Dead Island

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 674 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 358 out of 674
  2. Mixed: 200 out of 674
  3. Negative: 116 out of 674
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  1. Thrillhouse
    Sep 7, 2011
    8
    A mix of borderlands, fallout, and dead rising. If you're one of those people that plays games and needs to brag about the graphics, this game wont disappoint, but also has the addictive gameplay to make you forget to eat a few meals. Playing coop with friends is the way to go, you end up running through the streets just stomping out zombies, basically feeling you're in a lynch mob, butA mix of borderlands, fallout, and dead rising. If you're one of those people that plays games and needs to brag about the graphics, this game wont disappoint, but also has the addictive gameplay to make you forget to eat a few meals. Playing coop with friends is the way to go, you end up running through the streets just stomping out zombies, basically feeling you're in a lynch mob, but for all the right reasons… Expand
  2. pez79_14
    Sep 7, 2011
    8
    Dead Island is a game any zombie fan should enjoy. The combat is up close and visceral. It never gets old to cave in a zombies head. There are many small touches that fit into the "zombie apocalypse" theme, such as some of the zombies have bandages on there arms from when they were bit as a human, and bodies that are completely eaten on the ground. The Crome engine looks really good and IDead Island is a game any zombie fan should enjoy. The combat is up close and visceral. It never gets old to cave in a zombies head. There are many small touches that fit into the "zombie apocalypse" theme, such as some of the zombies have bandages on there arms from when they were bit as a human, and bodies that are completely eaten on the ground. The Crome engine looks really good and I appreciate the time put into the many zombie characters and types. There is a constant sense of uneasiness and tension that never lets up. The first player gameplay is similar to Farcry in the animations of your movement, and driving. The combat is similar to Condemned and Chronicles of Riddick with great first person combat. The quests are similar to Fallout 3 or Borderlands. This game is a no-brainer for zombie fans, and a good game for anyone looking for a fun first person action/adventure game.… Expand
  3. Bighairyturtle
    Sep 29, 2011
    8
    Pros:
    1. Weapon variety and creation.
    2. Entertaining and challenging fighting controls and interface. 3. Fair story and lots to do. 4. Scenery is Pretty and engaging. Cons: 1. Driving 2. Starts off slow in my opinion 3. Save system can be better and is buggy at points 4.Needs some polishing. Summary: I enjoyed this game the classes, weapons, fighting, and story were all great.    Pros:
    1. Weapon variety and creation.
    2. Entertaining and challenging fighting controls and interface.
    3. Fair story and lots to do.
    4. Scenery is Pretty and engaging.
    Cons:
    1. Driving
    2. Starts off slow in my opinion
    3. Save system can be better and is buggy at points
    4.Needs some polishing.

    Summary: I enjoyed this game the classes, weapons, fighting, and story were all great. Unfortunately the some of the flaws and lack of polishing can make this game frustrating and take away from the experience. After a patch and the price drop I think this will be a solid game to turn to when you want some story, zombie violence, and fps feel.

    8/10    … Expand
  4. oligibbons
    Sep 9, 2011
    8
    After month and months of anticipation for this game, it really took me by surprise to see the terrible reviews that this game got. After playing it myself, I thought it was best to review it myself.

    I love(d) the game, but that's not to say there aren't a few issues with it. Yes, the co-op match-making is a little uneven and the co-op mode as a whole is a little factured at the time of    After month and months of anticipation for this game, it really took me by surprise to see the terrible reviews that this game got. After playing it myself, I thought it was best to review it myself.

    I love(d) the game, but that's not to say there aren't a few issues with it. Yes, the co-op match-making is a little uneven and the co-op mode as a whole is a little factured at the time of writing this; and there may be a number of glitches throughout the game in general; also, the game engine does seem to struggle with the more complicated renders; but these are only minor, superficial problems that have no real impact on the overall game. Also, Techland are working tirelessly at the moment to bring updates that will fix these issues.

    There are plenty of positives in this game, that people seem to ignore - For example, the vistas are beautiful! There is nothing better than strolling along the beaches of paradise, before taking on a horde of the undead. Also, the atmosphere that is created can be chilling to say the least - This is best shown in close quarters though; especially in the dark. Furthermore, the sheer desperation shown by NPCs really gives you a sense of panic and despair. The soundtrack does a lot to carry this as well.

    I've seen people complain about the fact that there is too much money on the island -- You are in a holiday resort for the best part of the game. Whenever I go on holiday, I tend to have a lot of money on me as well... It's something that you would expect to find in this situation. Also, people have been complaining about the fact that so much has been "borrowed" from other games, such as levelling systems as well as skill trees... It makes the game better than it would be without it, so I don't see how you can complain at something that improves the game.

    That said, there could definitely be a lot done to improve the unrefined look of the game. But to a degree, it is this "rough-around-the-edges" charm adds character to the game, in the same way it did to Fallout 3. And on the topic of Bethesda's Game of the Year title, a lot was made of the comparison's between the two as it approached launch, and I saw more that slight flickers as to why this was - Needless to say, the expansive and desolate open-world map is of a similar vein, but the minimalist feel that lets the game breathe for itself is also striking between both games.

    This game is definitely not for everyone. But if you are looking for a game that you can lock yourself in your room for hours on end, with the windows closed and the volume turned up as you completely immerse yourself into a frightening world, then this could be the game for you. However, if you are looking for a refined masterpiece, a la Red Dead Redemption, then this isn't for you. You can't even think of tackling this game without a forgiving mindset, so if you treat this game kindly, it will reward you with a very very satisfying ride.    … Expand
  5. TheHarshOne
    Sep 11, 2011
    8
    I bought Dead Island exspecting a really boring RPG,must say,i was wrong. I could see myself putting countless hours into this game. Now lets start with the things i liked about the game. i overall think the graphics are great, on consoles they are great. I cant imagine what they are like on PC. The gameplay of the game is hack and slash, and some gun gameplay thrown in here and there.I bought Dead Island exspecting a really boring RPG,must say,i was wrong. I could see myself putting countless hours into this game. Now lets start with the things i liked about the game. i overall think the graphics are great, on consoles they are great. I cant imagine what they are like on PC. The gameplay of the game is hack and slash, and some gun gameplay thrown in here and there. This game is a hardcore RPG. Looting galore, and leveling up is as fun as ever, adding skill points, and upgrading weopons. The Co-Op of the game is amazing, playing with friends is the best Co-Op experience i have ever had. Now onto the bad things. The presentation has texture bugs, and pop-ups. Gameplay can be really hard if you are playing by yourself. Playing alone is alot harder than playing with friends. The story, well um.... what story!? There really isnt a story, its just 4 survivors trying to escape the city, other than the four characters backstory. The matchmaking is awful, you will drop from a game randomly. There are also bugs that stop you from continuing the story. I was escorting a survivor, and she just stopped i couldnt get her to move so i had to restart my xbox. Some people are just destroying this game, but its a big world, and there are bound to be bugs. It has already been annouced that there will be 37 bug fixes soon. If there were not bugs, this game would have gotten a 9.0, but with the game bugs this game gets a 8.0.… Expand
  6. Tornel
    Sep 11, 2011
    8
    Let me start off by saying that anyone who gives a game with so many workable and fun elements a 0/10 is just an idiot, I'm sorry. Unless the game is just unplayable (which at almost 20 hours in I can promise you is it quit the opposite) it doesn't deserve a grade that low on the fact that it is a working playable game. There are tons of quests with lots of variety to them (though manyLet me start off by saying that anyone who gives a game with so many workable and fun elements a 0/10 is just an idiot, I'm sorry. Unless the game is just unplayable (which at almost 20 hours in I can promise you is it quit the opposite) it doesn't deserve a grade that low on the fact that it is a working playable game. There are tons of quests with lots of variety to them (though many are fetch quests I admit). The graphics are very good (at least on the PC version, but you can't expect consoles to compete in that department based on old hardware and bandwidth limitations on them) and there are sooo many ways to decapitate the zombies, that no other game I've played even comes close. This leads to many tactics, such as the Thug enemies that are the first stronger enemy you will encounter. You can chop his arms off which eliminates the threat of him knocking you to the ground causing massive damage, and leaves him very easy prey at that point. Whoever said the engine limits you to 5 zombies at once, either didn't get to act 2 where the special area leads to you getting constantly swamped and struggling to live, or the consoles themselves are limiting the number of zombies, I can't say since I didn't play it on console. The biggest surprise to me playing this game was the fact that the whole game wasn't based around the resort area. From all the gameplay and trailers I watched that is what you are lead to believe, but it is far from actuality. The resort area is actually my least favorite of all of the areas, with acts 2/3 being very fun by giving a very different feeling to the game. The item prefixes tell you a lot about the quality of the item, you just have to learn what they mean (which can be hard since they give you very little to go on). The mods for the items add another level of enjoyment to the item system by giving you many options to go with for each item. Sometimes the mods make your weapons awesome, and then sometimes they fall short of your expectations and I wind up not using them. I honestly don't see how anyone can give this game ratings worse than games like Borderlands when it has way more content and doesn't get state nearly as quickly due to the range of environments (whereas borderlands had desert and more desert). It has rough spots every now and then though, as other users have mentioned sometimes you will swing and you will not hit the zombie in front of you when you should, causing you to get hit or knocked down, but this isn't often enough for me to quit playing. The online has worked well since the first patch (and even before then I was still able to play with my friends). It will pop up often asking if I would like to join others, and if I'm not playing with friends I sometimes will. All of my friends have been able to join my game and I have been able to join them as well without any problems. I think the biggest reason for bad reviews is the game can get tiring if you play for too much in one sitting. Having to fight zombie after zombie, and actually have to work at killing them, can be tiring for someone used to other games where you just shoot your way through with ease. On that point, guns are not effective at killing zombies, at least not as effective as melee. If you get solid headshots it takes many bullets, where I could have just knocked them down and stomped their head. Although against other living enemies in the game (i.e. not zombies), guns are very effective, with usually a single headshot doing the job. The environment,music, sound effects (especially severing a limb or shooting a rifle) all sound great and couldn't be better. All in all if you like games like borderlands you should try this game out as it has all of the good points about borderlands, but looks better, has more varied quests, has better items, allows you to slice/bash up your enemies giving you the edge in a fight, and allows you to do all of this with friends which, for me, made it all the more enjoyable.… Expand
  7. Muro
    Sep 11, 2011
    8
    I am having a hard time understanding why this game is so loved by some and so hated by others
    From a technical stand point it's buggy, though not broken. The game engine lacks polish, but its not the ugly mess that some claim. So from a purely technical side its about a 6. There have been games far more polished for their release.
    Now to the actual point of any game, having fun, and    I am having a hard time understanding why this game is so loved by some and so hated by others
    From a technical stand point it's buggy, though not broken. The game engine lacks polish, but its not the ugly mess that some claim. So from a purely technical side its about a 6. There have been games far more polished for their release.

    Now to the actual point of any game, having fun, and in this regard Dead Island is very good, though dam me its difficult. Maybe it is this difficulty that some people are not liking but I am loving it, at last a game that is just challenging me at every turn. The zombies are vicious and unforgiving, which is good.
    The hack and slash rpg aspect enough to keep you wanting to level up just one more level, to get that one slightly bigger knife, that one extra skill point, to kill a few more zombies.
    So in terms of being fun, this game is a 9.

    I would have given it an overall score of 7.5 but I can't do that so it cna have an 8.
    It's not the masterpiece that the 9's and 10's are giving it, but it deserves justice from all the haters.

    One final word to edge magazine... as actual professional critics you thought this game was a 3?
    I don't know if you had received a beta copy of the game that wasn't the final code, or were just hating to cause shock and drive traffic to your site but seriously guys just get a few of you online together and play it, and tell me you aren't having fun.    … Expand
  8. ZomB
    Sep 12, 2011
    8
    8.5
    I just registered on here to try & boost this games score as i think it is a real shame that some gamers might be put off by some of the negative reviews (The Edge review is so wide of the mark its beyond a joke!). I'll try to keep it brief but Dead Island is a great game but i wont deny that it does have some minor flaws.
    As i said the flaws are pretty minor & should not    8.5
    I just registered on here to try & boost this games score as i think it is a real shame that some gamers might be put off by some of the negative reviews (The Edge review is so wide of the mark its beyond a joke!). I'll try to keep it brief but Dead Island is a great game but i wont deny that it does have some minor flaws.

    As i said the flaws are pretty minor & should not constitute the majority of a review. Yes there are some graphic glitches. For example if you drive somewhere fast a texture might not load up straight away. So slightly annoying but hardly game breaking & ive seen this issue in plenty of other games including the recent LA Noire. Personally that is the only glitch ive seen after playing for about 10 hours.

    If i had to compare then this game does borrow some idea's from other games. If you enjoyed Borderlands then you will definitely like this. In my opinion the mission system is better than Borderlands as you actually aquire missions from NPC's rather than outposts. This makes the game flow more naturally. There are also elements of Fallout in how you can acquire random items to create new weapons etc. So imo the game should not be knocked for 'borrowing' some of these ideas. I think the vast majority of games also do this to some degree. Modern Warfare took a lot from Counter Strike but that didnt effect the reviews for COD...and rightly so!

    So like Borderlands one player is fun but can be more challenging without any back up. The real fun begins when you play co-op...especially with friends. If you want something different from the usual shooters & mass produced games then dont sleep on this.

    So to conclude Dead Island is a really ambitious project & a few minor bugs dont stop this from being a very good game. If you plan on playing through one player this might not be the game for you however if you have some friends to play with then don't hesitate in getting this!    … Expand
  9. DoubleNegativ
    Sep 13, 2011
    8
    Pros: Great graphics, great controls, great default difficulty level (due to swarming, weapons breaking)
    Cons: single player = hard as balls, penalty for death isn't great enough, nor is the death respawn
    At first I hated the weapons dulling and breaking aspect, but as I played further I realized that it made the game fun. You have to understand that this game is NOT like other games in    Pros: Great graphics, great controls, great default difficulty level (due to swarming, weapons breaking)
    Cons: single player = hard as balls, penalty for death isn't great enough, nor is the death respawn

    At first I hated the weapons dulling and breaking aspect, but as I played further I realized that it made the game fun. You have to understand that this game is NOT like other games in aspect of killing everything that you see. There are times when fleeing > fighting and that is exactly what makes this game incredible. If you are the type of gamer that's run and gun > strategy then this game isn't for you.    … Expand
  10. emanuel83
    Sep 18, 2011
    8
    In our current gaming society where games are nitpicked to oblivion, and every glitch and shortcoming are spouted to the online community, Dead Island may look bad on paper. Why some may focus on bugs, graphical errors and the like, they will undoubtedly miss the boat. Dead Island has flaws with clipping, loading textures, hit detection, balance, saving (on some platforms), and even basicIn our current gaming society where games are nitpicked to oblivion, and every glitch and shortcoming are spouted to the online community, Dead Island may look bad on paper. Why some may focus on bugs, graphical errors and the like, they will undoubtedly miss the boat. Dead Island has flaws with clipping, loading textures, hit detection, balance, saving (on some platforms), and even basic gameplay that you think should have been addressed during testing. However, as you make your way through the body littered island of Banoi, you start to forget some of these issues while gazing at the simply gorgeous landscape. Suddenly you are brought back to reality by the distant roar of a Thug. You look around quickly and see an Infected running towards you full boar and think, "Crap...." Armed with only a baseball bat, you kick the crazed zombie then crack his head open with a perfectly executed swing. Blood and brain matter spray on the sand as the recently bloodthirsty brain muncher now lies motionless. It is that this time that you forget any criticism you had of Dead Island.

    Dispatching one of these undead foes is, to put it very lightly, refreshing. The motion of the camera, the first person perspective, the way enemies react to the force of a hit. It's all so satisfying that pretty soon you've spent 5 hours running around slaughtering the undead and haven't even done a quest. Every friend you have join your game only seems to amplify the experience. To me it's a lot like Borderlands, except with zombies... and melee weapons instead of guns (for the most part). It takes many cues from that title, but doesn't really do anything better, or even quite as good. Much like Borderlands, however, the co-op is endless fun and should be played in 5-7 hour increments.

    I remember a time when games were given good ratings because of how fun they were, and not necessarily how perfect they were technically. If you want a good time and love zombie genocide, then check it out!    … Expand
  11. shadowrun
    Oct 13, 2011
    8
    ok so it wasnt the sweeping tragic story that the early trailer may of let you believe. but its brutal. blood thirsty. crass romp through the over cluttered genre of survival horror. yes its flawed in some places. but nothing a few patches will cure. but for people like me. who love bashing zombies across the face with a blunt object. this will be your game of the year! dead island is leftok so it wasnt the sweeping tragic story that the early trailer may of let you believe. but its brutal. blood thirsty. crass romp through the over cluttered genre of survival horror. yes its flawed in some places. but nothing a few patches will cure. but for people like me. who love bashing zombies across the face with a blunt object. this will be your game of the year! dead island is left for dead (played at half speed) with a dose of borderlands. and a bucket of gore and guts, some dodgy voice acting and story. but who cares. its a zombie game! bring some friends!… Expand
  12. anthonygen94
    Oct 24, 2011
    8
    The game is one of the best zombie games I've played. The scenery blew me away, but it seemed to me that they took so long on the scenery and wanted to sell it quick, so they didn't even give any character any facial expressions. During touching moments in the game I just couldn't get into it because they didn't have any expressions, which ruined the mood quick. And the play ability isn'tThe game is one of the best zombie games I've played. The scenery blew me away, but it seemed to me that they took so long on the scenery and wanted to sell it quick, so they didn't even give any character any facial expressions. During touching moments in the game I just couldn't get into it because they didn't have any expressions, which ruined the mood quick. And the play ability isn't very good, I rate it a 7. I beat the game twice already and got to level 50. I almost have every achievement just not even caring to get them, all you need to do to get them is just play the game. It was a great game, but they could have done better by a lot. But hopefully they will do better in the 2nd one. At the end of the game they hint at a 2nd one being created.… Expand
  13. silentshade
    Oct 25, 2011
    8
    I like my zombie games from time to time and IMO this is my favourite one yet. So to start with the visuals which aren't that great, they look best in the first act with the beaches but they look rather ugly elsewhere. I noticed that the draw distance is not very good either and seeing a beach ball spawn in front of a zombie was a tad weird. The story is also not very good with some awfulI like my zombie games from time to time and IMO this is my favourite one yet. So to start with the visuals which aren't that great, they look best in the first act with the beaches but they look rather ugly elsewhere. I noticed that the draw distance is not very good either and seeing a beach ball spawn in front of a zombie was a tad weird. The story is also not very good with some awful accents and a genuinely boring plot with no suspense, same goes with the mission and side quest which should all be renamed to fetch the item because that is all it is. When I played it took me about 31 hours to finish which is a bit longer then most but I do like to explore and kill zombies. Now onto the gameplay which is where Dead Island shines, there is nothing better then whacking a zombie in the head with a baseball bat and seeing his head implode in SLOW MOTION, the melee weapons all feel nice and kill zombies in great ways and that is before there modded. Firearms fall short and are not as great to use and don't give the same good feeling a machete will. The RPG elements are also done well with the skill trees all making sense and I always found my self wondering which skill to go for next. Now the modding is actually a lot better then I thought it would be with some pretty good weapons to make which pack a hell of a punch such as the sledgehammer with the Tesla mod which literally sends zombies flying. The Co-op side of things work rather well and you wouldn't really think you had left single-player, I only experienced a problem once and even that was minor.
    In conclusion this is definitely a game you should take a look at and with about 50 hours on the clock for me, it sure is worth the cash.    … Expand
  14. Somogibbs
    Oct 28, 2011
    8
    Dead Island has it's flaws. Engine problems abound in this game with clipping and sometimes ugly textures and strange enemy AI. Graphical hiccups aside, this game is a lot of fun. There is a main story/quest structure that you can follow and side quests issued by people you meet. Much of the combat is melee and it is easy to get overwhelmed as enemies level up with you. This keeps theDead Island has it's flaws. Engine problems abound in this game with clipping and sometimes ugly textures and strange enemy AI. Graphical hiccups aside, this game is a lot of fun. There is a main story/quest structure that you can follow and side quests issued by people you meet. Much of the combat is melee and it is easy to get overwhelmed as enemies level up with you. This keeps the combat challenging throughout to the end of the game. Each section of the island forces you to employ new combat mechanics to stay alive so the game didn't get boring. The game is full of gore and creepiness and it was a day one purchase for me. I'm eagerly awaiting DLC and highly recommend this game.… Expand
  15. poorjonny
    Oct 31, 2011
    8
    I am shocked this game scored so low. I have to say that there were a few bugs in my playthrough, but I am assuming that there was a patch that fixed all of the major ones as I didn't get bothered in the least by any I ran across, just a few minor hiccups. The story was also lacking, considering this is a zombie game I think we can all get over that. Now that the two main flaws are out ofI am shocked this game scored so low. I have to say that there were a few bugs in my playthrough, but I am assuming that there was a patch that fixed all of the major ones as I didn't get bothered in the least by any I ran across, just a few minor hiccups. The story was also lacking, considering this is a zombie game I think we can all get over that. Now that the two main flaws are out of the way we can get down to what was great about the game, as this was the meat and bones of the negativity. The scenery really sucks you in. This draws you into thinking that you are in a zombie apocalypse, or at least a B-movie as the voice acting is absolutely hilarious at points. It is so much fun to wander through the vast maps while battling the random zombies that come at you. Each one provides a lootable item. Looting is one of the most important parts of the game. It is necessary to collect many different parts to modify weapons or complete quests. The looting is usually done after attacks so it never does become stale, only a breather from the combat, which can actually provide quite a challenge at times.
    There are four classes. Each class has it's own weapon type specialty which is related to the skill tree upgrades. The zombies do level with you but never overbear your skills, I found the difficulty progression to be right on the money.
    The game is based around co-op play. With an internet connection joining a friends game is a simple process. Joining another game is also only a button click away. Unfortunately there is no local co-op, which is truly a shame as my friend and I passed the controller back and forth for all 32 hours we spent on the main campaign. These 32 hours do not take into account the amount of game we did not complete. Two days after the completion of the game we both decided that playing through again under a different class and attempting to complete each side quest.

    My impressions of the game are very high. I came into the game with very low expectations. After seeing the trailer months before it came out I was intrigued. After watching the gameplay I was pleasantly surprised. I remembered how disappointed I was with other zombie games in the past. After a few weeks of the game being out I decided to give it a try despite the poor reviews. Basically I went from buying the game as a casual time killer to being completely sucked into the absolute awesomeness of this game. Forget the negative reviews and give this game and honest chance. If you don't like it after roaming around for some time and allowing yourself the opportunity to try the different aspects then you are probably playing the wrong genre of video games.    … Expand
  16. MalignantPlague
    Nov 25, 2011
    8
    First of all I would like to say that I have by no means finished this game completely, but I feel i've played enough of it to experience the main features of the game. When I first played Dead Island, I just felt like it was a more challenging version of the Left 4 Dead games that was open-world and had MUCH better graphics. But, the minute I started playing the game in co-op, I realizedFirst of all I would like to say that I have by no means finished this game completely, but I feel i've played enough of it to experience the main features of the game. When I first played Dead Island, I just felt like it was a more challenging version of the Left 4 Dead games that was open-world and had MUCH better graphics. But, the minute I started playing the game in co-op, I realized truly how awesome this game turned out to be! And one of the most satisfying things I've found so far is the great feeling of using a sharp blade to cleaning cut the entire head off of nearly every zombie I encountered. This game is great if you are on your own, however, it becomes even more great the second you team up with a buddy, or three buddies for that matter.… Expand
  17. Kenmei
    Jan 1, 2012
    8
    I enjoyed this game more than I thought I would. First of all, if anyone thinks this is just a Left 4 Dead clone, then know that there's a bit more emphasis put on the single-player and you aren't forced to play what amounts to a multiplayer only game like L4D. However it is similar to L4D enough that if you liked that game, then you will like this one. If nothing else this will sate yourI enjoyed this game more than I thought I would. First of all, if anyone thinks this is just a Left 4 Dead clone, then know that there's a bit more emphasis put on the single-player and you aren't forced to play what amounts to a multiplayer only game like L4D. However it is similar to L4D enough that if you liked that game, then you will like this one. If nothing else this will sate your need for a new zombie game and the open-endedness is kinda refreshing for this type of game. Especially now that the price has dropped, if you were thinking about taking a chance on this game, go ahead and do it. You should enjoy what it has to offer you.… Expand
  18. TStout
    Apr 17, 2012
    8
    This game was an absolute blast to play. While there are a few instances of bugs with clipping, they are a forgivable offense in light of the overall hilarity and replayability of this title. The characters' rage powers are different and interesting, which helps add to the replay value since the experience retains much of its freshness via the different styles you approach the fightingThis game was an absolute blast to play. While there are a few instances of bugs with clipping, they are a forgivable offense in light of the overall hilarity and replayability of this title. The characters' rage powers are different and interesting, which helps add to the replay value since the experience retains much of its freshness via the different styles you approach the fighting with each of the four characters. The variety of zombies is fun, although sometimes a bit far fetched in concept, they are still fun to dismember, decapitate, and otherwise decimate. If you are a fan of the genre, and want to savor the macabre mayhem a bit more than is allowed by the Left 4 Dead series, then this is the game for you.… Expand
  19. FrankDHp
    Nov 22, 2012
    8
    A First Person Openworld Zombie game with RPG elements seemed like the holy grail for me as soon as i heard about Dead Island. Sadly, for ME Dead Island just didn't deliver the hype. While the graphics looked good to say at least, in a game like this, storytelling and character development means much for me but i just couldn't care for the story or characters, cause this all felt flat.A First Person Openworld Zombie game with RPG elements seemed like the holy grail for me as soon as i heard about Dead Island. Sadly, for ME Dead Island just didn't deliver the hype. While the graphics looked good to say at least, in a game like this, storytelling and character development means much for me but i just couldn't care for the story or characters, cause this all felt flat. Then you have gameplay, which usually makes up other flaws. Again, this unfortunately didn't deliver it for me either. While the gameplay and combat was fun for 30 minutes, it just felt too clumsy and kind of sluggish to keep me entertained long enough. Don't let this review keep you away from the game though, cause just because it's a flawed game doesn't mean that nobody will enjoy it. If you love zombie and/or hack and slash games with RPG elements and if you're able to look past good story and character development, then Dead Island might be the game for you! Dead Island was for me personally a flawed game that misses a lot of potential and a game that isn't for everyone. Based on how i felt, i would give Dead Island a 6/10.… Expand
  20. SCHMOOPITIZE
    May 14, 2012
    8
    RPG ZOMBIE KILLING! The only problem i see is that after 5 hours you will need to play with a friend to hold interest. This is because the characters have no back-story and the actual story is stale. However, the game-play is GREAT. The combat is exactly like skyrim's so if you don't like that then don't buy it.
  21. hanibaldemp
    Jun 4, 2012
    8
    This game is great. Had alot of fun with friends and is definately one of my favourite games of 2011. The lack of content would be the only downfall with us finishing the game in a few days. though it can still be played enjoyably after it has been completed therefore 8/10.
  22. nms1215
    Dec 20, 2012
    8
    This game is poorly judged- it is a great game with some small flaws. Imagine Left 4 Dead mixed with Far Cry. This game is a huge open world filled with zombies (including a good range of types), with a large array of weapons and items, as well as a way to upgrade and construct weapons using items you find along the way.

    Starting Out: The reason most people did not give Dead Island a    This game is poorly judged- it is a great game with some small flaws. Imagine Left 4 Dead mixed with Far Cry. This game is a huge open world filled with zombies (including a good range of types), with a large array of weapons and items, as well as a way to upgrade and construct weapons using items you find along the way.

    Starting Out: The reason most people did not give Dead Island a fair chance is that is starts plain- you get no real game introduction where the developers hold your hand while teaching you controls and mechanics. Instead, you wake up in a zombie apocalypse and are told what each button does (such as kicking), but not the significance of said button (what good does kicking do for me?). This can be frustrating at first, but as you get the hang of everything you learn that this is an enjoyable part of the game. After gaining experience and leveling up, and gaining weapons I chose myself, I became an experience survivor. I knew that kicking a zombie is a great way to buy a couple of seconds, or that sometimes you are better off running for your freaking life. You *learn* these things. It makes the survival aspect seem completely legitimate. Also, the world does not quite open up and get really cool until level 15 or so (it comes faster than you know it, so give it a fair shot).

    Good: This game has amazing graphics and outstanding gameplay. It does a great job of making melee weapons precise zed-bashing/slicing instruments, allowing you to target heads, arms, etc. fluidly. The missions provide exciting environments and enemy interactions, and the world is beautifully constructed.

    Bad: The game really has a poor narrative. I found myself bored by the characters and missions (they tend to be "we need their help so you have to risk your life a million times over and make these people safe without risking them in order to get their minor assistance") and was immediately skipping cutscenes and dialog. The quest log for me was not a story guide, but an adventure guide. It was telling me "here is where the excitement is, this is your reward."

    All in all, I think this a great game to play with your buddies and go zombie-killing, and just have some laughs. It can be difficult, but there are never moments where you get furious at the game or a poor teammate. The game is just fun and definitely worth the buy.    … Expand
  23. Captain_Kirk
    Aug 14, 2012
    8
    Dead Island is not a game for everyone. Some may be turned off by the constant texture pop in, spikes in difficulty, and ugly cut-scenes. However, if you ignore these and find yourself immersed into the enormous landscape and brutal combat, you might find a very fun game to be had. Killing zombies feels very satisfying, and the brutality of it all adds more flavor to it. Upgrading weaponsDead Island is not a game for everyone. Some may be turned off by the constant texture pop in, spikes in difficulty, and ugly cut-scenes. However, if you ignore these and find yourself immersed into the enormous landscape and brutal combat, you might find a very fun game to be had. Killing zombies feels very satisfying, and the brutality of it all adds more flavor to it. Upgrading weapons is also a nice touch because it gives players a chance to experiment and try new things. There's also a lot to discover on the island, and the skill tree adds more to the overall package.… Expand
  24. InboardPG
    Nov 24, 2012
    8
    This is a very fun game! The combat is a pulse-raiser, zombies look amazing, looting is nice, and the atmosphere is great! The only downsides are the story and the textures. The story is very predictable and silly and the textures are pretty bad for a 2011 game. However, the fun factor is great and the replayability is great until somewhere around 60 hours. This game is very fun to playThis is a very fun game! The combat is a pulse-raiser, zombies look amazing, looting is nice, and the atmosphere is great! The only downsides are the story and the textures. The story is very predictable and silly and the textures are pretty bad for a 2011 game. However, the fun factor is great and the replayability is great until somewhere around 60 hours. This game is very fun to play with friends. This is a recommendation for zombie and survival-horror lovers.… Expand
  25. KelvinFelix
    Dec 25, 2012
    8
    It could have been better, the characters seen dead in their facial expressions and are real weird when moving sometimes, and forget about that "Hell in Paradise" thing, the Resort is just the first scenario and the others are just too boring and don't live to the promise of fighting zombies in an Tropical Heaven, but it's a great and addicting game in the end, I even got 100+ in-game hours in it
  26. Vanpire73
    May 2, 2014
    8
    It's a shame this wasn't a Rockstar or Bethesda game or the like. It would've gotten better reviews. Personally, I didn't experience any bugs playing it. I bought it after the first price drop. Games like Skyrim (which I love as well) get a 9.5 and game of the year but are UNPLAYABLE on certain systems for the first year or two. I found this game to be quite enjoyable. It didn'tIt's a shame this wasn't a Rockstar or Bethesda game or the like. It would've gotten better reviews. Personally, I didn't experience any bugs playing it. I bought it after the first price drop. Games like Skyrim (which I love as well) get a 9.5 and game of the year but are UNPLAYABLE on certain systems for the first year or two. I found this game to be quite enjoyable. It didn't reinvent the wheel, but for an open world, melee-based first person zombie slasher with RPG and loot elements it is 1st in it's class. I found the gameplay systems and quest set-up similar to Borderlands. You "honest and fair" reviewers out there make me wanna sew your Mom's gaping hole shut for birthing you, assuming there's enough yarn.… Expand
  27. TheCDBurner
    Mar 7, 2013
    8
    "Dead Island" was something I really wasn't expecting. It's a little rough around the edges, but it pulls enough punches to be a really freaking good game.

    PROS: Good story. Nice variety of weapons to use. LOVE the customization options for the weapons. The graphics are great to look at. Great exploration factor. Game rewards you for completing tough challenges. CONS: Game is a    "Dead Island" was something I really wasn't expecting. It's a little rough around the edges, but it pulls enough punches to be a really freaking good game.

    PROS: Good story. Nice variety of weapons to use. LOVE the customization options for the weapons. The graphics are great to look at. Great exploration factor. Game rewards you for completing tough challenges.

    CONS: Game is a little light on character development for everyone but the main quartet. Some of the special zombies feel like they were ripped straight out of Left 4 Dead. Puzzles can be infuriating at times, especially in tight spaces. Banoi is a little too big, it could've used a downsizing.

    OVERALL: "Dead Island" is a fun, fast-paced zombie RPG that will have you on the edge of your seat. It may be rough in some spots, but the good sides are enough to make up for it.    … Expand
  28. Jspotter89
    Nov 6, 2015
    8
    I'm perplexed by the review scores for Dead Island. I went into it not really knowing anything about it aside from the basic premise (jungle island with zombies), and came out thinking it's one of the best zombie-fiction game out there, right up there with the likes of the Left 4 Dead games.

    It's interesting for a game to be rated so low when it's core mechanic (namely, the evisceration    I'm perplexed by the review scores for Dead Island. I went into it not really knowing anything about it aside from the basic premise (jungle island with zombies), and came out thinking it's one of the best zombie-fiction game out there, right up there with the likes of the Left 4 Dead games.

    It's interesting for a game to be rated so low when it's core mechanic (namely, the evisceration of many, many zombies with melee weapons) is so solid. I must have stabbed and bludgeoned one or two thousand zombies to death over the course of my playtime, and even by the end it was still satisfying to flawlessly kill even your run-of-the-mill zombies. The melee combat in this game just WORKS. And many games like it have gotten first-person melee combat so very, horribly wrong over the years.

    That being said in its favor, I can understand why Dead Island isn't getting perfect scores left and right. The main characters are ridiculous, cheesy, stereotypical, and horribly voice-acted. The narrative of the game is about as bare bones as can be: escape Dead Island! It has enough atmosphere and thrills, but it could have used a little bit more than the basic plot we have here. And finally, when you have firearms, you find out quickly that shooting zombies dead is far less satisfying than lopping off their limbs with a machete.

    Still, I give it a respectable 8 out of 10 for it's excellent melee combat, good atmosphere, and decent RPG-light elements.    … Expand
  29. ITZZZPERRY
    Nov 10, 2014
    8
    Dead Island is an extremely addictive and fun cooperative game. While the story is weak, the gameplay is fun for the most part, containing some glitches here and there. This is definitely a zombie game to play.
  30. PolisKanin
    Feb 28, 2014
    8
    Dead Island is not a perfect game, but you don't expect that coming into the game for the first time. I looked at the cover art, and expected it to be a pile of crap. However, it was actually a relatively good game, with an ok story, good controls, ok characters, ok graphics and good gameplay.
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
9
#9 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 75
  3. Negative: 1 out of 75
  1. GamingTrend
    Mar 1, 2012
    93
    Dead Island is a hell of a ride from start to (near) finish and is a zombie game that stands out from the rest of the pack.
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  2. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    Dec 2, 2011
    55
    A wasted opportunity - frustrating to play and too ugly to love. [Dec 2011, p.98]
  3. Game Chronicles
    Nov 23, 2011
    85
    I admit that I was not expecting much from Dead Island, given the oversaturated subject matter and the delayed development time. And while the game definitely has its share of weaknesses, it is pleasantly surprising in its own right.
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