Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition Review – That’s Gaming

The original Dead Island was stuck in development hell, and the sequel suffered the same fate. Dead Island 2 went through a notorious development cycle, with the project changing developers several times and eventually taking nine years to hit stores after its announcement. Fans of Dead Island can really wonder then, was it worth the wait.

Dead Island 2 is set some time after the events of the original game and introduces a largely new cast. The characters are set in a zombie-infested Los Angeles. Although each playable character has their own backstory, they have no unique character development. The real story comes from interactions with other survivors in LA, all trying to survive.

The story of Dead Island 2 is not particularly compelling and the ending is pretty disappointing. Sorry for the spoiler, but I’m not going to beat around the bush this time. The game has its moments and the interludes do grab you for humor, but still. Fans of the original game will be happy to see Sam B again, and some of the dialogue has a humorous, B-movie charm.

The game contains more than 20 main missions and 30+ side missions. Players can freely switch between completing the main story or exploring side content. The variety of main missions is surprising, but side missions often feel repetitive due to repeated backtracking. However, this is not the game’s biggest problem. Dead Island 2 is plagued by technical glitches. Bugs range from amusing situations, such as characters sinking through the floor, to serious problems where missions fail to progress despite completing requirements. While many bugs are easily resolved by loading an earlier save, they can make the game experience frustrating.

In co-op, a partner can often help get around technical problems. For example, if one player is stuck, the other can help move the game forward. Still, co-op is not without problems; synchronization errors can cause a partner to do something different on the host’s screen than on their own.

Combat starts off slow, but becomes more fun as players unlock new weapons and skill cards. The skill cards replace the traditional skill tree and can be customized to suit the situation or co-op partners. The game excels in brutal and realistic gore: zombies are literally torn to pieces and the level of detail is impressive.

Most zombies are standard shamblers and runners, but there are also special zombies with unique abilities. The Zompedia system helps players understand these enemies and exploit their weaknesses.

The loot in Dead Island 2 is generally rewarding, and players often have more weapons than they can carry. Weapons can be modified and upgraded, keeping early weapons competitive. Melee weapons form the core of the combat system, while firearms are less effective and sometimes frustrating due to input lag.

Conclusion

Despite the technical difficulties Dead Island 2 a fun co-op experience, especially for fans of mindless zombie action. Although it needs some updates to fix the worst bugs, fans of looters and co-op games can enjoy the brutal combat and exploring LA. However, it is a title best bought on sale.