When we first discovered that the next “Dead Island†installment was to adopt the multiplayer online battle arena practice, we were a bit skeptical- and with good reason.
“Dead Island†is a franchise that never seemed to fully establish its footing, so undertaking a whole new genre felt a little too ambitious; however, after spending some time with “Dead Island: Epidemic,†we began to consider that this may be just what the series needs. This free-to-play MOBA is a surprising blast, it’s competitive, exciting and highly addictive, with just enough at its core to remind players it’s still a “Dead Island†game.
“Dead Island†isn’t really known for its storytelling, hell, to be blunt, “Dead Island†isn’t very good at storytelling, which is exactly why this new approach is so appealing.
With added multiplayer game modes like Horde Mode and Scavenger, players aren’t forced into having a great time with a mediocre game, as in previous entries. Instead, they are allowed to enjoy what the series does best — cool weapon crafting, great co-op and fun leveling — all while disregarding any attempt at a compelling narrative…
…but that’s not to say there won’t be one. Developer Stunlock, who did not work on the first two games, will in fact take a crack at another “Dead Island†story. We were only able to play through the prologue, which we enjoyed, but it was a bit too short for us to really say whether or not the story is an improvement.
We did however play a ton of Horde Mode and Scavenger, which both proved to be extremely entertaining. The former is an online four-player co-op mode where you and three others must capture and secure supply posts while fighting off waves of the undead. At the end of each level there is a boss that normally requires the entire team working together in order to take down.
The latter Mode, and arguably the better one, requires three teams of four, each assigned the same task: gather supplies and return them to your supply truck. This Mode often encourages you to think on your feet, since your basic instinct will be to avoid or kill the competing teams, but at times you may need their help, even if it is for a short amount of time and you ultimately have to backstab them. Supplies can be gathered in different ways, you can conquer supply posts, rely on random drops from killing zombies or eliminate the beast that appears on the map at some point during the match.
And what is a “Dead Island†game without a slew of ridiculous weapons, right? During our time with “Dead Island: Epidemic,†we’ve slain hundreds of zombies using comical weapons like the Pizza Cutter, Death Dish (an electrified satellite dish) and The Bugzapper. Each weapon can be individually upgraded, motivating you to try them all.
Another returning feature is the ability chose and level up your character — or class, technically, since every character has different skills and abilities — though we haven’t played enough to see what the real perks of doing so are.
“Dead Island: Epidemic†will be an interesting addition to the franchise, though it has the potential to be the best. Its focus on cooperative gameplay shines through its new multiplayer modes and hopefully Stunlock can create a compelling enough story to keep players interested. Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, this is certainly a free-to-play title to look out for.
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