Dying Light 2 made a return to Gamescom 2019 with a brand-new gameplay demonstration. We’ve seen the game develop over the years and after spending some time watching this new gameplay, I must say I’m truly impressed. The team is certainly taking its time to make everything function the way they want it to but in the end, I’m pretty certain it will be worth the wait.
Enter Aiden Coldwell
At the beginning of the demo, we are introduced to Aiden Coldwell, our new protagonist in Dying Light 2. Aiden survived this zombie-infested post-apocalyptic world for a couple of years now, learning some impressive skills. Aiden’s not only a master when it comes down to handling melee weapons, but his parkour skills also enable him to travel through the world at an incredibly high speed. These are skills he’ll need to use a lot. At the start of the demo, one of your friends gets injured during a firefight. It’s up to you to decide if you want to chase the truck, including the ones who attack you, or if you stay with your friend, trying to find a doctor before time runs out. This was the first important decision in the game and if we believe the developers, Dying Light 2 will be filled with crucial moments where you’ll directly change the story and thus also your environment. Don’t take that too lightly, your decision does shape the future of the landscape. Later in the demo, we saw a new region being unlocked due to the actions of the player. If Aiden would have acted differently, this area would have remained closed. The same goes for your friend. If you stick with him, he’ll most-likely survive but if you chase the attackers, you’ll have your sweet revenge and secure more water for the people waiting back home while doing so. In this demo, the developer decided to chase the truck.
Move over Mirror’s Edge
This chase happened on foot, taking the time to demonstrate the impressive parkour mechanics. Just like Mirror’s Edge, Dying Light 2 is a first-person game, meaning you’ll have to act quick and need to constantly adapt to your environment while free running. While watching the demo, Aiden ran extremely fluent over rooftops, busting in windows, using zombies to break his fall and using his grappling hook and parasailer to increase his speed. Chasing the truck wasn’t an easy job and Aiden had to be careful which building he entered while chasing the truck. At one point, he dropped down to a dark cellar filled with zombies, needless to say, this situation was rather tricky to get away from. This also means that you never know what to expect in Dying Light 2, the world is certainly alive and there’s danger lurking behind every corner if you make the wrong move or the wrong turn, you might end up dead a bit too soon. I’ve seen a lot of demonstrations of Dying Light 2 over the years but this one was the most impressive one to date without a doubt. It’s clear that the team really understands the importance of the parkour mechanics and judging on this demo, we’re in for a blast!
Melee extravaganza
Of course, besides Parkour, Dying Light is also known for its brutal melee combat and the sequel certainly won’t disappoint. We’ve seen custom weapons sending electrical shocks, giant hammers, and even custom harpoons. The melee weapons are brutal and the damage they are able to deal is unseen for. It’s still a very bloody game if you manage to attack correctly but that’s the charm of the game really. It’s extremely satisfying to see your enemies literally being torn apart by your actions. Besides facing the human opponents, you’ll still encounter the infected too. The infected also adapted and changed their patterns and skills over the years. Meaning you’ll always need to use different tactics if you want to take them down as fast as possible. Judging from what we’ve seen, combat is extremely fun, offering enough depth and challenge to keep you entertained for a very long time to come. During combat, we also saw other tools being used as a distraction or way to surprise your enemies. The grappling hook, for example, can easily be transformed into a powerful weapon.
Early conclusion:
The new Dying Light 2 demonstration showcased a lot of progression and a reassurance that the team definitely understand what the fans want to see. The parkour mechanics are extremely fluent, the battles are brutal, the zombies are scary, and your decisions really matter. We simply can’t wait to dive back in, discovering everything there is to see.
