RECOMMENDED: DEAD ISLAND: GOTY Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition
Last year’s smash hit new IP returns to shelves in a fresh SKU packed with extras. James Batchelor goes back to the island
[INFO]
Released: July 6th
Formats: 360, PS3, PC
Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Techland
Distributor: Koch Media
Contact: 01256 385200
BREAKING A new IP in the today’s market is an impressive major feat, and one that Deep Silver managed last year with Dead Island. This zombie horror title was a refreshing change amidst the sequels, spin-offs and reboots that dominate the chart, pitting players against hordes of the undead on a tropical island. And most impressive of all, consumers wanted it. It was the second-best selling new IP last year (behind L.A. Noire). Keen to build on the game’s success (see ‘Dead popular’), Deep Silver supported Dead Islandin the months after its release with a range of DLC packs, adding new missions, weapons and multiplayer modes. Now this content, previously only available digitally, is coming to retail as part of the Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition. This new SKU gives Xbox 360, PS3 and PC owners everything that has been released for Dead Islandto date. Central to the bundle is, of course, the original smash hit game. Dead Islandputs players in the shoes of four survivors in a fictional holiday resort that has been overrun by zombies.
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This Game of the Year Edition should provide the Dead Island brand with a shot in the arm until the sequel arrives.
As they battle the dead that have overrun the island, they must search for other survivors, a cure, the source of the infection and, most importantly, a way to escape. Fans of the single-player mode will enjoy the Ryder White missions, which focuses on the game’s antagonist. Players will learn why the disgraced colonel made the decisions he did.
Meanwhile, the Bloodbath Arena expansion adds new challenges that will help gamers hone their skills. Each arena can be tackled in multiplayer or individually, and any XP and weapons earned can be carried over to the campaign. The two mission packs contain weapons and blueprints for new items that can be used for more effective zombie slaying. Highlights include The Ripper, a combination of baseball bat and buzzsaw that was originally only available when consumers pre-ordered the game. Dead Islandwas a big hit for Deep Silver last year and a steady seller afterwards. The Game of the Year Editioncould well provide the brand with another shot in the arm – at least until the sequel arrives.
THE NEXT HORROR At E3, Deep Silver announced that developer Techland is working on a true follow-up its zombie-basher. Dead Island Riptide is in development for consoles and PC, and will be fully unveiled alter this summer.
DEAD POPULAR Dead Islandwas the second-best selling new IP to launch in the last three years, second only to Rockstar’s L.A. Noire. It shifted 100,000 copies in its first weekend and held No.1 in the UK All Formats Chart for two weeks. It has sold more than 3m copies worldwide to-date.