Dying Light’s First Hour

We recently received a review code for Dying Light. Yes, we understand the game came out almost a year ago, but we are attempting to get through the main story in order to review some upcoming DLC. Regardless, I played an hour last night and hats off to the developers: they created some suspenseful moments!

I’m not easily spooked, and someone jumping out and chasing me doesn’t really do it for me. It is all in the build up to the moment, and this is something executed perfectly in Dying Light, especially in the first hour. You are not given a lot of weapon options – in fact, your first weapon is a club with a razor blade in it – which obviously adds to the suspense that builds early on. Your weapon does the job, but won’t protect you for long.

Walking down the dark halls of floor 13 got my heart thumping like very few games have in the past. It’s spooky! The walls and glass are covered in blood, and an empty stroller sits near the elevator doors spattered with blood itself. It gives you an uneasy feeling, right before you hear screams in the distance. A lone survivor on floor 13 just waiting to be rescued.

This type of action continues for the better part of the first hour of the game. With minimal abilities and very few weapons choices, you begin your journey as an individual being hunted, not a hunter. I’ve been told that once you progress a few hours in, your arsenal of weapons and your abilities are better suited for the environment you are placed in. Early on, however, I spent more time running than I did fighting. I would have died. I knew it, the game knows it, and it just adds to the early suspense.

This game is in an interesting place between suspense and horror. Early on, it is more or less horror as you adjust to your surroundings. As you progress, it becomes more suspenseful. For those who like to experience both, we cannot recommend Dying Light enough! We will have more coverage of the base game and all DLC packs in the near future, so stay with us at Games Reviews for more!