Dying Light

Developer: Techland
Composer: Paweł Błaszczak
Genres: Shooter, Survival Horror, Platformer, Fighting, Action-Adventure, Action RPG
Publishers: Techland, Warner Bros. Games
Series: Dying Light
Release Date: January 26, 2015

About the Game:

Dying Light is a groundbreaking first-person zombie survival game from the creators of Dead Island and Call of Juarez. With over 50 industry awards and nominations, it has set new standards for the genre, offering a unique blend of parkour, combat, and survival mechanics. Set in the quarantined city of Harran, the game challenges players to survive a zombie apocalypse while making difficult moral choices. Will you remain loyal to your mission, or will you prioritize saving the survivors? The choice is yours.

Key Features:

Vast Open World:

Explore the city of Harran with unprecedented freedom. Use parkour to scale buildings, traverse rooftops, and reach remote areas, all while immersing yourself in the game’s atmospheric setting.

Creative Combat:

Engage in brutal, gory combat with a wide range of weapons and environmental tools. From crafting makeshift weapons to using traps, the game offers limitless ways to take down zombies and human enemies.

Day and Night Cycle:

Experience the dramatic shift in gameplay as day turns to night. During the day, you’re the hunter, but at night, you become the hunted. The terrifying Volatiles come out after dark, forcing you to fight or flee for survival.

4-Player Co-op:

Team up with friends in an exciting co-op mode. Tackle the story campaign together, complete side missions, and survive the horrors of Harran as a team.

DLC: The Following

Dying Light: The Following is a massive expansion that adds a new chapter to Kyle Crane’s story. It introduces a brand-new map, larger than all the base game maps combined, and offers a fresh narrative filled with mystery and danger.

New Story:

Uncover the secrets of an ancient cult that holds the key to Harran’s fate. The cult’s power and motives add a new layer of intrigue to the game’s world.

Modifiable Vehicles: For the first time, players can drive and customize buggies to traverse the open countryside. Turn your vehicle into a deadly weapon to plow through zombie hordes.

Non-Linear Progression: Gain the trust of the locals by completing quests and making choices that affect your reputation. Infiltrate the cult and uncover their secrets at your own pace.

My Final Thoughts:

Dying Light is a refreshing take on the zombie survival genre, combining parkour, combat, and a dynamic day-night cycle to create a thrilling and immersive experience. The game’s open world is vast and detailed, encouraging exploration and creativity. The parkour mechanics are particularly satisfying, allowing you to navigate the city with fluidity and precision. However, I found that using the grappling hook, while convenient, can make the game feel too easy and less challenging, so I recommend avoiding it for a more engaging experience.

The story is compelling, with Kyle Crane’s mission to uncover the truth about the zombie virus and the moral dilemmas he faces along the way. The addition of The Following DLC expands the narrative and introduces new gameplay elements, such as drivable vehicles, which add a fresh layer of excitement.

The day-night cycle is one of the game’s standout features. The transition from day to night completely changes the gameplay, turning the city into a terrifying playground where survival becomes the top priority. The co-op mode is also a highlight, offering a fun and chaotic way to experience the game with friends.

While Dying Light is nearly perfect, the grappling hook’s ease of use slightly detracts from the challenge and immersion. Despite this, the game remains a must-play for fans of zombie survival and action-adventure games.