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"[PC] Dead island Riptide"

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This thread has been linked to the game 'Dead Island: Riptide'.
Tue 10/12/13 at 18:37
Regular
"eat toast!"
Posts: 1,466
The quick review: Dead Island Riptide is like the original Dead island. If you played the first game you will have a rough idea whether you want this game or not. Those who haven't played it or more interested in what i have to say, read on.

The Sequel to Dead Island continues the story where the original left off. Having escaped one island zombie outbreak, the survivors get washed ashore on another zombie infested island which they have to escape. Players have a choice of five survivors each one specialising in certain aspects of combat. Option to import players original Dead island character or start from scratch with the option to play as new comer, John morgan.

Riptide is your standard action RPG. There are quests to complete, monsters to kill for exp/ loot which in turn you use in improving your characters. Riptide plays it safe making no changes to the games core mechanics resulting in both positive and negative aspects of the original game intact. Although riptide boasts a few new additions, they're shallow and undercooked.
Missions consist mostly of repetitive fetch quests. On one hand, this provides the ideal opportunity to explore (and enjoy) every inch of the island like a homicidal tourist. This is Emphasised by the numerous points of interest and unlockables that players can see and collect. But on the other hand, players who do not find enjoyment via the journey to completing those quests will find riptide uninspiring, tedious and a chore . Players will backtrack through areas numerous times giving a repetitive Claustrophobic feel despite the size of the maps .

Combat is one of the more satisfying elements of the game. There are huge number of weapons to find and make, each one has weight to them and have a feel of physical impact on enemy. Successful blows send zombies flying off their feet, undead limbs break and sever , Heads shatter, fire cooks and burns zombies, explosives blow bodies to pieces; it goes on. The combat system is however still far from perfect, at times close quarter combat is a messy and frustrating affair especially when hits sometimes don't register and a stamina bar punishing players who panic and simply swing their weapons in desperation. The bigger irritation is how some enemies attacks borders on cheap and frustrating. A possible explanation is that enemies level up with the player as to maintain challenge and discourage the need for grinding. But this gives way to Instant death when at max health. Like from a weaker zombie from a single flimsy blade thrown at players or a mere shove taking a large chunk of health each time.

The most notable of additions is base defence. Integrated into the main story, Players are asked to fortify and defend against waves of the undead. Although the concept is sound, the execution isn't -especially when playing alone. Without additional support it becomes near impossible to prevent breaches. Supporting AI characters simply stand their ground, content to let zombies mass at barricades and break through. The most you can hope from them is that they distract the enemy and taking the brunt of the attacks whilst you finish them off properly as the AI struggles to eliminate even the weakest of foes.

Investing in support characters is still crucial however for the various perks and bonuses by finding building materials. To find these materials, players must seek out and complete dead zones; Riptides equivalent to a dungeon crawl . Each zone promises to be challenging with special loot. An additional incentive is to eliminate the champion monsters that reside in many of the dead zones for achievements. In theory these dead zones are worthwhile to explore and complete, In reality the novelty quickly wears thin. Mainly because the same 3 maps are lazily recycled right down to the same map and enemy layout. Resulting in ultimately in players using the same Monotonous solution to completing each one making the whole idea laborious to play through.

Multiplayer is available providing quick easy drop in and drop out sessions of coop play. whilst it's an improvement on the original and players will find the main advantage of playing online is to make certain battles easier. Otherwise it doesn't enhance the experience, adding few reasons beyond obtaining achievements. The game can quite easily be enjoyed playing alone as its merely sp experience with coop feature.

Overall, Dead island Riptide plays more like an expansion pack cynically repackaged as separate game. The additional features add little to no improvement to the game and not addressing the numerous problems that plagued the original. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the original dead island and riptide immensely, with combat doing a fine job of paving over the faults in this game. New comers should get the (cheaper) original dead island and decide afterwards whether they want more dead island. Existing fans should wait till it's cheaper to get more mileage out of the game. It maybe same dead island sure, but the novelty of it is beginning to wear thin without any improvements from the original.


6/10
Wed 18/12/13 at 09:32
Regular
"Braaains"
Posts: 439
DL wrote:
I'd give the review 4/10 and the GAD award would therefore be "n/a"

To borrow a gag from Mssrs Reeves and Mortimer..
Tue 17/12/13 at 22:40
Regular
"Feather edged ..."
Posts: 8,536
I'd give the review 4/10 and the GAD award would therefore be "n/a"
Tue 10/12/13 at 18:37
Regular
"eat toast!"
Posts: 1,466
The quick review: Dead Island Riptide is like the original Dead island. If you played the first game you will have a rough idea whether you want this game or not. Those who haven't played it or more interested in what i have to say, read on.

The Sequel to Dead Island continues the story where the original left off. Having escaped one island zombie outbreak, the survivors get washed ashore on another zombie infested island which they have to escape. Players have a choice of five survivors each one specialising in certain aspects of combat. Option to import players original Dead island character or start from scratch with the option to play as new comer, John morgan.

Riptide is your standard action RPG. There are quests to complete, monsters to kill for exp/ loot which in turn you use in improving your characters. Riptide plays it safe making no changes to the games core mechanics resulting in both positive and negative aspects of the original game intact. Although riptide boasts a few new additions, they're shallow and undercooked.
Missions consist mostly of repetitive fetch quests. On one hand, this provides the ideal opportunity to explore (and enjoy) every inch of the island like a homicidal tourist. This is Emphasised by the numerous points of interest and unlockables that players can see and collect. But on the other hand, players who do not find enjoyment via the journey to completing those quests will find riptide uninspiring, tedious and a chore . Players will backtrack through areas numerous times giving a repetitive Claustrophobic feel despite the size of the maps .

Combat is one of the more satisfying elements of the game. There are huge number of weapons to find and make, each one has weight to them and have a feel of physical impact on enemy. Successful blows send zombies flying off their feet, undead limbs break and sever , Heads shatter, fire cooks and burns zombies, explosives blow bodies to pieces; it goes on. The combat system is however still far from perfect, at times close quarter combat is a messy and frustrating affair especially when hits sometimes don't register and a stamina bar punishing players who panic and simply swing their weapons in desperation. The bigger irritation is how some enemies attacks borders on cheap and frustrating. A possible explanation is that enemies level up with the player as to maintain challenge and discourage the need for grinding. But this gives way to Instant death when at max health. Like from a weaker zombie from a single flimsy blade thrown at players or a mere shove taking a large chunk of health each time.

The most notable of additions is base defence. Integrated into the main story, Players are asked to fortify and defend against waves of the undead. Although the concept is sound, the execution isn't -especially when playing alone. Without additional support it becomes near impossible to prevent breaches. Supporting AI characters simply stand their ground, content to let zombies mass at barricades and break through. The most you can hope from them is that they distract the enemy and taking the brunt of the attacks whilst you finish them off properly as the AI struggles to eliminate even the weakest of foes.

Investing in support characters is still crucial however for the various perks and bonuses by finding building materials. To find these materials, players must seek out and complete dead zones; Riptides equivalent to a dungeon crawl . Each zone promises to be challenging with special loot. An additional incentive is to eliminate the champion monsters that reside in many of the dead zones for achievements. In theory these dead zones are worthwhile to explore and complete, In reality the novelty quickly wears thin. Mainly because the same 3 maps are lazily recycled right down to the same map and enemy layout. Resulting in ultimately in players using the same Monotonous solution to completing each one making the whole idea laborious to play through.

Multiplayer is available providing quick easy drop in and drop out sessions of coop play. whilst it's an improvement on the original and players will find the main advantage of playing online is to make certain battles easier. Otherwise it doesn't enhance the experience, adding few reasons beyond obtaining achievements. The game can quite easily be enjoyed playing alone as its merely sp experience with coop feature.

Overall, Dead island Riptide plays more like an expansion pack cynically repackaged as separate game. The additional features add little to no improvement to the game and not addressing the numerous problems that plagued the original. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the original dead island and riptide immensely, with combat doing a fine job of paving over the faults in this game. New comers should get the (cheaper) original dead island and decide afterwards whether they want more dead island. Existing fans should wait till it's cheaper to get more mileage out of the game. It maybe same dead island sure, but the novelty of it is beginning to wear thin without any improvements from the original.


6/10

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