Dying Light

Games about zombie apocalypse are becoming the next dominant genre in action and adventure. These days, developers are trying to exploit the setting in any way they can, and sometimes, really interesting products are developed as a result.

Dying Light is one of them.

It is a first-person action game, typical of Techland having decades of experience in this subgenre. However, this time it is melee-oriented rather than focused on gunplay, also the trend developers have been playing with for years. The game combines fist fighting, knives and sticks with jumping around (parkour in the game is quite entertaining, adding the dynamic feel), and using a grappling hook for quick getaways. It's nothing revolutionary, but solid enough not to call the game a ripoff of previous hits having the same gameplay elements.

The graphics are good enough for 2015, but not revolutionary in any way. However, the world visualized is something far more interesting. It has a day and night cycle, attempt at social AI. You operate in a quasi-open world environment populated by enemies both human and undead, and each have their own strategy depending on their surroundings. So, you can play with your enemies the way that is the most fun for you: be a Rambo-like exterminator or a guerilla fighter luring the unsuspecting undead into traps, hunting them or escaping like a coward. Again, all that has been done previously, but it works here, so no sense complaining.

There are, however, some issues with the balance and difficulty. It's rather uneven, sometimes getting through an area is too hard even for experienced players, and at some moments the game is so easy and that's boring. Again, a painful trademark of Techland. If you like the challenge, you might not even notice it. Levelling up your character using a simple system based on experience points may also help.

The story is the only part that is seriously lacking. It's too standard, rushed, and devoid of anything that would make it memorable. It has been said that at some point the developers had to rehash the plot and invent it from scratch. It really shows. As a result, the game really shines only in multiplayer.

All in all, Dying Light is entertaining, fun, and worth trying out. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking from another zombie apocalypse game.