Dying Light 2 Review

Introduction

Dying Light 2: Stay Human is a standalone experience with no direct connection to the first game in terms of story or setting. Set 20 years after the original, it’s a fresh entry that you can enjoy without playing the first game.

Story, Missions, and Side Activities

You play as Aiden, a wanderer who arrives in Villedor, a fictional European city, searching for his sister Mia. The story unfolds through flashbacks during the main missions, with around 20 main quests that average an hour each. Dialogue choices play a major role, influencing the story and leading to four possible endings.

The story isn’t the game’s strongest aspect due to issues with voice acting and character animations, but it does offer some thrilling moments. While the main missions can feel repetitive, they remain engaging thanks to the gameplay.

Villedor is divided into two sections: Old Villedor and the newer part, filled with skyscrapers. The game features a variety of side activities, from rescuing NPCs and defeating enemies to parkour challenges, activating power stations, and choosing factions to align with. These choices impact gameplay, with benefits depending on whether you ally with the Peacekeepers (PK) or Survivors.

Side quests often outshine the main story, offering creative and enjoyable experiences. The sheer amount of content ensures countless hours of exploration and gameplay.

Gameplay, Map Design, and Mechanics

The parkour system is one of the game’s highlights, building on the first game’s mechanics with significant improvements. While it can feel challenging early on due to limited stamina, it becomes incredibly fluid as you unlock new skills. The environment is designed to complement parkour, with climbable buildings and rooftops perfect for free running.

Combat is another standout feature. The game offers a variety of melee weapons, each with unique traits. You can modify weapons to add effects like poison or fire, enhancing their damage and durability. Skills allow for creative combat moves, such as jumping off enemies or performing powerful aerial strikes.

Enemies are diverse, including bandits and zombies, with distinct behaviors. Nighttime adds a layer of danger, as stronger zombie types appear, forcing players to either fight strategically or escape.

Graphics, Technical Performance, and Localization

Played on an Xbox Series X, the game offers three graphical modes: 60 FPS at 1080p, 1800p at 30 FPS, and 1080p with ray tracing at 30 FPS. While the visuals are decent, they don’t fully utilize next-gen hardware. However, the artistic direction stands out, especially the detailed cityscapes and atmospheric lighting.

Technical issues like glitches and bugs are present, occasionally requiring restarts. While not game-breaking, these issues can disrupt immersion. Arabic localization is well-implemented for menus and dialogue, though some translations could be more precise.

Sound and Dialogue

The sound design enhances the game’s atmosphere, particularly during nighttime with eerie zombie sounds and visceral combat effects. The soundtrack is functional but not memorable, while voice acting is hit-or-miss, with Aiden and Frank standing out as exceptions.

Conclusion

Dying Light 2 excels in gameplay and parkour mechanics, making it a must-play for fans of zombie survival and open-world exploration. Despite its flaws, the game offers a thrilling and addictive experience.

Final Score: 8/10