Dying Light

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Game Information
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Developers: Techland
Publishers: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux
Genre: survival horror
Players: 1-4
Rating: 8.9/10

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Synopsis

Dying Light is an action survival game presented in first-person perspective. The game is set in a vast and dangerous open world. During the day, you roam an urban environment devastated by a mysterious epidemic, scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to help you defeat the hordes of mindless, flesh-hungry enemies the plague has created. At night, the hunter becomes the prey as the infected grow in strength and aggression - but even more lethal are the nocturnal, inhuman predators that leave their nests to feed. You will need to make use of all your skills and any available means to survive till dawn.

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Plot

In this game you play as the character Kyle Crane who is hired by the Global Relief Effort (GRE) to go to the zombie infested city Harran in order to retrieve a file that was stolen by Kadir Suleimen. The GRE regularly sends airdrops with supplies not only to help survivors who are stuck in the city, but to make their company seem more humanitarian. Crane is airdropped into the city of Haran where he runs into bandits and is bit by a zombie moments later. You are saved by Jade Aldemir who brings you to the tower which is a safe haven for survivors. You later learn how to parkour and are sent on missions to help protect the tower and survivors from the bandits who are apart of Rais's gang and zombies roaming the city. As you progress you later learn more info about the intention's of your company and Rais's gang.

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Gameplay

Dying Light is developed by the company Techland who is known for creating the game dead island. Right off the bat when playing you can tell the similarities from Techland's original dead island game that they updated and re-introduced into this game. From the skill trees that upgrade your character's abilities to the inventory and crafting that takes place in the game. When first playing this game you can see the beautiful, yet depressing city of Harran and the atmosphere that techland created that really buckles you in for hours of fun. This open-world map is very chaotic at times and has loads of areas to discover. You will find yourself discovery something new everytime you play this game and I like that the most about it. Day and night cycles really are a major component for this game as they set the mood for an intense and adrenaline pumping experience that will always leave you at the edge of your seat. During the day it is best to roam around the world scavenging for supplies and weapons that can help you survive the night as well as getting most missions out of the way before night time arrives. Zombies during the day aren't really a problem when there are small groups of them, but when there are hordes of zombies strategic planning and a vast amount of weapons are very useful. It is your best bet to not make as much noise during both day or night as doing so will lead to hordes of zombies attempting to tear you apart. When night rolls around it is your best bet to hide in the shadows not to be seen by any zombies. Zombies are much stronger and faster during the night and the low visibility increases the amount of difficulty and makes for intense gameplay that's really enjoyable and exciting.During the night you also have increased strength and agility that will help you if you are attacked while roaming the streets at night. Not only do you have to worry about normal infected during the night, but special infected roam the streets scanning the area for any living being that is to be spotted out in the open. This makes for a unique experience every cycle you go through. If you are to survive the night you are rewarded with xp that will help upgrade your character. There are plenty of different enemies in the game ranging from bandits to special infected that each have there own abilities. Tons of weapons also help you survive during the day and night ranging from pistols to crowbars each with their own upgrades that can be applied to make the weapons better. Parkour movement in this game actually fits quite well and is really enjoyable. Buildings and other objects are set up so that you are able to easily maneuver around the city with ease. You have the option to fight or flight while you play which can change the outcome of your scenarios at any given moment. Traps placed around the map either by you or survivors can give you a slight advantage at times and can also help create a distraction for a quick get away. This game is also great because you can have insane amounts of fun in both singleplayer or multiplayer. As you progress into the story and completion of the game you will be able to upgrade your skill tree that can enhance your experience greatly. There are 3 skill trees to upgrade: agility, survivor, and power. Each have there own unique abilities that can change the way you play the game. As I played I found that side quest were better at times then the main quests themselves. With over 100 side quests there were many that I found to have a better story then the main story itself and I spent loads of time playing side quests then I did the original story. I do think that rewards for side quests could be better as you are normally awarded money and xp, which I don't think is a bad thing, but most of the money I never really put to use. Combat in this game is good, but it could be better. Fighting zombies with certain heavy melee weapons or any melee weapon in general feels clunky and weird at times. Guns are great, but shooting attracts zombies into that area which can really turn out for the worst. Fighting certain bandits and special infected are hard when there are mostly melee weapons to be found through out the city. Bandits are especially hard at times because of their access to guns, throwing stars, and their combat skills that help counter act your attacks during a fight. Multiplayer makes for a great time with friends as there are many things to do through out the city. There are also many challenges available that can make for a fun and friendly competition. Modes like "Be the Zombie" leaves a group of people in the city trying to fend off a zombie controlled by another player. Overall I think this is a very great game that can be played for hours on end!

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Graphics

The graphics in this game are phenomenal. Techland's Chroma 6 engine helps create a great visual experience that will enhance your gameplay. The city is lively during both day and night with the help of a wide range effects that create an apocalyptic atmosphere. The environment is greatly detailed with plants reacting to the weather as well as animals. Dynamic weather occurs every so often with storm like conditions that really change the mood of the game including at night. Blood and other fluids cover the screen at times blocking your visibility which I think is really cool because it changes up your options on whether to fight or flight. The day and night cycles are excellent. When it turns night shadows are your best bet to stay hidden at night and your use of the flashlight is needed in order to move around which is brilliant. And during the day the sun creates amazing shadows and floating debris from burning buildings can be seen in the sky. Smoke from destroyed buildings and cars really show the struggle and terror that people had during the beginning of the infection. I never really ran into any issues except for some dropped frames caused by the environment at some points. Overall I think the graphics are great and that they really did make the game look gorgeous on next-gen consoles.

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Controls

Controls in this game took some time for me to get used to in the beginning. Instead of the A button being your normal jumping button it is now set to RB, which confused me a lot while playing. You can throw grenades and other equipment with LT and LB is used for kicking. These button layouts can be switched, but they do not give you many options. The use of weapons at times feels awkward as hitting bandits, players, and zombies sometimes takes too long at times and melee weapons feel dull and heavy. Player movement throughout the city is very smooth and is perfect. Running, jumping, and climbing feels enjoyable as there are always more jumps and runs to make right after the next one making for endless fun. I think overall the controls are good, but need improving. People will probably have trouble getting used to the controls on console at first, but overtime they will begin to get the hang of it. I hope they add more customization towards button/stick layout in the future as I think it would help create a better experience for people.

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Ratings (Personal)
Plot: 8/10
Game play: 9.5/10
Graphics: 9/10
Controls: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.9/10