Dead Island 2 has recently received more details in the form of a cinematic trailer and gameplay during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022. Though Dead Island 2 has had a bit of troubled development, the highly anticipated sequel is close to completion as it has received an official release date of February 3, 2023. However, long development time is not the only thing going against Dead Island 2; the game also has to prove itself compared to many other similar games.
One of the main and most recent games that could be seen as competition against Dead Island 2 is Dying Light 2: Stay Human, which was released in February 2022. Both games feature large, open worlds full of zombie foes, so the comparisons are not unwarranted. With that said there are key differences between the titles, for example, Dying Light 2 focuses on parkour and melee combat, so Dead Island 2 is able to set itself apart from its competition by featuring guns alongside melee weapons.
How Dead Island and Dying Light Both Succeed at Zombie Slaying
Both the Dying Light and Dead Island series have made names for themselves by creating interesting open-world environments that players are able to explore and hunt zombies in through a first-person perspective. The main draw to Dying Light is its intricate parkour and melee combat, but it is worth noting that the first game in the series did feature firearms, so players could also use guns to assist them in ridding the streets and rooftops of zombies. Even though the game encouraged melee combat, guns were still an effective part of the player's arsenal in Dying Light.
Dead Island also put a heavy focus on melee combat through variety in the types of weapons available to the player. Aside from melee weapons, Dead Island also featured firearms and throwables as the other two main weapon classes in the game. The guns in Dead Island were fairly rare in the early game; they were very powerful since they didn't need to be repaired nor did they require stamina to use.
Since both games are played through a first-person perspective, it makes sense for both of them to focus on melee combat, as it looks and feels more intense and gruesome in first-person. Even though both games feature guns, the combat is melee focused, which is likely a large reason why these games were so successful. Dying Light even went as far as to remove guns entirely from Dying Light 2 and focus solely on melee and hand-to-hand combat, with the few ranged options available being simpler weapons like bows and crossbows.
How Firearms Separate Dead Island 2 and Dying Light 2
Even though Dead Island 2 is still a ways away from launch, the game’s early footage shows that guns will still remain one of the main types of weapons players will be able to utilize against the zombie hordes. In addition to a plethora of throwable and melee weapons, the gameplay trailer for Dead Island 2 showed off many different types of guns ranging from pistols to shotguns and assault rifles. Considering the guns in the original Dead Island were such powerful and useful pieces of equipment in the player’s arsenal, it is fitting for them to make a return in Dead Island 2.
Aside from including guns, the main difference between Dying Light 2 and Dead Island 2 is the former’s parkour system. The Intricate traversal system of Dying Light 2 has only improved since the original game and has become a stand-out feature in the series. The improved parkour perfectly accents the game’s melee-focused combat, so including guns would only interrupt the fluid combat mechanics.
With that said, Dying Light 2 removing guns could greatly benefit Dead Island 2. Without having to worry about establishing in-depth traversal mechanics, Dead Island 2 can put all of its attention on combat and weapons. Based on the gameplay trailer, it seems that Dead Island 2 is putting a lot of detail into the game’s combat with each weapon having its own practical use. Firearms should especially shine in Dead Island 2 as each different gun intends to be unique and effective against the hordes of zombies in its own way.
Dead Island 2 launches February 3, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
