Dead Islandis absolutely crammed full of the bastards.

You cant turn around without some moaning idiot trying to eat your liver.

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In many ways,Dead Islanddisplays a very derivative approach to game design.

This is not an accusation of plagiarism.

Not least because every element is formed into something that improves the overall experience.

Respawning is instant, and erases none of your progress.

Dying quickly becomes literally the easiest way out of a tricky situation.

Other non-zombies are no better at bringing home the terrors of a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

This has a lot do with how their requests are conveyed.

The population ofDead Islandare almost totally sedentary, delivering every ounce of their exposition through dialogue.

Speech alone cannot convey realistic emotion if the speakers body stands motionless.

The occasional cut scenes do no better at providing horrific narrative impetus.

To begin with, catering for co-op play presents some issues.

This odd dissonance is the first in a huge list of problems I have with these dramatic interludes.

Games have had an easy road for too long in this department.

The writing is equally at fault.

At one point, a pivotal bad guy shouts Son of a bitch!

at a woman he has just shot.

If youre going to recycle stock invectives, at least find one that applies to the right gender.

Dead Islandmakes frequent attempts to pluck at our heart strings, but fails completely every time.

During one notable moment, the possibility of a key NPC having been raped is hinted at.

These terrible interludes, coupled with incredibly forgiving death mechanics, lead to total narrative apathy.

The joy ofDead Islandgame is in killing zombies, gaining levels, and finding loot.

As soon as the pleasure of that repetition runs dry, the game is essentially over.

(There is, of course, the usual co-op caveat.

it’s possible for you to rent or buyDead IslandatBlockbuster.co.uk.

Rating:

3 out of 5