Back For More!
HIGHThe game still holds up after more than five years.
LOW Is it me or does the game really enjoys popping up loading screens?
WTF Nothing! It’s all good!
Editor’s Note: This review covers the all-in-one collected Platinum Edition of the open-world first-person parkour/zombie game Dying Light from a high-level perspective. For those not already familiar, additional information and in-depth specifics for each piece of content can be found here:
Dying Light by Dan Weissenberger
Dying Light: The Bozak Horde by Dan Weissenberger
Dying Light: The Following by Brad Gallaway
Dying Light: Hellraid by Dan Weissenberger
2015 was one of those ‘golden years’ for videogames. That twelve month span marked the release of landmark titles like Bloodborne, Batman: Arkham Knight, Fallout 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. In the company of such huge names, lesser-known titles such Dying Light got a bit lost, but time has proven that some of these smaller entries were more than worthwhile. Dying Light is one of them.
I played Dying Light in 2015 when it originally released and I finished it, moving on to The Following soon after. I haven’t played it since then, but starting up the Dying Light Platinum Edition not only brought back tons of memories, it also provided me with more entertainment than I expected — I didn’t plan on finishing the campaign again, but before I realized it, the credits were rolling!
Technically, this game is still pretty solid for a five-year-old title. The parkour and traversal mechanics are as fluid as ever and the combat remains satisfying. I still enjoy hearing the squishy sound of the zombie skulls being crushed underfoot!
This Platinum Edition contains every piece of DLC released for Dying Light (click the links above for more info) but there are new skins, weapon and item blueprints, and even special game modes.
I played every single mode for this review and to my surprise, they were all functional and populated with other players! I kicked some skeleton asses in Hellraid with the help of a random stranger, I ran some errands with three other guys in the campaign’s co-op mode, and I became an undead myself and invaded some poor guy’s game in Be the Zombie mode. The community playing Dying Light is still alive and kicking, just like the survivors in the game!
Parkouring from building to building or driving through the countryside in The Following is still exciting, but I do have to say that when it comes to loading times and screens, things aren’t up to modern standards. Loading screens in Dying Light are simply too frequent — every time the player navigates a location outside the main map, a loading screen gets in the way of the action. It’s pretty annoying.
It’s not overstating the case to say that overall, Dying Light has aged like fine wine. There aren’t many parkour-focused games to begin with, and and of those, the ones containing zombies are even more scarce. So, Dying Light is still a unique experience and I’m glad to report that it still holds up. It may have gotten a bit lost in the shuffle when it first debuted, but there’s no better time to play it than now.
Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Techland. It is currently available on XBO, PS4 and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and was reviewed on PC. Approximately 20 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode as well as co-op multiplayer modes available. The game was completed.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. This is an action-adventure game in which players assume a free runner sent to fight zombies and humans. Players use melee weapons to kill enemies. Enemies often get dismembered and decapitated during combat and mutilated bodies with exposed organs/viscera are frequently depicted. The words “f**k,” “sh*t,” and “a*shole” can be heard in the dialogue.
Colorblind Modes: The game contains no colorblind mode.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game contains subtitle for dialogues and speeches, but audio cues made by the zombies are not included. This will make the PvP mode Be the Zombie really difficult. So, this game is not fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: Yes, this game’s controls are remappable.
- Hell Pie Review - November 23, 2022
- Submerged: Hidden Depths Review - March 31, 2022
- UNHyPED: Narrative In The Forgotten City - March 18, 2022
