Dead Island 2 review: Sun-drenched zombie game is not dead good

radiotimes.com:

Developer Dambuster Studios and publisher Deep Silver will launch Dead Island 2 this week, finally ending the long-awaited zombie game's troubled development.

Multiple developers have taken a stab at reanimating this sun-soaked horror franchise in the years since Techland (the original developers that have since moved onto the Dying Light franchise) launched the original game in 2011 and its Riptide follow-up in 2013.

Yes, you could argue that this new one should be called Dead Island 3, and since Dambuster's new game is set in Los Angeles, you could also argue that is doesn't feature an island at all – but you can't argue with the dead part! Is the game any good, though? Read on for our full thoughts!

Firstly, it's worth noting LA (despite not being an island) is a cool setting from a zombie game. The bright blue skies and holiday-worthy vistas make a nice change from the doom and gloom that often permeates the zombie genre's gaming efforts (see: the miserable European village at the heart of Resident Evil 4 last month).

The developers have clearly had fun ideating around the stereotypes of LA, as well. You'll come across washed up actors, has-been rockstars, zombified gym bros and over-enthusiastic hangers-on as you work your way through the story, and you'll also get to visit garish hotels and over-the-top movie sets as you progress through the nicely varied levels on offer.

However, it does feel somewhat jarring that game doesn't offer a full open world, instead being split into various different areas with old-fashioned loading screens in between them. This creative decision breaks the immersion somewhat, pulling you out of the action and stopping LA from feeling like a fleshed-out place.

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