form roster of Dead Island 2 seems to give a bit more leniency to newcomers while letting unique characters loose in a zombie apocalypse that takes itself slightly less seriously.
Dead Island 2 is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
