Believe it or not, it’s been over a decade since the first Dead Island game arrived. Why, it feels like only yesterday that we were scampering through that game’s tropical paradise, annihilating zombies with electrified machetes, frantically gathering supplies, and generally having the time of our lives. A sequel, Dead Island: Riptide, arrived just a few years later, in 2013, before a third installment, Dead Island 2, was announced at the following year’s E3.
Now, a full nine years after that announcement, Dead Island 2 is finally ready for primetime. The game, from Dambuster Studios and Deep Silver, will land on April 21st, at which time we’ll all get to find out if the wait was worth it. Only time will tell on that front, of course, but in the meantime … the game’s opening cinematic looks absolutely gorgeous.
Check it out:
There are hints of Dead Island‘s dark sense of humor threaded into this footage, not to mention plenty of interesting locations and even an improvisational weapon or two (also, was that an electrified mace?), all rendered as beautifully as modern console graphics will allow. In terms of setting the tone, it’s just about perfect.
So what’s Dead Island 2 about? Here’s an official plot synopsis:
“About 10 years after the events of Dead Island, the United States government and US military are forced to put California under a full quarantine restricted zone due to a new and stronger zombie outbreak.”
Oh, yes. That sounds very good, indeed. The entirety of California on lockdown, filled to the brim with zombies? And those zombies are stronger than ever before? Hm, sounds like a case for a poison-dipped, electrified shovel, if you ask us. We’ll be there when Dead Island 2 lands on April 21st. See you out on the field (or should we say, out in the Hollywood hills)?
