In many ways, Techland’s “Dying Light 2 Stay Human” improves on its predecessor, yet the post-apocalyptic title is a tad rough around the edges. “Dying Light”, released in 2015, combined parkour traversal and weapons-based fighting in an open-world environment to create an intriguing zombie survival experience. “Dying Light 2” intends to tread new ground by refining and developing each of these main gameplay elements, making it one of the most anticipated games of 2022.
“Dying Light 2 Stay Human“, like its predecessor, is an action role-playing survival horror game centered on survival, combat, and exploration. The sequel takes place in The City, a European city that has been overtaken by undead hordes and is nearly four times larger than the first game’s terrain. The emphasis on parkour from the original game is maintained, with brand-new gadgets like a grappling hook and a paraglider further boosting the player’s mobility. Long-range weapons have been nearly eliminated, putting a greater emphasis on harsh melee combat. Back in January, Techland stated that “Dying Light 2” would take 500 hours to complete, but the company then amended this statement to say that it would take roughly 50 hours.
Early reactions to “Dying Light 2” suggest that it improves on the first game, yet it still falls short in some areas. The City appears to have a wide selection of stuff for players to handle, with open-world exploration and intense combat appearing to be the project’s biggest assets. Technical concerns, as well as Dying Light 2’s unoriginal storyline, appear to be tarnishing the experience for many. A summary of several “Dying Light 2” reviews can be seen below for a more in-depth examination of the game:
Cade Onder – 3.5/5 – Screen Rant
“Dying Light 2 may not match the ambition that it had promised years ago, but it still delivers an experience that substantially evolves its predecessor’s formula in a satisfying way. Dying Light 2 is a leap forward for the franchise, even if it’s not going to set the industry on fire with further innovation. Thanks to its fluid and refined gameplay and a distinct world filled with content, it’s hard not to be entranced by this sequel even with its shortcomings.”
Eric Switzer – 3.5/5 – TheGamer
“Dying Light 2 is a game with a troubled development, and unfortunately, it shows. I know how much the first game grew significantly over the years with patches and content updates, and I can only hope that this one gets as much support, because it still needs a lot of work before it becomes the game we were first promised back in 2018, if ever.”
Owen S. Good – Not Rated – Polygon
“Dying Light 2’s appeal is, ultimately, more game than story. Perhaps Techland’s developers were presented with their own vexing, profoundly consequential choice, where they had to choose to save one structural component or the other. If so, they picked correctly. This is a video game, after all, and a well-balanced combat system, plus exhilarating parkour with effortless contextual moves, can save even the weakest story. Vice versa seems impossible.”
Travis Northup – 7/10 – IGN
“Another in a long series of big, ambitious games whose potential greatness is visible just beneath a grimey layer of bugs, Dying Light 2 Stay Human could very likely become the stellar zombie survival adventure it’s meant to be someday. For now, though, it’s best added to your backlog unless your irritation with crashes and technical issues is outweighed by eagerness to dance across rooftops with its excellent parkour, which – when everything works – is an unforgettable way to explore the last city’s open world and join in the post-apocalyptic stories of its many weird and distinctive characters. No patch can fix the forgettable main plot or the protagonist I couldn’t pick out of a police lineup even after 80 hours in his shoes, but Dying Light 2’s streets tell their own stories.”
Jordan Middler – 3/5 – Video Games Chronicle
“Dying Light 2: Stay Human feels like it lost its direction somewhere along the way. It begins as an interesting zombie game wherein the threat feels tangible, your character feels weak, and the world feels primed for a dynamic story. However, the further you get into the game, a lot of its early ideas feel sidelined for a generic zombie plot, uninspiring combat, and the absence of any kind of danger.”
Mark Delaney – 6/10 – GameSpot
“Dying Light 2 is a perplexing game. Its story and characters are headache-inducing, and it appears to lack polish in many areas. But even a dozen hours after I rolled credits, I’ve found myself going back to the game to do another parkour challenge, rummage through another abandoned science lab, or just see if I can get from Point A to Point B without ever hitting the ground. It’s rough around the edges and it asks players to invest a lot in its weakest element, but once you realize the story, like gravity, is only going to pull you down, you can begin to defy it and enjoy the things Dying Light 2 actually does well.”
While “Dying Light 2” appears to have a number of flaws, Techland’s continued support could help the game improve over time. The company has confirmed that “Dying Light 2” will receive five years of post-launch support in the form of a new narrative, locales, and in-game events. Techland sponsored the initial part of the series until 2020, a five-year period, with huge expansions and smaller content packs adding new material and fixing issues.
“Dying Light 2” is said to give a dramatic post-apocalyptic open-world experience, with players leaping across rooftops and fighting zombie hordes with makeshift equipment, according to reviews. Unfortunately, technological limitations and a mediocre tale keep the experience from being genuinely outstanding. With Techland already announcing post-launch support, “Dying Light 2’s” flaws should be ironed out, resulting in a more polished game.