Dead Island: Definitive Edition A Brutal, Bloody Zombie Adventure with a Fresh Coat of Paint
Score: 7/10
Dead Island: Definitive Edition on Xbox One is a remastered version of the original 2011 zombie action RPG that offers a combination of open-world exploration, brutal melee combat, and a strong survival horror vibe. The Definitive Edition brings updated graphics, enhanced textures, and smoother gameplay to the table, while preserving the core elements that made the original Dead Island a cult hit. While it may not be a perfect remaster, its a solid choice for those looking for an intense, zombie-filled adventure with friends.
Gameplay: The core gameplay of Dead Island is a mix of first-person action, RPG progression, and survival mechanics. Players find themselves on Banoi Island, a tropical resort island overrun by zombies, and must fight to survive, gather resources, and help other survivors. The game's combat is heavily focused on brutal melee attacks, with players using everything from blunt weapons to knives and improvised tools to dispatch the undead. Gunplay is present but secondary, as the game encourages up-close and personal zombie-killing action.
One of the standout features of Dead Island is the RPG-style progression system. Players can level up their character, choose skills, and find or craft new weapons, making the combat feel more personalized and satisfying. The open-world design allows for plenty of exploration, with side missions, hidden loot, and a sense of discovery that keeps things fresh. However, while the world is large and varied, it can feel a bit repetitive, especially with certain objectives like escorting NPCs or gathering resources.
The remaster also introduces more polished visuals, making the environments look crisper and more detailed, though it still retains some of the original's dated elements in terms of animations and overall presentation.
Story: The story of Dead Island is fairly basic: a zombie outbreak devastates Banoi Island, and you play as one of several survivors trying to escape the island and uncover the cause of the outbreak. The narrative doesnt stand out, but the games focus is more on the gameplay and the experience of surviving in a chaotic, zombie-infested world. While the story has some decent moments, the real driving force behind the game is the exploration, combat, and cooperative gameplay.
Graphics and Sound: Visually, Dead Island: Definitive Edition looks better than the original game, thanks to updated textures and more refined character models. The environments are still impressive, with tropical beaches, jungle areas, and decaying buildings that make the island feel alive (in a twisted, zombie-infested way). However, the remaster doesnt quite reach the level of more modern open-world games, and some of the animations can feel stiff or outdated.
The sound design is solid, with the game offering creepy ambient noises, intense zombie growls, and the satisfying crunch of combat. The voice acting is hit-or-miss, with some characters delivering their lines with a bit too much cheesiness, but it still adds to the B-movie charm of the game. The soundtrack, with its mix of ambient music and upbeat tracks during intense moments, sets the tone well.
Replayability: The game offers a decent amount of replayability, especially with its cooperative multiplayer mode, where you can team up with friends to take on the zombie hordes together. The side missions, character progression, and loot grinding add depth to the experience, but the core mechanics can feel repetitive after extended play. The open-world nature and variety of weapons keep things interesting, though, especially in co-op where you can take on the games challenges with friends
