Dying Light is what happens when Dead Island and Mirror's Edge had a baby, although anyone could expect that from the first game trailer. What I didn't expect is that Drying Light took the best of both games to make something that feels more like a true zombie game that almost any other.

From Mirror's Edge, it takes the parkour, and given that I didn't like Mirror's Edge, I didn't expect to enjoy it, but it's become one of the defining reasons I'd give for why the game is good. What this game got that Mirror's Edge sadly missed was the first person platforming doesn't work in closed environments. Everything is nice and open so that you can stretch your legs, and almost anything that you can see can be climbed on top of or used to be climbed on top of other things, all while zombies can only shamble around as you dart past them. It's fluid in a way that few games are, and the sheer joyful fun that comes from the freedom to hop around is unmatched on this scale.

This does somewhat contradict the established tone of the story, but the story itself isn't worth mentioning and not what I think we're here for, anyway.

What is worth mentioning is that even with all of my run and jump prowess, I never stopped behind afraid of the zombies. Combat as rather frantic, as you have weapons that degrade and a small stamina bar for fighting that makes it hard to take out even one of the bastards. Legging it is the better option most of the time, but it's not an option that comes without its own risk. Zombies can be almost anywhere, and while staying above the streets tends to be the better option, getting up there after you've fallen down can be tense if you're in a jam and don't have the time to check out what you're climbing on top of for the undead. Still, it never feels unfair. The game's controls are built around the freerunning mechanics and--for once in a game--surprisingly useful dodging controls. If you die, it's because you weren't prepared enough or ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up a jump or didn't know how to handle yourself, 100% of the time.

What I had wondered going in was how the game would handle its horror elements, The elements I've just mentioned make it tense, if nothing else. It does an adequate job at this with its atmosphere. That alone doesn't make it for me, though. If that was all the game had, I'd question the use of the horror tag. What sealed the deal for me were the story missions. They take advantage of all the tools in the box to make you scared. In one mission a little ways in, for example, you need to hop into a sea of zombies and set up a few traps inside the hood of some cars. All you can do is throw firecrackers in the general vicinity of where you wanted the zombies to go towards and cross your fingers as your character turned away from the hoarde for a few precious seconds. Moments like this make the game shine, and there's enough in here to recommend. I don't know if I'd call the game horror with those story missions, either, but it's close enough that horror fans will find something to love.

Still, I can't help but feel like the game is unrefined, somewhat. Scavaging is a chore and sometimes parkour can be frustrating with how fast you move. With the combat restricted as it is, the game can be somewhat of a bore at times, as you stick to the rooftops and prance above the town, more or less safe from danger. Once you get used to how to move around and get yourself out of a jam, there's not much the game does to spice things up to shake the feeling of security you begin to develop, which is disappointing. The ingredients are here, and the game does what it can to make use of them, but it doesn't come together in a truly wonderful way due to a lack of polish.

What is Dying Light, then? Dying Light is unique, fun, and better than the games that inspired it, and what more can you ask for from a game? I'd recommend a price drop before picking it up if you're lukewarm, but if you're not bored of zombies and the parkour looks fun to you, it's an easy recommendation at full price.

Dying Light is what happens when Dead Island and Mirror's Edge had a baby, although anyone could expect that from the first game trailer. What I didn't expect is that Drying Light took the best of both games to make something that feels more like a true zombie game that almost any other. From Mirror's Edge, it takes the parkour, and given that I didn't like Mirror's Edge, I didn't expect to enjoy it, but it's become one of the defining reasons I'd give for why the game is good. What this game got that Mirror's Edge sadly missed was the first person platforming doesn't work in closed environments. Everything is nice and open so that you can stretch your legs, and almost anything that you can see can be climbed on top of or used to be climbed on top of other things, all while zombies can only shamble around as you dart past them. It's fluid in a way that few games are, and the sheer joyful fun that comes from the freedom to hop around is unmatched on this scale. This does somewhat contradict the established tone of the story, but the story itself isn't worth mentioning and not what I think we're here for, anyway. What is worth mentioning is that even with all of my run and jump prowess, I never stopped behind afraid of the zombies. Combat as rather frantic, as you have weapons that degrade and a small stamina bar for fighting that makes it hard to take out even one of the bastards. Legging it is the better option most of the time, but it's not an option that comes without its own risk. Zombies can be almost anywhere, and while staying above the streets tends to be the better option, getting up there after you've fallen down can be tense if you're in a jam and don't have the time to check out what you're climbing on top of for the undead. Still, it never feels unfair. The game's controls are built around the freerunning mechanics and--for once in a game--surprisingly useful dodging controls. If you die, it's because you weren't prepared enough or cocked up a jump or didn't know how to handle yourself, 100% of the time. What I had wondered going in was how the game would handle its horror elements, The elements I've just mentioned make it tense, if nothing else. It does an adequate job at this with its atmosphere. That alone doesn't make it for me, though. If that was all the game had, I'd question the use of the horror tag. What sealed the deal for me were the story missions. They take advantage of all the tools in the box to make you scared. In one mission a little ways in, for example, you need to hop into a sea of zombies and set up a few traps inside the hood of some cars. All you can do is throw firecrackers in the general vicinity of where you wanted the zombies to go towards and cross your fingers as your character turned away from the hoarde for a few precious seconds. Moments like this make the game shine, and there's enough in here to recommend. I don't know if I'd call the game horror with those story missions, either, but it's close enough that horror fans will find something to love. Still, I can't help but feel like the game is unrefined, somewhat. Scavaging is a chore and sometimes parkour can be frustrating with how fast you move. With the combat restricted as it is, the game can be somewhat of a bore at times, as you stick to the rooftops and prance above the town, more or less safe from danger. Once you get used to how to move around and get yourself out of a jam, there's not much the game does to spice things up to shake the feeling of security you begin to develop, which is disappointing. The ingredients are here, and the game does what it can to make use of them, but it doesn't come together in a truly wonderful way due to a lack of polish. What is Dying Light, then? Dying Light is unique, fun, and better than the games that inspired it, and what more can you ask for from a game? I'd recommend a price drop before picking it up if you're lukewarm, but if you're not bored of zombies and the parkour looks fun to you, it's an easy recommendation at full price.