Waiting for Dead Island 2: we rediscover the origins of the Deep Silver series

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There is anticipation and curiosity about Dead Island 2, the new instalment in the zombie-based series produced by Deep Silver that is preparing to make its debut after a long and troubled development.

Even though Dead Island 2 has been postponed, there are still only a few months before we can unleash a new zombie carnage: starting April 28, 2023, the title developed by Dambuster Studios will be available on PC and PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

To entertain the wait, however, it may be a good idea to go back to the origins of the franchise, rediscovering the nature of the fearsome virus that has ravaged the island of Banoi.

Dead Island is a game many of us are very fond of. Its fun gameplay and immersive story grabbed us from the moment its first trailer was released. Its characters feel well-structured, and it's easy to empathize with them. That's why the next instalment of the saga, despite feeling so different, excites us, and we await it expectantly.

Dead Island

The first title, released in 2011, follows the night after a high-profile party. The four main characters, Sam B., hotel desk clerk Xian Mei, former football star Logan, and bodyguard Purna are awakened by a voice over the emergency intercom system directing them to evacuate the hotel. They discover that much of the island's population has been taken by a contagious infection that has turned them into zombie-like creatures.

Briefly overcome by the infected, they are rescued by lifeguard John Sinamoi, who believes them to be immune to the infection. After aiding Sinamoi and several other guests he rescued to reach a secure lifeguard station and call for help, Sinamoi requests they travel to the nearby city of Moresby to obtain food and supplies while they await rescue. That's where the adventure begins.

Dead Island Riptide

Riptide, released in 2013, takes place immediately after the ending of Dead Island, with the four immune survivors landing on an aircraft carrier after escaping from the prison island. They are immediately taken into custody by the ADF Colonel Sam Hardy and Frank Serpo, a civilian VIP.

In the ship's brig, they meet another immune survivor, soldier John Morgan, who claims Serpo stopped the military's evacuation. The player can find excerpts of Morgan's diary throughout the game, showing the military eventually decided to firebomb all of Banoi and the entire stricken area.

Passing out from sedatives applied when examined, the player's character wakes up to find the ship overrun with zombies. Serpo flees via helicopter shortly before the ship, out of control, crashes into a rock. They regain consciousness again on the shore of the island of Palanai and are found by Harlow, a researcher who tells them the zombie infection has spread there as well. The player now needs to find a way out again.

Dead Island 2

First announced in 2014, Dead Island 2 promised a completely new formula through the trailer shown at E3 that year. The game seemed to lean more towards horror-comedy and looked great visually. However, its development suffered from many changes and problems that led it almost to oblivion for eight years. In 2022, it was finally announced officially without risking being cancelled again.

We don't know much about the title yet, but its website describes it as a ''thrilling First-Person, Action RPG that takes players across a brand-new playground – a hellish vision of LA (or HELL-A, as we like to call it). Dead Island 2 is stylish, vibrant and flooded with zombie infection. Explore iconic, gore-drenched Los Angeles. Meet larger-than-life characters. Slay countless foes in exquisitely bloody detail. And evolve to become the ultimate Zombie Slayer!''

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There you have it, the beginning of one of the most iconic zombie sagas of recent times. From LevelUp, we hope that the next instalment can meet our expectations and that it will be as fun as it was to play the first title when it was released more than ten years ago.

Are you a fan of this franchise? Let us know in the comments!