MovieChat Forums > Dead Island (2011) Discussion > This Game Sucks

This Game Sucks

posted 13 years ago by TheDarkRighteousFist
28 replies | jump to latest

I'm sorry, but I'm a little dissappointed.

The trailers and hype for this game had it dressed up as a realistic zombie apocalypse scenario in an open world, free roam environment, and it turns out to be anything but.

The quests and the NPCs completely ruin the atmosphere, and continuously send you on suicide fetch missions that constantly remind you its a videogame, and destroy any sense of realism or immersion. For example, we're in the middle of a lethal zombie outbreak and the island has been overrun, and I have fools seriously asking me to risk my life running through hordes of undead zombies to fetch jewelry, and bottles of champagne so they can get drunk!? Yeah right.

And the graphics are terrible. I usually try not to be a graphics-whore because I realize its gameplay that counts, but the textures are bland, undetailed, and all the people, zombies included, look like they're made of clay. Everything just looks too fake to be a modern release, and the game has a very old school feel to it. Not that that's a bad thing because again, it doesn't affect gameplay, but when you were hoping for super-realism, these clayman graphics don't cut it. CoD's Nazi Zombies were more realistic than these mud-people.

With that being said, the scope of the game, the possibilities, and the sounds are top notch. Unexpected howls and snarls really have you doing 360's and peeking around corners. The world is massive, weapons are plentiful, and the controls work well. But I can't help but get the feeling that this game is a testbed for something much, much greater, which will probably be realized in Dead Island 2.

But as for Dead Island 1, the uninteresting characters, horrible dialogue, bland graphics, and fetch quests that only an utter IDIOT would agree to leaves the whole game feeling like an experiment in videogames, and makes it hard to get into.

[–] moviefool09 13 years ago

TOTALLY agree. I have another thread where I essentially say the same thing.

<<For example, we're in the middle of a lethal zombie outbreak and the island has been overrun, and I have fools seriously asking me to risk my life running through hordes of undead zombies to fetch jewelry, and bottles of champagne so they can get drunk!? Yeah right.>>

HAHA! Yeah, it is a little silly. I really thought this game was going to be unique and offer us a true terrifying and singular experience. Instead, it ends up being like every other zombie game out there...except for the RPG elements. And they don't even get those right, as your weapons break constantly and there's not much variety to them.

I really want a TRUE unique zombie game, where you have to make decisions and plan strategy, not just do stupid side quests and constant button mashing melee action. I really don't care for a 'wide open atmosphere'...I tend to prefer more focused games where you progress from level to level, stage to stage and you earn your stripes. Nothing wrong with a huge Fallout type landscape, but this game needed more refining and more unique gameplay.

I mean, think of a game like Resident Evil 4. It also had hordes of crazies coming at you, but there was such originality in that game and so many unique scenario's and "moments" you remember. Dead Island is just repetitive and monotonous and there are no real moments...at least none that I saw.

I sold it today and bought Resistance 3 instead.

Maybe the "Walking Dead" game will be different when it's released. It sure sounds more unique.

[–] TheDarkRighteousFist 13 years ago

I really want a TRUE unique zombie game, where you have to make decisions and plan strategy, not just do stupid side quests and constant button mashing melee action. I really don't care for a 'wide open atmosphere'...I tend to prefer more focused games where you progress from level to level, stage to stage and you earn your stripes. Nothing wrong with a huge Fallout type landscape, but this game needed more refining and more unique gameplay.

This is another deal breaker for me. If you think about it, this game becomes a one-trick pony after a while. The only reason you even encounter the undead is because NPCs send you on silly fetch quests that (oh of course) send you running the gauntlet INTO hordes of zombies - as if anyone would be dumb enough to risk that.

There should have been a story where the survivors are constantly having to flee the undead masses, or are being surrounded and needing to make plans to escape, trying to group up with other survivors, etc. Instead, its just "I need this, go through the zombies and get it for me", and that's the meat of the gameplay, people giving the player character an excuse to create zombie encounters. Other than that they're not even dangerous. You can outright avoid most of them by just keeping distance. No sense of dread or fear of being overrun or nothing.

[–] moviefool09 13 years ago

Couldn't have said it better myself.

A true sense of dread places you in a HELPLESS type of situation, not one where you just run past them on the beach. They need to place the zombies in situations where you HAVE to face them, and just fighting them melee won't get it done. You need to do something unique in order to win the battle.

It's such a shame...this game could really have been something else.

[–] prgrandmasta 13 years ago

I agree 100%!

It should have been the groups of people moving from one safe house to another but with realistic missions. For example. The Lifeguard house had two SUVs. One wasn't working and had no gas.

-One mission would be to go to the Autobody shop and fetch a set of spark plugs.

-Another would be to go get gasoline at a gas station.

-Another mission would've been to kill all the infected that are trying to breakdown the front gate because they smelled everyone out.

-Side missions could've been done with people screaming out for help and you rescuing them and leading them to the safe houses.

Then when a safehouse gets overrun you and the group must escape to the next one.

Lifeguard station -> Lighthouse -> Church -> Police Station -> Bunker

Then you take the sewers to make little escape attempts.

The jungle killed the experience for me. I felt like I was playing Resident Evil 5 all over again except with a leveling up system.

[–] shanayneigh 10 years ago

You just described Dead Island Riptide. Which was still too fetch quest heavy for my tastes.

Working in the movie business since -92

[–] king_of_bob 13 years ago

For example, we're in the middle of a lethal zombie outbreak and the island has been overrun, and I have fools seriously asking me to risk my life running through hordes of undead zombies to fetch jewelry, and bottles of champagne so they can get drunk!? Yeah right.

You didn't notice that these characters are incredibly self obsessed? Let me tell you something, in the face of something horrible happening, selfish people remain selfish.

And the graphics are terrible. I usually try not to be a graphics-whore because I realize its gameplay that counts, but the textures are bland, undetailed, and all the people, zombies included, look like they're made of clay.

Okay, graphic complains are just stupid. I come from a time where an on screen character was made up of a bunch of blocks. And really, the graphics are none of the things you said. My only graphics complaint is the distance where objects pop up. The textures look pretty damn good really.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] estcst-3 12 years ago

Graphics are still just a bunch of blocks but now there are more of them and they're smaller. That hasn't changed. And even if it had would that be any reason to dismiss the fact that the game's graphics are subpar by today's standards?

I also grew up on 8-bit. I've owned multiple computers that have less memory than a handheld LCD poker game from a dollar store. Does that make my opinion any more valid? If it does, I have to agree with the GP.

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

Graphics are still just a bunch of blocks but now there are more of them and they're smaller. That hasn't changed. And even if it had would that be any reason to dismiss the fact that the game's graphics are subpar by today's standards?

I don't know what world you live in, but the graphics in this game are pretty much exactly on par(which means average) for the current generation of games. Sure it's not top of the line, but it's hardly bottom of the barrel.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] estcst-3 12 years ago

And I don't know what games you've been playing to call this on average. They're on the same level as L4D but that game is nearly 4 years old now.

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

This game looks much better than L4D. It's graphically superior to L4D in so many ways I can't help but feel like you're trying to troll me with nonsense like that.

Not that it's really relevant, since graphics are virtually meaningless. If you really care about graphics you're playing games for the wrong reasons. They're supposed to be fun first, and frankly I had a huge amount of fun playing this game. If you didn't, well that's too bad for you.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] estcst-3 12 years ago

Oh well, call me a troll but I'm just counteracting a troll myself.

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

I didn't say you ARE a troll. I said I feel like you're trolling me. Like you're saying something you know is nonsense in an attempt to get a rise out of me.

And how is anything I did in this thread or on this board in general trollish?

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] TheDarkRighteousFist 12 years ago

Not that it's really relevant, since graphics are virtually meaningless. If you really care about graphics you're playing games for the wrong reasons. They're supposed to be fun first, and frankly I had a huge amount of fun playing this game. If you didn't, well that's too bad for you.

Honestly, that depends on the experience the player is looking for. When it comes to horror games, I like to be shocked and disturbed. I want genuine, bone chilling horror. I want a game that causes me to lose sleep at night. Therefore, in an open world, first person game like this, I was hoping the graphics would be as realistic as possible.

I wanted to see sights and events that would cause me to question this game. I wanted to see violence, and death, and gore on a level so realistic that playing through the game became uncomfortable. Instead - I was attacked by mud-people, too easily bashed back into the mud. They weren't scary, they were just ugly.

To date, the only game that has ever truly caused me to lose sleep at night was Silent Hill 2. Now THAT was horror - not necessarily because of any gruesome scenes, or questionable decisions. But it was the atmosphere. Those dark, dank hallways; that crackling radio; and Pyramid Head. Terrifying.

Dead Island's zombies were just irritating obstacles in my way, and as for graphics, they lacked detail. I'm serious, they looked to me like people who'd died in a mud bath. Just dirty, not rottened.

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

You people make me laugh.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] Firefly69 12 years ago

I'm playing this game right now and I actually enjoy it. Maybe its because I really didn't go into it with any expectations at all.

I do have to agree that in Moresby- I wish I could do a little more exploring. Whats the point of an open world if somethings trying to kill you every few steps?! I want to look around and feel the atmosphere and take in the sights-- but instead I'm fighting frantically for my life or running away from hordes of zombies.

But still-- I am enjoying the game and I do like that they have fast track maps around. Without that- I don't think I would enjoy it as well. If can't explore- then at least I can get somewhere quickly when completeing a quest.

I really don't mind the silly quests at all.

Its entertaining and I like that it does provide many hours of gameplaying experience.

[–] great_ap3 13 years ago

My problem with this game is I usually don't have a clue what I'm suppose to do. The radar/map thing keeps disappearing. It'll point to a place or person but not tell me what to do. It's like I'm suppose to be psychic to play this game. I wanna like this game but this is killing it for me.

[–] eliogabalus 13 years ago

I thought the resort area was pretty damn good and atmospheric but I have to say I kind of lost interest pretty soon after I reached Moresby because that's when Dead Island really gets repetitive and tedious. In an open world game like this exploration is a big part of the fun but how can you explore anything when you have to fight ALL THE TIME? It's like you walk five meters this way and get attacked, you walk five meters that way and get attacked, you do as much as fart and you get attacked. It's the same repetitive scene to all infinity. Occasionally you can also sit on an ambulance waiting for your health to regenerate (provided that you took the Regeneration Skill). Yeah, that's fun.

[–] Whitchity_Man 13 years ago

"I felt like I was playing Resident Evil 5 all over again except with a leveling up system. "

Do you even know what you said? RE5 had no leveling system at all, you ding-dong. Sure you could UPGRADE weapons but that was as far as it went.

And to the guy above me, that's what happens when 95% of a city's inhabitants are undead. Did you want the game to hold your hand all the way through? It's a game, it's supposed to be challenging.

[–] eliogabalus 12 years ago

Challenge is one thing but once you reach Moresby this game just becomes way too repetitive and tedious. Like I said before the resort area is a fantastic combination of survival and exploration like in Romero movies or The Walking Dead (with the scenery from Zombie Flesh-Eaters) but the Moresby City kind of killed the game for me. I mean every step of the way everything is just... repetition. "Kill four zombies, walk a little, kill four more zombies, walk a little." and you have to do it constantly and occasionally you get also ambushed by a bunch of infected and then you're f#cked. For me that's just not fun because it takes away the element of exploration. I'd rather prefer there'd either be a sh!tload of Romero type zombies like in Dead Rising or a few really nasty ones that would ambush you every now and then but now it's just "rinse, repeat" and after such an awesome start that sucks donkey balls.

[–] vprice94 12 years ago

Purchased this game 2 days ago.

I am/was currently on a mission to locate, and return, two packs of orange juice by visiting two different gas stations.

Don't know what the fck is going on, but the items are not being accepted by the prick with the tattoo. Infuriating to say the least.

Regardless, a truly banal game which I cannot be ar$ed completing. Returning it tomorrow (Nov 4).

[–] Whitchity_Man 12 years ago

You were supposed to place the juice down in the garage, not bring them up to the guy. There was a little icon on the radar telling you where to put them down as well.

[–] vprice94 12 years ago

Figured it out before I exchanged it. Must say though, the radar was horrid.

Thanks anyway.

[–] TheDarkRighteousFist 12 years ago

You were supposed to place the juice down in the garage, not bring them up to the guy. There was a little icon on the radar telling you where to put them down as well.

Doesn't change the fact that the game still stinks. Scenarios like that one are precisely what killed the mood. Here we are in the middle of a zombie outbreak, and I have imbeciles asking me to drive out into the horde to fetch cases of juice?!

Just doing those types of missions makes me feel like a dumbass. I could almost swear that as soon as I drive out of the parking lot, all the NPCs are programmed to start laughing their asses off at the jackass that's risking life and limb for boxes of goddamned juice!

There are many things worth dying over, but juice isn't one, especially not in the middle of a zombie outbreak. For crying out loud, break open the vending machines that are everywhere. Drink the water from the bathroom faucets. You're on an island. The air is humid and the weather is tropical. Make stills to collect condensation and rain. But don't send my meaty buttcheeks racing through hordes of zombies fetching juice!

I couldn't take the game seriously. Every mission was a joke.

[–] vprice94 12 years ago

The 'scenarios', simply put, were not entertaining. I found the majority of the missions (I managed to progress to the city/second map) a complete chore.

The combat controls were incredibly cumbersome too, not to mention inconsistent, rendering the game almost unplayable on many occasion.

My brief spell with Dead Island was bug infested encounter too:

* Invisible enemies attacking and depleting character energy
* Enemies progressed through closed doors and walls
* Weapons would not change on command
* Unable to scale ladders
* Terrible enemy spawning
* Snaring within the scenery.

Certainly not a pleasant experience.

[–] Whitchity_Man 12 years ago

Well, Fist it's all personal opinion. I myself never experienced the problems that Price just listed (except for the ladder one, you have to look at certain spot on the ladder to climb it).

In my opinion, Dead Island is GOTY. The combat was extremely fluid once you figured out what you were doing and how to dodge. The music was great, the graphics were pretty awesome, and the layout of everything was almost seemless.

My only gripe is that missions could have been more varied, as they were mostly fetch quests, or go to A, do B, and come back to A.

And the thing about getting the juice is that the game doesn't take itself too seriously. The game tries to be fun. It's not fun if you swing a bat at a vending machine and then BOOM, mission completed here's 500 XP. It's not fun trying to set up a water still on the roof. It's fun to kill zombies.

People got way too excited for this game when the trailer came out. I think I was the only person who was disappointed because they didn't show any gameplay and I was waiting since 2007 for this game. Everyone else was all "HOLY SH!T GREATEST TRAILER EVER!!!11".

[–] TheDarkRighteousFist 12 years ago

In my opinion, Dead Island is GOTY.

Yeah . . . that ain't gonna happen. Not in the shadows of FAR superior 2011 releases like Arkham City, Assassins Creed Revelations, Battlefield 3, Skyrim etc. and etc. You can kiss that title goodbye; Dead Island doesn't stand a chance.

All the talk and chatter about this game died down REAL quick two weeks after it came out, because as you say later in your post, it was hyped to be the greatest thing ever, and then people got to experience it for what it was. Repetitive and poorly conceived.

And yes, that's my personal opinion. For me, varied gameplay is important, because doing the same thing over and over and over and over will cause me to lose interest REALLY fast, and every single encounter with a zombie, and every single "quest" in this game are virtually identical.

Some NPC sends you on a fetch mission to get items A, B, and C, which is your excuse to go through romping through zombies in the first place. The zombies never attack the "safe" areas where groups of survivors are holed up, they never track you down, or sniff you out. The whole reason you ever come face to face with any zombies in this game is because some NPC gives you an excuse to pass through them - which is a gimmick, and a one trick pony.

It gets old. After a while, you complete enough quests, and you're literally walking to the next person asking yourself, "Okay, sir. Why do YOU need to me go running through the zombies like an idiot? Do tell."

And for me, killing the zombies was just too easy. There was no challenge. Walk forward, swing, back up and dodge, rinse and repeat ad infinitum. That's it. Almost EVERY regular zombie in the whole game could be dispatched in the exact same fashion. Walk up and swing, dodge the counter swing, repeat. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't keep doing that all day.

After a while, zombies just become an annoyance. They're not even dangerous anymore. This game was supposed to be horrific. It was supposed to give you chills, and make you run, and elevate your heart rate. But INSTEAD - I'm LITERALLY walking up to groups of zombies, knocking them out one by one and saying to myself, "Another one. And another one. And another one. And another one. This is boring. Somebody scare me."

I'm sorry, but I was bored to tears with Dead Island. It was dead alright.

EDIT - And don't even get me started on the online. OBVIOUSLY, they should have allowed each player to custom make a character, with its own unique skills and properties to be creativly used in the game world. But no, they limit you to the same four people for online play. The results?

Every other online game, identical triplets and twins everywhere. It was ridiculous.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] soco-81 8 years ago

I thought it was pretty damn awesome. The constant chaos and suicide missions were the best part. The story was reasonable. It's zombies...

Wasn't really paying attention to graphics/zombie makeup details. But I've probably seen a lot worse.

Yerema  yeah I don't know what was going on. I'm sure it made sense but the pacing of the game didn't really let you pay much attention to the plot.