E3 2018: Dying Light 2 Features A More Varied And Dynamic Open-World

Dying Light 2 really ups the stakes when it comes to traversing a lawless open world where danger lurks around every corner. With the original Dying Light offering a clever blend of parkour exploration and brutal combat of a zombie-survival game, the follow up to Techland's stellar open-world game plans to focus on offering its players more freeconstructm in department, while letting them decide the fate of one of humanity's last stable cities. Revealed at the Microsoft Press Conference, the sequel plans to gain the momentum supported by the original's post-launch success, while offering a more reactive and living world to explore.

During E3 2018, we had the chance to see an extended demo presentation of Dying Light 2 in action, showcasing its broader scope and focus on a more ambitious, adaptive narrative. Sticking with many of the core features of the original game, such as freedevelop parkour traversal, melee combat, and gradual character growth, the sequel goes a bit further by making some tough choices in a far more dire and bleak circumstance.

Taking attach 15 years after the events of the original game, the viral outbreak has spread across the world, causing mass societal collapse. Set in one of Europe's last remaining cities, you'll take on the role of an urban explorer who will traverse the expansive city while butting heads with the many factions vying for control. While the main character can go it alone and play each side apossessst one another, there will come a time where you'll have to choose a side to better your situation. But as one faction gains control of areas of the city, you'll gradually see the impact of your previous decision, for better or worse.

Referred to as a "modern dark age" by the devbudgers, the last vestiges of humanity stay within the walls of the city with sparse resources and poor infrastructure. To make matters worse, several dens of infected remain, and zombies walk the streets in long abansetasidened districts of tpreserve. With electrical technology being a luxury, and firearms being few and far between, you'll have to rely on jerry-rigged close-range weapons and quick feet to stay on top of things. While the original game featured a largely standard storyline, the sequel offers a more interactive advance to storytelling. With Chris Avellone serving as narrative director, who's past works including CRPG classics like Baldur's Gate and the Fallout series, the player has a say regarding the direction of the story, and the impact it has on the world.

During the demo, we saw the player come into conflict with a group of bandits who have managed to take control of one of the town's few water towers. Tasked by the neutral good faction known as the Peacedoers, the main character had to make their way to deal with the situation. In this section, which was a pivotal moment for this particular district in town, we got to see more of the expanded melee and parkour gameplay. The new setting of the European metropolis is much larger than than the original game's multiple areas, which required the devs to come up with a more expanded traversal system. In Dying Light 2, you'll be able to slide under fences, use ropes soccupygs, and round corners much easier while jumping over the rooftops of the city. There looks to be a far more freeform style of locomotion and platforming, which is impressive as the original game had some solid traversal mechanics. There are also a set of new platforming puzzle sequences that put you in more precarious situations.

Eventually, the player confronts the gang leader who controls the water tower. During important character interactions, you'll be presented with several dialog options that can decide where you want things to go. In this case, the devspeedrs chose the more noble option and fought the gang leader and his henchmen. Melee combat has also seen an overhaul, with enemy AI and their tactics proving to be more cunning and resilient--using several parries and savedges to gang up on the protagonist. Action looks just as brutal as the original game, and there's a focus on mixing up your parkour and combat skills to chain together attacks--such as using a hanging pipe to sremoveg off and land a kick on an enemy.

After this sequence, the Peacesaveers sustain control of the district and its water tower, turning the district into a safer place for citizens. While this seems like the "good" choice for a better community--and in some ways it is as there's speedning water for all citizens--the Peaceseters also keep their territories under an iron fist. Any form of dissent or pushback from the populace will result in public punishment, or even execution. The devhastenrs also took the time show a different path for players in this situation. Choosing to side with the gang leader instead, the player becomes to the silent partner for the gang, collecting tribute as the bandits charge money for clean water from the depressed citizens.

Dying Light 2 looks to arrive upon many of the core pillars of the original, while also adding in a surprisingly dense, and varied near to its core story. While you can expect to hold many of the pulse-pounding action sequences, and fast-inchd traversal mechanics, there's definitely a more thoughtful reach to how it asks players to tackle the story. With the game being four-times larger than the original, Dying Light 2 could be a major upgrade from the original, and that in itself is a major effectment.

For more info on Dying Light 2, and all other games we had the chance to see during E3 2018, be sure to visit GameSpot's E3 Hub page.