Dead Island 2 reviews round up – a hell-a good time

It almost seemed like it’d never happen, but later this week the long-promised Dead Island 2 will be with us – but what do the critics think of the zombie game? Let’s look to the reviews.

Of course, we’ll kick off with our own Dead Island 2 review – in which editor Ford felt the game gets off to a slow start before picking up. While the story seems to be as cliché as you’d expect from action-focused zombie fare, the gameplay itself is pretty fun, especially when you start unlocking all the later abilities and the visceral combat comes to the fore.

But what about other outlets? First off, Eurogamer’s review says the game feels close to its predecessor- for better and worse. “The rhythms of play are broadly as they were in 2011, however: hack zombies apart and hoard those crafting materials. There’s the same upfront emphasis on melee – you won’t get your hands on a gun till a few hours in, and you’ll seldom have enough ammo to rely on them – and the zombies themselves are a familiar spread.”

VG247 is a little more positive in its four star review, saying that the game offers everything it advertised. “Dead Island 2 is every bit the head-stomping blast that it promised to be. There are a few creases that Dambuster ought to iron out over the coming weeks, but if you’re hoping for mindless chaos and exceptional entertainment across the grindhouse slaughterhouse that is HELL-A, you’ve got it in spades right here.”

One thing most of the reviews seem to agree on is that Dead Island 2 shines in co-op. For example, in IGN’s 7/10 review: “If you’ve ever wanted to put your Wolverine claws straight through a zombie’s face or knock someone’s head off with a golf club, Dead Island 2’s got you. Its bloodsoaked melee combat and memorable characters are a lot of fun, especially when accompanied by friends in co-op multiplayer.” It’s not all roses for the multiplayer though, as the outlet does bemoan the slightly restrictive Dead Island 2 crossplay rules.

If you’re after a popcorn-esque, easily digestible game though – it looks like Dead Island 2 may be right up your street. As Rock Paper Shotgun’s review puts it: “This is a game that that understands its own entirely disposable nature, that knows it’s landing at the tail end of overwhelming zombie survival fatigue. Instead of trying to resist that, it embraces it, resulting in a breezy, messy adventure that has zero nutritional value, but will fill your bloodstream with yummy, delicious sugar.”

Of course, the game’s not going to be for those averse to gore – a point VGC’s 4/5 review picked up on. “There will be some people for whom the gore is too much, but equally, there will be horror fanatics that drink it up. We think it hugely elevates the game’s combat, especially as it’s obvious feedback as to how much damage you’re doing, what kind of weapons you should be using, and, more than anything, it’s absolutely hilarious to punch directly through someone’s face.”

You’ll be able to decide for yourself when Dead Island 2 arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC on April 21.

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