DYING LIGHT 2
The parkour action is proving infectious
Format PS4 ETA Summer 2020 Pub Techland Publishing Dev Techland
This zombie postapocalypse doesn’t just use a span of 15 years to set itself apart from its predecessor. In this sequel, you take on the defined calf muscles of new, infected protagonist Aiden Caldwell as he parkours across a city waiting to be shaped by your choices.
You’ll be clambering, wallrunning and grapple-hooking your way through the city using almost twice as many parkour manoeuvres as you could in the last game. You can even use the infected to break a steep fall.
The zombies themselves tend to prefer the night and the darkest corners of the city. They’re not as easily avoided this time round, and if you spend too long surrounded by them in dark areas the situation can become perilous for Aiden – if the infected don’t eat you then your own infection will be the reason you bite it. But while on the one hand the infection has grown that much more virulent, zombies have in turn become even more susceptive to a blast of UV rays to the face. Shining your UV torch will keep them at bay while you try to find another way out.
ONE WITH BITE
You aren’t just skittering up walls and through vents avoiding combat, however. Weapon crafting returns, offering an armoury that’s only slightly less impressive to behold than the blood gushing from the hapless goon who’s most recently met the business end of our prized pokey stick. Fighting’s not all gore and glory; heavily armoured enemies will force you to strategise. The grappling hook can be used in mid-fight, either to turn the environment against your enemies or to provide the perfect platform to divekick your adversary in the head.
The city is frequently gripped by crisis. In our extensive demo, Aiden is tasked with restoring the water supply after a meeting between faction leaders goes awry. Decisions and consequences come thick and fast as embarking on this quest means at least one of
“DECISIONS AND CONSEQUENCES COME THICK AND FAST.”
your allies will kick the bucket, but exactly which one is determined by your actions.
Choices affect how the world changes too, as by the end of the quest the detailed topography of the city can change, with a new area opening up for keen exploration and a dangerous new enemy type emerging from the slurry. You can explore the city for yourself next summer.