Dying Light Review

*Contains Spoilers*
An Absolute Thrill To Play

You are Kyle Crane, an operative hired by the Global Relief Effort (or GRE) to hunt down a man named Rais and retrieve an important file amid a viral outbreak that left the once vibrant city of Harran overrun by the undead.

If you have ever played Dead Island, chances are you’ll notice several similarities between the two games (which were, unsurprisingly, developed by the same studio - Techland). From the crafting system, plentiful side missions, and even some reused assets, Dying Light took everything we enjoyed about Dead Island and crafted something truly wonderful.

Graphically, Dying Light is gorgeous. From the slums to the city of Harran, every aspect of the environment is detailed and the zombies and creatures you encounter are downright unnerving. I have found myself, on more than one occasion, pausing my trek through the zombie infested wasteland to admire the game’s atmosphere.

When it comes to the game’s soundtrack, I believe it adds something very special to the experience. Most of the tracks evoke a mixed sense of duty and disaster, and the soundtrack as a whole incorporates elements of traditional Turkish music. It is fitting, considering the game takes place in a fictional Turkish city.

Relationship building goes a long way in this game, seeing as the more you do and discover, the more you become attached to supporting characters and care about their well being. Doing favors for people also earns you supplies which you can use to make healing items or bigger, better weapons. 

Leveling up is also a fun process. As you run, jump, climb, and fight, you earn experience that will help you unlock new abilities and make you a better survivor. If you choose to play the game in Nightmare mode (and I highly recommend trying it if you love a challenge) this becomes even more difficult because every death eliminates any experience you had earned for that level and you are forced to start over again.

One of the things I like most about the game is the all-too-realistic setting and mechanics. You’re fighting for your life in a city quarantined and overrun by victims of a virus at the request of people with ulterior motives, pitted against another group of survivors who embody the worst side of humanity, and to stay alive you must scavenge and parkour your way to safety. Firearms are available throughout the game, but I found it was best to avoid using them in most situations. The sound of using a firearm will alert more creatures to your presence and that, as the very name of the game suggests, is not advised at night, as more terrifying creatures than zombies roam Harran in the dark.

The game as a whole is a fairly lengthy experience if you take time to complete side missions and I highly recommend giving The Following DLC a try as well. Not only is it another lengthy addition to the game, but it provides some answers to questions you may have by the end of your playthrough. I’ll discuss The Following in greater detail in a separate review soon.

Overall, the concept and gameplay for Dying Light was well thought out and it kept me engaged throughout my entire playthrough. I honestly cannot sing this game’s praises enough. It was a rush of adrenaline from start to finish and I wish there were more titles like it out there. If you enjoy intense survival horror games, Dying Light is the game for you.

Good night, and good luck…

[Lady played Dying Light on PC with a mouse and keyboard]