Dead Island: Definitive Collection

Dead Island Definitive Collection offers plenty of content and improved graphics, although there are still some issues from the original games. Solo mode is weak compared to co-op.

Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide are two great open world RPG's in their own right but they are also fantastic zombie survival games as well. Killing zombies never gets old and the island is a beautiful place to explore. If you missed out on these games last generation, now is a good as a time as ever to try them out as they both feel like one huge game that provides hundreds of hours of non stop, zombie slaying fun.

Dead Island and the expansion Riptide are good examples of how to combine RPG, action, survival horror, splatter and exploration with solid gameplay mechanics, especially in the combat system area.

Techland has done a good job with this collection, but it's aimed at a new audience rather than at those who played the originals, since it offers very few additions to those.

Two in one sandbox / survival game with fun game mechanics, up to four players at once in co-op online mode and visual upgrades.

Not the best remaster that we have seen due its lack of polish and variety, but a nice compilation capable of entertaining for more than 40 hours.

Dying Light is a better game, but it was Dead Island that started it all. If you want to take a vacation on a tropical Island during a zombie invasion, this is the game for you.

A competent collection which vastly improves the two Dead Island games included, adding a third game which can be fun in short bursts. Both Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide never looked better, with a slew of technical enhancements and solid performance which makes revisiting both titles quite enjoyable. Most the gameplay issues, however, haven't been addressed, so those who couldn't stand the original releases won't change their opinions with the remastered releases. Solid games, for sure, but not for everyone.

Definitely one of the strongest remasters available on the current gen consoles, with enough improvements to more than compete with most new games. In a surprise turn, it also manages to better its original release - it’s been a long time since the title “Definitive Edition” was this well earnt.

Nothing new on this edition for those who never played Dead Island games before and now can enjoy it on a single package with dozens of hours of tropical nightmares. It's a decent remaster that looks very good on the current generation consoles.

Those who haven't played Dead Island or its sequel can do it now the best way possible, with all the DLC content and Retro Revenge as an interesting bonus. The franchise still has some technical issues, but with so many hours of gameplay and the visual enhancements of this remaster, Definitive Collection is really an interesting game.

If your looking for a game that you can sink plenty of hours into, that looks better than ever and satisfying gameplay, then its worth checking out. That being said if you weren’t a fan of the gameplay the first time around nothing has changed on that side of things.

With around 35 hours of gameplay packed in and a fun little retro beat 'em up to complement it all, though, it's the best way to play if you missed these zombie-smashers.

Dead Island Definitive Edition is a great example of how a previous gen title can be improved on current-gen. Techland has done more than required in porting the games over to PS4 and Xbox One, resulting in a package that is tremendous fun and technically up to par. That's a sentence I never thought I'd be saying.

Dead Island: Definitive Collection may not be enough of a reason for those who have already experienced the original and Riptide to warrant making the return trip, but for everyone else this is the best way to experience these games. The improved visuals and lack of bugs makes getting through the main courses less of a chore, and Retro Revenge is a fun little side dish.

Dead Island: Definitive Collection presents a lot of fun, albeit dated and repetitive gameplay for an affordable price. As a remaster, it's not perfect, but that's almost part of these games' charm.

Dead Island: Definitive Collection is a symbol of the franchise’s great ideas, hampered by what is merely an okay execution.

So, once again, what Techland offers is Dead Island, Dead Island Riptide, and Retro Revenge in one package for 40 bucks. That still a pretty good offer. But just so you know, for 20 dollars more you can get Dying Light: The Following - Enhanced Edition, which is just a better game.

This collection offers 3 nice games, but the remaster is visually and technically lazy.

Dead Island: Definitive Collection is by no means perfect, but it still succeeds in providing you with a substantial slice of flawed but generally fine zombie slaying action. Despite offering a graphical upgrade, though, there may not be much here to lure in those who have played these titles before – especially seeing as no real changes have been made to the core gameplay, and because newcomer Retro Revenge disappoints.

The one thing not lacking in this Definitive Edition of Dead Island is the content. Unfortunately, it's the same as some years ago, and if you already played it, there's no real reason to do so again.

For those of us that have played Dead Island before, there’s not much in the Definitive Collection to drag us back. Lack of adding previously missing features like split screen and the inability to import last gen character saves make playing Dead Island again feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.

Slapping a fresh coat of paint on a bent bumper doesn’t change the fact that it still needs to be fixed. While I appreciate the upgraded graphics, it’s nothing players can’t get from the PC version of the game, which is probably a better platform to play it on, especially due to the availability of modded content.

A reasonably-priced pair of remasters that actually do improve upon the original games, plus you get a surprisingly decent bonus title in the mix too. Sadly, while technical hiccups are stifled in the main games, many of the mechanical flaws remain, with the passage of time not helping matters. This means Dead Island is better than it's ever been, but a lot harder to enjoy than it once was.

Dead Island Definitive Collection is the best way to get these two flawed experiences, ones that are enjoyable despite some poor design choices. There’s still nothing quite like Dead Island’s analog combat, but the game’s poor structure can’t be saved with a graphical facelift.

A case of projection clashing against reality, almost a meta-level statement on Dead Island's inability to step up and perform on key. Unfortunately the only rendition that sticks is one of deteriorating enthusiasm. 2011 was charitable to Dead Island. 2016 almost holds it in contempt.

If you were a fan of the original Dead Island games despite their shortcomings, they're worth a revisit. I never was able to play with the fifth character in either DI or Riptide so that's where my focus has been. Purchasing the physical collection gives you Retro Revenge, which makes this a decent value.

It’s inspired, but turgid. Brilliant, but flawed. Fun, but infuriating. If you’ve never played it before, the Definitive Edition may just provide you with enough of a laugh to be worth picking up.

As good a remaster as Dead Island fans could hope for, since nothing but a complete remake could solve the game’s deep-rooted gameplay and structural issues.

Do the right thing and get spiritual sequel Dying Light, plus all its DLC, instead. [September 2016, p75]