Last year, Dying Light 2 debuted during Microsoft’s E3 2018 Xbox press conference. The first Dying Light saw success from zombie survival enthusiasts and we have covered various stories from the first game. Because of that coverage and the imminent release of Dying Light 2, I will be playing through the first game when I return from California. Still disappointed that there wasn’t a reveal of Dead Island 2 at E3 this year (holding out hope though) but we did get an amazing preview of Dying Light 2.
At E3 2019, we joined MrRoflWaffles and other members of the industry in previewing Dying Light 2. Going into the preview, we were under the impression that the gameplay that we were about to witness would be unique; sadly, we were mistaken. Despite Techland staff asking us our opinion on the decision-making process, the preview was scripted. We did not realize this completely until looking at the art provided by Techland.
Dying Light 2 is the story of Aiden Caldwell, an infected survivor. The game starts 15 years after humanity has succumbed to the virus. The last human settlement is on the brink of collapse and tensions are at an all-time high. During the day, humanity reigns supreme, conquering the creatures of the night. However, when darkness rises, the ghouls come out to play.
Aiden is an exceptional specimen with agility and combat skills that would rival the ancient Greeks. These skills make Aiden the peacekeeper of the struggling society and a powerful enemy or ally to colonists. The decisions that the player makes impacts the world, altering the terrain and alliances. Areas cleared out can be explored, providing new supplies or opportunities. Aiden can explore the world but may have to take some risks to succeed.
The game will feature seamless drop-in capability, allowing players to witness their friend’s world and see how their decisions impacted the colony. Dying Light 2 can be played cooperatively throughout the entire campaign. Play with two to four friends and witness the beginning of the end or the start to something new.
The art and combat of Dying Light 2 is an improvement compared to its predecessor. The dynamic lighting and shadowing create a realistic environment. The improved movement system allows Aidan to move effortlessly through the colony. The player can even use zombies to land, slide, or glide through the environment. Zombies are more reactive to UV light too, making for more opportune survival scenarios.
A Brief Chat with the Creative Director
Due to being extremely busy and having other appointments at E3 2019, we only had a little bit of time to speak with Adrian Ciszewski, Creative Director of Dying Light 2. Below are the few questions we had the opportunity to ask the creative director and his answers.
MR: So why was Dying Light 2 delayed until 2020?
AC: We really wanted to hammer out the open world elements of Dying Light 2, while altering some aspects of the game that were previously set in stone
MR: What is one feature about the game that you most look forward to sharing that has been openly announced?
AC: The choices and consequences. I love it because it’s a connection between gameplay and the narrative. The choices you make on the narrative side impact the gameplay and the choices you make on the gameplay side. So I really like this blend. Our opinion is this is the ultimate version of the open world; because the open world is the keyword. So you have a narrative that is really open to you that is the ultimate goal.
MR: For those who haven’t played Dying Light and just jump right into Dying Light 2, what should they expect?
AC: It’s an open world, action game with choices and consequences with strong narrative elements. Dramatic, different environments. Wherever you go, you go for super high-level discovery. That aspect is a crucial thing for the open world game. So you can explore the world without even making a quest and find something that’s interesting for you. Plus choices and consequences on top of that. So it’s good to go back and see what’s happening because of the choices that you made leading to potential new discoveries.
We do want to thank Adrian Ciszewski for taking the time to answer a few of our questions.
Overall Thoughts
Dying Light 2 looks amazing, even if the preview we were shown was scripted. The art and realistic visuals and sound effects immerse the player into the shoes of Aidan. Dying Light 2 will allow players to think outside of the box regarding how they want to handle situations. The city being altered based off of the player’s decisions is also a game changer for this genre, allowing players to experience brand new worlds each time they play and increasing its replayability.
Dying Light 2 is expected to launch in Spring of 2020 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. More information can be found on the official website.
