Review | 2017.05.30

Dying Light courtyard blood pool

The newest game J and I are playing is Dying Light: The Following. AKA parkour simulator. AKA lockpicking simulator.

Dying Light rooftop stadium screenshot

First off, it meets the multiplayer criterion swimmingly: the full campaign is playable co-op.


In contrast to the classic zombie shoot-em-up, most of the game is spent avoiding zombies by using sweet freerunning skills. You can, of course, always take them on, but it's just a hinderance. The better strategy is to run on the tops of cars or use your grappling hook to dart about rooftops. The parkour is kind of like Assassin's Creed, but not as simple as mashing square to do cool things, so it's pretty rewarding when you get it dialed in.

Dying Light weather cranes improvised weapon Broadcast

Melee weapon creation is a big part of the inventory experience. It boils down to finding materials to, say, add electrical damage to your machete. Guns and throwables do eventually come on the scene, but melee weapons are always the close quarters/silent option.


It's an open world game with a lovely cityscape and Fallout-quality building interiors.

Dying Light Rais punk mohawk mask

The plot makes it to video game bingo pretty quickly. Virus, government cover-up, tragic death of bright-eyed youth, tragic death of love interest, betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. There are some fun and quirky NPC interactions though.

Dying Light inventory Police Rifle Upgrades menu

There is inventory and item rarity, you level to gain new moves and buffs. It's enough to want to chase xp but it doesn't drown you in menus and micromanagement.

thumbnail Dying Light Pact with Rais thumbnail Dying Light Rais apartment complex fortress thumbnail Dying Light a survivors guide to zombieland
thumbnail Dying Light Rais threatening
thumbnail Dying Light x-ray vision thumbnail Dying Light improvised saw axe weapon thumbnail Dying Light museum gauntlet
thumbnail Dying Light Public Face bodies thumbnail Dying Light burning city thumbnail Dying Light skyscraper
thumbnail Dying Light decapitated head on crate thumbnail Dying Light highway thumbnail Dying Light lockpicking

I think we're near the end of the campaign, but we'll definitely be jumping on that dlc that apparently introduces vehicles.



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