Two weeks ago I received an unusual invitation that instantly interested me. I, along with other players, were invited to spend the weekend in Old Villedor to celebrate the second anniversary festival of Dying Light 2: Stay Human. I'm ashamed to admit, but the first part is still collecting dust on one of the shelves in my library, and here a sequel is already looming on the horizon. However, I decided not to engage in soul-searching and, taking with me the necessary equipment, set out on foot towards the last city on Earth.

Civilizations have always been fragile and unreliable. Basking in imaginary prosperity and hiding behind a sense of security, people hoped that the high fortress walls and the skill of their own warriors would be able to repel any threats, but everything was not so. Warriors, epidemics and natural disasters have proven many times that human civilization is very fragile and in case of serious danger the world can collapse. And so it happened.

Years after stopping the Harran virus and clearing out the remaining infected, people finally breathed a sigh of relief. Cities began to be rebuilt again, people began to create offspring, and the grass gradually covered mounds with mass graves and places of fierce battles. It seemed that nothing could shake this situation and spoil the triumph of humanity in the struggle for its life, but this was not so. Scientists in secret research centers did not learn a lesson from the previous outbreak of the virus, so they continued to study it in laboratory conditions, with the goal of developing an army of super soldiers. Ironically, they again could not contain the infection within sterile walls and it broke out to conquer the flourishing lands. This time everything happened even faster than in Harran - the cities were burning, people were trying to escape, but hordes of the infected swept away everything in their path. Long after the screams and moans fell silent, and only zombies began to walk the earth, many of the surviving old-timers began to talk about the fact that in the east there was the last city not captured by the dead, to which a continuous stream of refugees was drawn. The hero of our story named Aiden also became interested in these rumors, but for his own reasons. Somewhere out there, among the gray houses of Old Villedor, his painful past still lives. Perhaps in this hell there is still room for a miracle and this city could remain untouched. Aiden decides to go to meet his past in order to put his old childhood fears to rest.

Dying Light 2 continues the tradition of the series and will once again offer the player a large open world where the art of parkour rules the roost. The storyline here will act as our guide to locations and an indicator of progress, where new locations will open. From the very beginning we are introduced to the majestic Old Villedor, where people and the dead coexist. During the day, the city's streets look safe with the lethargic zombies and plenty of light, but if you really want to get your fill of thrills, you'll have to explore the city's nightlife. Here, strong mutants and escaped samples from military laboratories are brought to the surface. It will not be possible to hide on the roof, because these creatures can perfectly hear and smell the player several hundred meters away. All hope lies in our parkour skills and a charged UV flashlight.

Dying Light 2 perfectly speculates on the topic of clearing outposts and towers, but, unlike many other games with similar mechanics, here it is vital. The construction of refugee camps creates safe zones where we will have a place to stay for the night and weapons caches. Despite the fact that my gameplay was updated with the addition of firearms, I was not able to try it - time was running out. But I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of the ability to repair weapons and starting booster packs with imbued weapons. Yes, there is a lot of donation here, but it is all cosmetic. Armor in the game provides only an aesthetic component and a few perks, but all the same, the entire emphasis will be placed on melee weapons, which can be equipped with modules and improvements.

Parkour in Dying Light 2 is well implemented and, thanks to it, moving around the game world is interesting. The visuals of Old Villedor and other locations perfectly convey the spirit of the post-apocalypse and delight the eye with an abundance of details. The feeling of height and action-packed gameplay gives a strong dose of adrenaline and makes your hands tremble. The artificial intelligence of the opponents, of course, leaves much to be desired, but when we are forced to fight in a confined space, there is no time for jokes.

I believe that the weakest point of the game is not at all stupid opponents and clearing towers, but its plot. It’s been a long time since I encountered a situation where I didn’t develop sympathy for any character during the playthrough. Everyone is trying to wipe their feet or take advantage of the main character, which only gets worse towards the end of the game. Of course, I understand that in the world there is a post-apocalypse and many people have lost their humanity not only externally, but when everyone turns out to be a scoundrel, it’s no longer funny. Also, the unexpected consequences of some plot choices made me smile, where it is impossible to maintain neutrality with all factions, and in the case of a choice not in favor of the other side, a complete purge of everyone and everything follows, including boss fights with key characters. The endings do not shine with their variety and do not add joy to the final impression of the gameplay. Double standards, exaggeration of trivial situations and illogical actions of characters are very striking. It feels like the game’s authors initially wanted to make the main character unhappy, but instead of compassion, there is only disappointment in the soul.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I liked Dying Light 2. There is excellent gameplay with plenty of parkour and simple combat with clicking on opponents. The game world is large and colorful and will definitely appeal to loot hunters, because everything here is literally buried in containers with resources. Due to the addition of firearms and daily action with the agent system to the game, Dying Light 2 may well find a second life, where the world built by the player will actually work and help its creator. On the other hand, you shouldn’t really count on the depth of the plot here, because it is absolutely superficial and formulaic. The characters do not attract attention either by their appearance or their actions, so it is better not to focus on this. If you like to explore the open world, create your own story, clear towers and get adrenaline from parkour at high altitudes, then you should definitely try to look into the cruel world of Dying Light 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSkSB3ruR3M

I wasn't sure what this sequel would be like to due to the development issues it hit but I have to say that it's a great sequel. The story is interesting enough and comes in at a decent length so it's not too short and it doesn't overstay it's welcome. It also has a fun branching narratives that can make replaying it a fun experience. There's also a few good plot twists in there to boot.

Gameplay at the start is simple enough and the parkour mechanics work well. The control system can be a bit finicky to use, not a problem when traversing the rooftops or the streets but when you're being chased or in a tight spot it can be frustrating. There's also plenty of upgrades for your character when you level up that come in handy. My problem was that the onscreen prompts to use a certain move are a bit too small to see properly. Not sure if there's an option for that in the settings.

The city of Villedor is a great location for the game. There's a lot of character to the city and the developers have really made it seem alive, strange to say in a zombie game. As you start to unlock power stations etc and choose a faction any Windmills you've unlocked in that region all get populated by that faction. With the odd rooftop house or hideaway scattered in between. NPCs will also pop up randomly in the city to perform burials, social gatherings, scavenging runs and so on.

I am really pleased with how this turned out and am looking forward to any future DLC.

The game has a good narrative and the cinematographic values of the cutscenes were really good. The story at points does feel a bit stretched out and it could have been shorter. The side quests are, however, quite boring and most of the times it is just go here, kill this, get this and these characters are all just a bit lifeless. The world is also amazing with a more European style to all the architecture and some great vistas.
The gameplay is amazing with fun platforming and gory limb cutting. The only negative aspect here are some bugs and the sometimes unresponsiveness of the controls.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this game but I do think the original is a bit better as it is a bit tighter with its storytelling and the amount of quests presented. Still I liked it enough to complete it.
(Ps. the Ultramarathon trophy is, however, a bs time slug)

Yep, they didn't know what they were doing. This is basically the first game but worse. It does have cute graphics but even these are like, not necessarily a step up. They're different enough to not be comparable tho. It's a lot more bright and flashy this time around, for better or worse. Ok actually there's one thing this game has going for it, and it's the parkour music. I had a ton of fun running around just to activate the music. Maybe it even made parkour feel better in this game in the end? But if parkour feels better, combat certainly does not and uh... Idk I mean even if parkour is more fun, that's really it. Nights are flawed, monsters are way more boring, you really gotta force yourself to run around in circles for a long time if you want any intensity and yeah idk this game definitely did not capture the essence of it's prequel... Playing with no hud was at least fun for a bit. And it's not all bad I still managed to find ways to enjoy the game, but it's definitely not expertly crafted at all. Oh yeah the story is a joke

Dying Light 2: Stay Human é um jogo de ação e terror em primeira pessoa, ambientado em um mundo pós-apocalíptico infestado de zumbis. O jogo é a sequência de Dying Light, lançado em 2015, e foi desenvolvido pela Techland e publicado pela Square Enix. O jogo foi lançado em 7 de dezembro de 2023, para PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S e PC.

Pontos positivos
O jogo oferece uma experiência imersiva de sobrevivência e exploração, com um sistema de parkour fluido e dinâmico, que permite ao jogador se locomover pelo cenário de forma ágil e criativa.
O jogo possui uma história envolvente e personagens carismáticos, que reagem às escolhas do jogador e influenciam o destino da cidade de Villedor, onde o jogo se passa. O jogo conta com a participação de atores renomados, como Troy Baker, Rosario Dawson e Giancarlo Esposito, que dão voz e personalidade aos personagens principais.
O jogo apresenta uma variedade de inimigos e desafios, que exigem do jogador estratégia e adaptação. O jogo possui um ciclo de dia e noite, que altera o comportamento dos zumbis e o nível de dificuldade. Durante o dia, os zumbis são mais lentos e vulneráveis, mas à noite, eles se tornam mais rápidos e agressivos, e podem perseguir o jogador pelos telhados. Além dos zumbis, o jogador também deve enfrentar outras ameaças, como facções humanas rivais, animais selvagens e mutantes.
O jogo possui um modo cooperativo para até quatro jogadores, que permite ao jogador se juntar a seus amigos para realizar missões, explorar a cidade e combater os inimigos. O jogo também possui um modo competitivo, que coloca os jogadores uns contra os outros em diferentes modos de jogo, como captura de bandeira, sobrevivência e caça ao zumbi.
Pontos negativos
O jogo possui alguns problemas técnicos, como bugs, quedas de framerate e travamentos, que podem prejudicar a experiência do jogador. O jogo também requer um hardware potente para rodar de forma satisfatória, especialmente nas versões de PC e consoles da nova geração.
O jogo possui uma curva de aprendizado um pouco alta, que pode frustrar os jogadores iniciantes ou menos habilidosos. O jogo não possui um tutorial detalhado, e o jogador deve aprender na prática as mecânicas de combate, parkour e sobrevivência. O jogo também possui um sistema de progressão um pouco lento, que requer do jogador muita dedicação e paciência para desbloquear novas habilidades, armas e equipamentos.
O jogo possui uma duração um pouco curta, se comparado a outros jogos do gênero. O jogo possui cerca de 20 horas de campanha principal, e cerca de 40 horas de conteúdo adicional, como missões secundárias, colecionáveis e atividades opcionais. O jogo também possui um fator replay um pouco baixo, pois as escolhas do jogador não afetam significativamente o desfecho da história, e o jogo não possui um modo new game plus, que permitiria ao jogador recomeçar o jogo com seus itens e habilidades anteriores.
Jogos semelhantes
Dying Light 2: Stay Human pode ser comparado a outros jogos de ação e terror em primeira pessoa, como Left 4 Dead, Dead Island, Resident Evil e The Last of Us. Esses jogos também possuem elementos de sobrevivência, exploração e cooperação, e se passam em cenários pós-apocalípticos infestados de zumbis ou criaturas similares.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human também pode ser comparado a outros jogos de mundo aberto e RPG, como Fallout, The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077 e Horizon Zero Dawn. Esses jogos também possuem histórias ricas e complexas, personagens marcantes, escolhas morais e consequências, e um alto nível de customização e liberdade.
Vale a pena?
Dying Light 2: Stay Human é um jogo que vale a pena para os fãs do gênero e da franquia, pois oferece uma experiência única e divertida de ação e terror em primeira pessoa, com um sistema de parkour inovador e uma história envolvente. O jogo também possui um modo cooperativo e competitivo, que aumentam a diversão e a longevidade do jogo.
No entanto, o jogo também possui alguns pontos negativos, como problemas técnicos, curva de aprendizado alta, sistema de progressão lento, duração curta e fator replay baixo, que podem desagradar ou desanimar alguns jogadores. O jogo também requer um hardware potente para rodar de forma satisfatória, o que pode ser um empecilho para alguns jogadores.
Portanto, o jogo é recomendado para os jogadores que procuram um jogo de ação e terror em primeira pessoa, com um sistema de parkour fluido e dinâmico, uma história envolvente e personagens carismáticos, e um modo cooperativo e competitivo. O jogo não é recomendado para os jogadores que procuram um jogo de mundo aberto e RPG, com um sistema de progressão rápido e variado, uma duração longa e um fator replay alto, e um modo new game plus.

My second playthrough of Dying Light 2 cemented how I feel about this game,
It's good, it's enjoyable, but it could do a lot more.

It just feels like it's missing... something?

I'm also rarely-never a fan of level scaling with enemies, let me level up, reach the maximum and just plow through everyone. Why do I still feel 'under levelled' when I've got no other skills I could possibly get?

I'm also not a huuuuge fan of the weapon damage system in this, it seems weapons break way too fast and unlike other games where they have this, there's nothing else to 'experiment' with in terms of weaponry as an alternative.

Besides that, the story is alright, the world is somewhat detailed and filled with things to do and the traversal is great.

This game was a massive disappointment. Not only was it plagued with performance issues but it was a step down in almost everyway from the first game. The combat feels so much less impactful and the parkour is fun but becomes pointless once you acquire some upgrades for your wingsuit and grappling hook. The story is also soooo poorly paced and written it felt like such a slog to sit through characters who I couldn't care less about just vomit exposition and nonsense at me when all I wanted to do was jump around and bash zombies. What a letdown.

dying light 2 impresses with its expansive open world, somewhat engaging narrative, and fluid parkour mechanics, offering an enthralling experience for fans of the zombie survival genre. The meaningful choices and consequences system adds depth and replayability, ensuring each playthrough feels unique. However, technical glitches, overwhelming side activities, and unbalanced difficulty spikes slightly tarnish the otherwise exceptional experience. Despite its imperfections, Dying Light 2 remains a must-play for those seeking a thrilling and immersive post-apocalyptic adventure especially after the new Updates.

First played and finished during July 2023, after more than a year of post-release support.

Above anything else, Dying Light 2 is fun. It's an almost direct evolution of its predecessor in terms of gameplay, retaining and improving upon a very solid core loop of slicing zombies and hopping around rooftops. This is what Dying Light has always been all about to me, which is why I think this game deserves a solid recommendation nowadays, despite the rocky launch and the faults that remain.

Parkour is the big highlight in this iteration, making the first game seem underexploited by comparison. So many more moves have been added to spice up the flow and the city is now far better designed for uninterrupted and fun traversal that basically never gets old, especially with the addition of the paraglider and a physics-based grappling hook (as opposed to the "A to B" hook of the previous game). While this does make for a more "gamey" feeling city in contrast to the first entry, I do believe the tradeoff is very much worth it for how much more fun traversal becomes, especially once you arrive to the city center. It's just an overall joy to get around the environment and almost makes you wish for a bigger map in which to run in a straight line for hours.

Melee combat is not as much of an improvement from the first, considering how much that game nailed it, but still manages to hook. It's pretty much on the same level in terms of feel and slightly improved here and there thanks to the addition of some combat moves and more readable human enemies. Plenty of juicy sound effects, dismemberment, fountains of blood, x-rays and slow-mo's, just like the first game (except for some slightly downgraded zombie physics).

Another smaller element that was thankfully translated into this sequel is the soundtrack, which still manages to fit the new mood of the game perfectly and can really amp up parkour sequences with its hopeful and invigorating tones. It's not necessarily better or worse, it simply fits the game like a glove just like the first time around.

Where this game faulters is basically everything else. As much as I would prefer to recommend this game based on its strengths, the incredibly messy story, lack of polish and very last gen looking visuals do have to be mentioned. You'll encounter just as many misplaced props and textures as annoying characters, plot holes and filler arcs, with a fair share of buggy zombies. It's a game that still bears very obvious signs of a troubled development, which was exposed even before the games release. There's a feeling of lack of cohesion and care in many corners of the game, all of it running on a dated looking engine that can produce some serviceable visuals but really falls behind something like Remedy's Northlight or Ubisoft's Snowdrop. Fortunately, Techland still remains firmly behind what they make and they've clearly made the game much better since release, from bug fixes to system overhauls (not that this is the way products should be released but... here we are).

Even in a messy experience like this one, I think enough of what makes Dying Light special is very much retained and I don't feel like someone new to the series would have a lesser experience when trying this one first. It's simply a fun time that levels up the first game where it matters, while falling short of high praise due to its many mistakes, which can't all be fixed with patches.

The game is a lot of fun and I can recommend it at a small discount, especially if you haven't played Dying Light 1 yet.

But I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. I expected more after 7 years (I know they didnt work the full 7 years on DL2 but still).

Dying Light 2 barely feels like an upgrade over DL1. The only things that felt like a straight upgrade to me are the parkour, the combat versus humans and the graphics (allthough the graphics are nothing special in todays day and age)

The story is still ♥♥♥♥ (maybe even worse) the presentation is absolutely awful, even jarringly bad at times.
The Zombie ragdolls are worse, especially when you kick them off roofs or into spikes.
There's a lot of bugs, some even game breaking.
And a lot of other things feel like a sidegrade rather than an upgrade.

TLDR: The game is fun but I excpected more. Still recommend the game at a discount.

DL2 foi uma grande decepção para me em 2022 pois eu estava acompanhando seu desenvolvimento desde seu primeiro anúncio, e ele consegue ser 10x pior que o primeiro jogo que por outro lado é maravilhoso um dos melhores jogos de ação de zumbi já feito tudo que o primeiro game tinha de bom eles conseguiram piorar nesse game, começando pelo parkour que nesse game eles meteram um sistema de estamina que so fica aceitável lá pro final do game, o gancho que era super divertido no primeiro game se tornou uma corda chata que você quase não usa, os gráficos consegue ser pior que o primeiro game, a história é uma chatice as motivações do protagonista é um clichê do caralho, sem falar no sistema de missão que virou um FarCry da vida, você é literalmente um escravo de qualquer NPC que aparece na história, se você estava pensando em comprar esse jogo eu indico testar mas não espere um DL1 melhorado, Dead Island 2 ta a frente desse game

Après avoir joué à dying ligth 1 j'attendais avec impatience la sorti du 2 et je l'ai même précommandé. Cependant le jeu avait énormément de bug à sa sorti à tel point que ça ma sortit du jeu avec mes amis. On s'attendait réellement à mieux en terme d'histoire (surtout après le 1 qui était vraiment cool) et de gameplay. J'avais l'impression que le jeu n'était pas fini quand il est sorti. Bref déçu du jeu et si un jour ils décident de sortir un 3 alors j'espère qu'il ne saura pas aussi baclé que ce dernier

I dislike it. Dying Light 2 has all of the ambition and none of the execution required to pull it off. Even after 2 years of retooling to make the game systems more like the original, the quest design and map are still dull and needlessly complex. I am also begging the writers to read a book, any book!

Enjoyers of the original Dying Light should be wary of claims that this benighted product has been "fixed" by Techland's dedication to the sunk-cost fallacy. Lipstick has been liberally applied to this pig and no amount of flowery sophistry from Aiden Caldwell should convince you otherwise. We should have all been more bullish on Dead Island 2.