My first impression upon seeing the very first gameplay trailer for Dead Island was thinking that it was nothing more than a first person Dead Rising. The more I watched, however, the more I started to realize that the game brought something of its own personal flavor to the table. The game had Role-Playing elements mixed in with gunplay, first person fighting, a gigantic array of weapons (pretty much anything not nailed to the floor is ripe for the brain bashing picking) and an expansive island all for your zombie slaying enjoyment. But even all of those promises didn’t have me convinced…until I played the demo at E3. I now see that this game has so much going for it and this was only after a brief demo.
The show floor demo gave me a taste of the opening of the zombie outbreak. You wake up after being unconscious for an undisclosed amount of time and you’re almost immediately thrown into the world with little more than a boat paddle in your hand and given the freedom to do whatever you want and go wherever you want. The game really does make sure you feel like any and everything can be used as a weapon. I was also told that the whole island was up for exploration although I was not told if the buildings in the distance were accessible. Alas, I did not have a chance to find out as the floor demo was on a five minute timer.
What little bit of the game I did get to play was super entertaining and addicting. It really did feel like playing Condemned with zombies. Being able to pick up almost every little thing you see as a weapon and the ability to craft new Frankenstein-type weapons also adds a feeling of a more expansive Dead Rising. The game definitely is shaping up to be another game worth the $59.99 price tag. If you feel as if last year burnt you out on zombie games, you may just find yourself back into them after giving this title a run. Look forward to our review of the game closer to its release date this upcoming September.
