Dying Light 2’s free update adds more of a horror-inspired aesthetic, giving players more of an immersive horror experience.
Who doesn’t enjoy playing a zombie video game? Certainly we do and who wouldn’t find something fascinating in their horrific, undead form? Well, as long as it stays within video gaming media and doesn’t become reality…
Zombies have long been an iconic staple in horror storytelling – from Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s monster, through George A. Romero’s zombie shufflers and ultimately to The Walking Dead comic book series and its live-action TV adaptions.
Imagine someone rising from the dead with cannibalistic intentions of feasting upon us like lunch-time dinner! That is exactly why zombies in video games resonate so powerfully; creating horror universes requires little in terms of restriction or imagination.
Zombies in video games remain popular characters across multiple franchises like Resident Evil, Dead Rising, Dead Space and Dead Island – with another notable title from Techland (developers of Dead Island), Dying Light.
Dying Light was released by Techland in 2015 and built upon what they learned with Dead Island back in 2011. Combining open world action with parkour gameplay that even rivaled that found in Assassin’s Creed.
Dying Light boasts an intense sense of horror when nightfall arrives and creatures grow ever deadlier, particularly the Volatile Zombies that relentlessly pursued players until either killed off or they had found refuge somewhere safe.
Techland released Dying Light 2: Stay Human in 2022, promising an even larger and better sequel experience than its predecessor. Unfortunately, however, many feel as if its vibrant new map may have taken away some of its horror.
PlayStation Lifestyle recently reported (via its Dying Light 2: Stay Human stream), Techland is aware of a decrease in scare factor within Dying Light 2, but they offer free updates in an attempt to restore some fearful atmosphere to this sequel game.
“Our aim was to recreate the atmosphere from Dying Light 1, but in its initial version [Dying Light 2], it felt too dark,” according to senior producer Michal Borecki. “So we attempted to strike a balance between scary dark nights from Dying Light 1 and approachable ones in Dying Light 2, we believe we have now found that balance.”
So what will this update bring us? For one thing, Volatiles will become a threat in the sequel and players can select an optional filter to make nighttime darker in-game. Furthermore, Borecki noted that flashlight and sound effects will also be improved to make stealth tactics more accessible while parkour will also be enhanced and so much more. ‘Good Night, Good Luck’ will launch live on 29 June 2023!
Dying Light 2: Stay Human was reviewed as “an almost predictable sequel that doesn’t offer anything novel, yet still proved immensely entertaining – something no AAA videogame can claim these days! I had so much fun!” In our review for Dying Light 2, we noted the following.
“Techland’s long-awaited zombie RPG mostly lives up to expectations in style, providing an expansive yet not entirely original open world playground filled with epic action, brutal combat and some hard choices – making the end of the world more entertaining than ever!” “Techland’s long-awaited zombie RPG mostly delivers what was promised – just try not to rush through its main story”
Dying Light 2: Stay Human has just hit PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
