Game Review: ‘Dying Light 2: Stay Human’

February 2, 2022

Written by Daniel S. Liuzzi

In 2015 players and zombie fans were introduced to Dying Light, a twist not seen in the genre of survival horror, a zombie apocalypse where parkour is a means of survival, and when the sun goes down, the true terror begins. Now players are tasked with returning to the world of Dying Light but now the infection is no longer contained and ravaged the world and where they must fight not only for survival but to literally stay human, this is Dying Light 2: Stay Human. I want to give a big thank you to Techland for the reviewing opportunity!

In Dying Light 2: Stay Human, players will play as Aiden, a survivor who wanders the wastelands rather than staying put for too long who are known in the game as “Pilgrims” who has arrived in the fictitious European city in search of his sister as well as clues to his past. Things get complicated as Aiden becomes infected by the new zombie strain from the previous game which the infection can be staved off as long as he stays in UV light.

Fans of the first game will be pleased to know that when it comes to Dying Light 2: Stay Human‘s controls, it’s pretty much the same as the first game but fans will immediately notice that the game’s map is MASSIVE in comparison to the first game! New players to the game series don’t worry, the controls are pretty straight forward and there are tutorials in-game as well as an option to reread instructions. Returning players will learn quickly not to trust their muscle memory with the controls as Aiden does not have the skills they’re used to using from the first game…yet.

The game’s soundtrack had greatly improved since the first game and offers quite a variety so your ears won’t get bored, speaking of your ears not getting bored, the ambient sounds have improved greatly as well, with an array of worldly sounds of the city where you hear life and death taking place.

When it comes to gameplay, returning players will notice some changes as well, for example when a weapon wears out, it’s gone unlike in the previous game that you can hang onto it but it’s not as strong as when you first got it. What’s new in this game not seen in the first is the choices and consequences mechanic. During some side missions as well as the main story missions, players will be given a choice in dialogue that will steer the story/mission into different directions leading to different outcomes for the mission as well as the story.  There are factions in the world and you can help tip scales in favor of one or the other by claiming territories for them, by doing so you can unlock things that will benefit Aiden as he travels through the city.

 

 

 

 

In the first game, it was more optional to go out at night when the danger was greater, but in Dying Light 2: Stay Human they have set it up where you have to go out at night more as it’s safer to enter buildings at night than in the day but just like in the first game, combat and parkour points are doubled at night.

Overall, Dying Light 2: Stay Human is one hell of a game! I dare say it’s better than its predecessor. At this time I have clocked in over 16 hours of gameplay and I barely scratched the surface of the game! There is something for both returning and new players to the game series alike, personally, I feel new players should play Dying Light first before playing this one as if they try playing it backward they may end up disappointed in the first even though it was an amazing game all in itself! The story is good and keeps you wanting more, the challenges are fun, the leveling up is rewarding, and the overall experience is enjoyable.

On my scale of 1-10, Dying Light 2: Stay Human earned a 10 for the new choices and factions mechanics, added incentive to go outside at night, and the focus of trying to keep Aiden from turning which adds tension.

Go it alone or with three friends in multiplayer co-op, Dying Light 2: Stay Human comes to PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 February 4th, 2022.

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