Dead Island is an action role-playing game developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver. The main focus of the game revolves around the struggle to stay alive in an open world infested with zombies, with a strong emphasis on close-quarters combat. The storyline primarily follows four playable characters in their attempt to survive and find a way to escape from the fictional island of Banoi.

Plot

Following a party, the survivors, consisting of rapper Sam B., Xian Mei (a hotel receptionist who also serves as a spy for the Hong Kong Government), Logan Carter (a former American football star), and Purna Jackson (a former police officer), find themselves roused from their sleep when a voice on the emergency intercom instructs them to evacuate the hotel.

After stumbling upon a shocking revelation, they come to realize that a large portion of the community has fallen victim to a highly contagious and infectious disease, which transforms them into deranged beings with an insatiable craving for human flesh. During a fleeting moment of vulnerability, one of these infected individuals manages to overpower them, but luckily, they are swiftly saved by lifeguard John Sinamoi.

Gameplay

Combats: As a lone wolf or alongside your trustworthy friends in co-op, you will experience thrilling combats, smashing heads, tearing zombies' bodies apart, and cracking skulls. Really, using all the available weapons is delightful through the visceral battles.
Explore: An entire open world is waiting for you on this deadly paradisiacal island. Overall, it is worth exploring as there are noticeably different biomes, from deserted cities to vast highlands, secluded beaches, and more. With your discoveries, you will understand this chaotic and dangerous world, feel the thrilling atmospheres, and discover the story behind the zombie outbreak.

XP and skills: The main gameplay loop relies on earning experience and leveling up. The more you complete quests and kill enemies, the more experience points you earn and level up. Then, you can build your own character by spending skill points on one of the three available skill trees, including Survival, Combat, and Fury.
Weapons: You will get your hands dirty throughout this brutal journey as, most of the time, you will use melee weapons in close combat. Firearms are also available, but not for the first half of the game. The really cool thing is that weapons are randomly generated and positioned in predetermined locations (but you can also find them on enemies), and they can be upgraded up to 3 times to boost their stats. The icing on the cake is that you can mod most weapons to add special features like poison, electrified blades, nails, and more.
Zombies: You will face all species of zombies, from the ordinary slow-walking zombies to more evolved beasts like the Infected, the Rams (tough, strong, and ferocious undead), and the Thugs (significant, brutish variants of Walkers). Bosses and fierce creatures will cross your path, too, so get ready to fight for your life.

Graphics and sound

The game is powered by the Chrome Engine, a proprietary game engine developed by Techland. Hence, the game features detailed environments, character models, and visual effects. The tropical island setting is richly rendered with lush vegetation, sandy beaches, and various architectural structures such as hotels, bungalows, and shantytowns. The graphics also incorporate a dynamic lighting system, creating dramatic atmospheric effects. Shadows and lighting are essential in establishing the game's eerie and suspenseful tone, particularly in dark interiors and nighttime environments.

Regarding sound, the game features immersive and atmospheric audio effects, ambient sounds, environmental sounds, weapons, and zombie feedback. Also, the music dynamically reacts depending on your actions and the gameplay's intensity.

Overall, the graphics and sound in Dead Island strive to create a visually engaging and immersive experience within its zombie-infested tropical island setting.

Duration and game modes

The game features single-player and multiplayer game modes where you can cooperate as a team of up to 4 players. You are likely to enjoy Dead Island for about 18-20 hours if you focus on the main objectives, and taking the time to discover everything can prolong the experience up to around 48-50 hours.

What do the reviews say?

Dead Island has a Metacritic score of 80/100, which is pretty good.

"Behind all the action there's an amazingly large and deep game. Of course, it's also possible to play it simple and concentrate on the main story, but if you start building your own weapons, it's even better." (GameStar)