It’s time for another Retro Ad Replay article! This is the series where we head backward in time to reminisce and celebrate the anniversary of some of the most significant moments in gaming. If you find yourself wanting more content like this, be sure to visit Mandatory.com.
In this September 6 edition of Retro Ad Replay, we’re traveling back six years in time to when Dead Island first launched on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. That’s September 6, 2011. Developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver, this co-op zombie title built up a lot of hype with its controversial reveal trailer. When it was released, however, it delivered a solid co-op zombie shooter experience.
GameRevolution awarded Dead Island a 6/10 in our review, with praise for the “co-op [which] is very enjoyable,” “weapon modification which has great variety and perks,” and the ability to “jump kick zombies in the face.”
With DEAD ISLAND, Techland has gone a step ahead of the zombie FPS craze and incorporated co-op gameplay into an open-world RPG setting. Don’t have enough money to take that special someone on a getaway to the tropical island of your dreams? How about signing into Xbox Live and strolling around the beaches of Banoi, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, and bashing in the heads of countless zombies together? If that doesn’t sound like their idea of fun… it’s time to get a new “someone”.
The presence of so many technical issues may hurt future titles from Techland and overshadow the fact that Dead Island is actually a fun game to play. It’s the kind of game where it becomes good if you don’t stop and think about its lack of polish at every turn. But really, it’s an enjoyable romp through zombie land, as long as you have friends to back you up.
Check out the Dead Island release trailer below (via GameSpot YouTube):
