Perhaps the biggest criticism that was levelled at Dead Island was what fans perceived as deceptive marketing; the three-minute CG trailer showing a family in their bloody final hours was truly harrowing stuff and gave Dead Island all the hype it would ever need to become a success. It wasn't until players got into the game when they realized that it was less AMC, and more SyFy original movie. The campy characters and storyline weren't exactly endearing to its audience as they lacked empathy, something that is more or less a requirement in zombie fiction. While a bit of levity is certainly welcome in something as dark as the zombie apocalypse, it tends to wear thin fast and results in the narrative suffering. With Dead Island 2, Yager needs to compose a story that has pathos, a real sense of despair. Combining this with compelling characters and interesting choices to be made, it can all work together in beautiful harmony. Let the players make some emotional connections, give some down time where there isn't constant zombie bashing and let the characters just live. Let them breathe and have something worth fighting for, pull on the emotion that is inherently connected to the zombie apocalypse. What changes do you think need to be made in order to make Dead Island 2 surpass the original? Let us know in the comments!
