As a sequel to Dying Light, which was a huge success in its time, Dying Light 2 is an action-packed, role-playing video game that has done its job to be a better and a far improved version of its predecessor with the strongest and biggest features of the game. The game is played from a first-person perspective, which is apt for a role-playing game.
The game was just recently launched on February 4, 2022. It took years – from 2015 to 2022 – in the making before this sequel was released. It was initially planned to be released in 2020 but was delayed for further development and the inclusion of additional features. Despite the extended time it took, it was all worth the wait. The combat movements are exceptional. With the addition of parkour, the game becomes fascinating and visually stimulating.
Published and developed by Techland, the game has been given a subtitle by its developer, “Stay Human,” in line with their intention to project that saving humanity from extinction is the core intention of the game. The developer has been hinting at different story accounts starting a few years back while the game was still in the making.
Despite gaining great words about the game, there remain some opportunities.
While the game has generally been rated above average overall, its narrative and its characters have caused some polarity for gamers and reviewers. Some called them disjointed, disappointing, frustrating, and not emotionally engaging, adding to the fact that the characters’ actions have not been compelling enough with their inadequate acting.
The game’s main plot is to bring back order in one of the largest human settlements, which is conflicted and has fallen apart since it has lost its battle against the virus and zombie outbreak in Harran some 15 years back.
The city is crumbling down. Filled with chaos, it has fallen back again to the dark ages where survival is at stake, but humanity itself where betrayal is just a way to survive, and even leaders can’t be trusted.
In a role-playing game, the gamer is set out to help keep humanity and preserve this settlement as he moves forward, makes his own decisions, carries out his actions, makes sacrifices, defeats enemies, and fosters alliances. All of which will be instrumental in how the game will turn out.
The game is set in 2036, when the zombie outbreak has eradicated almost all the population despite the efforts carried out before to keep the civilization alive. Aiden – the game’s protagonist – a survivor who once had been infected by a virus and possessed exceptional combative skills must use his talents and skills to help save the city. Aiden must solely rely on his physical skills and improvised weapons to attack his opponents or zombies with his bare hands. The firearms are absent for this game. He is considered a Pilgrim, an individual courageous enough to be in places to help keep humanity going and restore some of its lost glory.
While such characteristics sound promising, they have generally been regarded as insubstantial and dragging down the game in its entirety. Despite the impeccable graphics and visuals, the narrative is incoherent, inconsistent, and rather erratic. While playing the game from the first-person perspective is just right on the money, some camera shots and angle choices were a little unnecessary and a little overblown, causing some frustrations to gamers. The same reason is why it becomes difficult sometimes to precisely gauge the opponent’s distance, which would take time to become accustomed to.