Techland developed, Deep Silver published Dead Island was not the zombie-slaying action-RPG hybrid that was promised. Instead it was a buggy, glitchy mess that was only really fun if you roped in some friends to make the undead dead again. Its sequel is out this week – and should fix all of the problems that plagued its predecessor. Let’s take a look at its current critical reception.
Here are the scores:
CVG – 5.9
Destructoid – 5
Eurogamer – 6
GameInformer – 8
GameSpot – 4
IGN – 7.2
Kotaku – “It’s too broken to be worth your time.”
PSU – 7.5
OPM UK – 5
Polygon – 5.5
VentureBeat – 65/100
VideoGamer – 5
That doesn’t paint a pretty picture, does it?
The common complaints seem to be that it hasn’t really progressed much from the original game – and it’s still a largely unfun, broken mess.
“What makes that so sad is that this feels like a series only a few great decisions away from being really good. A better script with a sense of humour, a bit more imagination in quest design, more coherent inventory management and character development… These things shouldn’t be unattainable goals for a developer that must be flush from the unexpected success of the first game. If there is to be more Dead Island – and I wouldn’t object to that – then those things must be high priorities for it to avoid another mauling,” says Eurogamer
Destructoid’s Jim Sterling says that “Being “just as good” isn’t good enough, especially not when Dead Island had things on its side that Riptide doesn’t. Those new to the series entirely will likely not notice the problems quite so much, and be as forgiving to it as newcomers were to Dead Island. While Riptide banks on you having loved the first, in actuality you have a lot more to gain if you’ve never touched it. “
Giving gamers “more of the same” isn’t a good thing, when your game wasn’t good to begin with. It’ll still be fun with a few friends, but it looks like Techland hasn’t learned from its mistakes – and made a few new ones to boot.
If I’m honest though, the only reason anybody knows or cares about Dead Island is because of that incredible, heart-wrenching trailer – that had absolutely nothing to do with the game at all.
Are you picking up riptide this week?
Last Updated: April 22, 2013
Matthew Figueira
April 22, 2013 at 13:03
I’ve yet to play the first one. Might pick it up on the next steam sale just to play some co-op with friends 🙂
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 22, 2013 at 13:06
I’ll pick it up if its on special and if that special is then on special
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
April 22, 2013 at 13:43
Specialception
matthurstrsa
April 22, 2013 at 13:10
Who paid off Game informer?
Sir Oldfart
April 22, 2013 at 13:32
Drugs
Sir Oldfart
April 22, 2013 at 13:14
What am I looking at?? We all know it was a buggy piece of shit from the moment I found out that the dude hanging by his neck in the palm tree was one of the testers.
The advert was great but the moment they showed all that Multi-player shit I lost all interest knowing that the narrative was not even thought of.
Just another zombie cash cow. Like that other one and the one before it and the one that made more money before that one that copied the other one.
COME ON GAMERS!!±!!!!! WHERE IS YOUR FCKING TASTE????
Go and buy the new Walking Dead game by Activision… hee hee hee go on I dare you :p
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 22, 2013 at 13:19
Zombie $ Cow, you can keep on milking it, and it won’t die…
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
April 22, 2013 at 13:45
Now we know why the publisher never set high targets for this game in the first place 😛
Gavin Mannion
April 22, 2013 at 13:53
to broken to be worth your time… ouch that must sting
umar bastra
April 22, 2013 at 13:57
I always wished this game was like the trailer …. all I ever wanted is a decent zombie apocalypse game … of which there is non. I am hoping DayZ will fill that gap for a single player zombie game in my heart.
Purple_Dragon
April 22, 2013 at 15:59
I don’t understand how a shitty game can get a sequel.
Charles
April 23, 2013 at 09:53
I thought the first Dead Island was fantastic. Put well over a 100 hours into it. Played it on my own though, tried my hand at co-op once but that’s really not my cup of tea. In my opinion it was brilliant as a single player game. Looking forward to Riptide.