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Escape Dead Island, a narrative bridge between Dead Island and Dead Island 2, promised a fresh perspective on the zombie-infested world. Developed by Fatshark and published by Deep Silver, it aimed to capitalize on the success of the original Dead Island, which sold over 5 million copies. However, instead of revitalizing the franchise, Escape Dead Island stumbled, leaving many players disappointed. This review explores the game’s shortcomings, from its lackluster story and gameplay to its technical issues.

Cliff Calo in Escape Dead IslandA screenshot showing Cliff Calo, the protagonist, in a tense moment.

A Story Lost in the Haze

Escape Dead Island follows Cliff Calo, a journalist investigating the origins of the zombie outbreak on the island of Narapela, near Banoi. While the premise initially intrigues with its exploration of Cliff’s deteriorating mental state and reality-bending hallucinations, the execution falls flat. The narrative, despite a few predictable twists, remains largely linear and unengaging. The game’s attempts to connect to the broader Dead Island lore, specifically through the inclusion of Xian Mei, raise more questions than they answer, leaving the overall narrative muddled and unsatisfying. The lack of explanation regarding the fates of the other survivors from Dead Island: Riptide further contributes to the story’s fragmented nature.

In-game environmentThe game’s environments, while visually distinct, offer little in terms of exploration.

Shallow Gameplay Mechanics

Escape Dead Island struggles to define its gameplay identity. Is it a hack-and-slash action game? A stealth title? A true Dead Island experience? The answer, unfortunately, is none of the above. The game presents a linear experience devoid of the RPG elements that defined its predecessors. No side quests, loot, crafting, vehicles, or skill trees – just a stamina bar carried over from the original. The gameplay loop revolves around repetitive backtracking through uninspired environments, ranging from generic forests and Geo-Pharm facilities to occasional glimpses of a mansion.

Cliff Calo fighting a zombieCombat in Escape Dead Island lacks the visceral impact of the previous games.

The combat system further disappoints. The shift to a third-person perspective removes the visceral impact of melee combat found in the original Dead Island. Cliff’s limited move set, consisting of light and heavy attacks, quickly becomes monotonous. The inconsistent damage calculation and erratic hit detection add to the frustration. Stealth mechanics are equally underdeveloped, offering a single takedown animation and illogical enemy behavior.

A zombie encounterEncounters with zombies quickly become predictable and repetitive.

Other gameplay elements are equally baffling. Health packs provide seemingly arbitrary health bonuses that don’t appear to affect Cliff’s regeneration rate. The absence of clear visual feedback for damage taken makes survival unnecessarily challenging. The clunky camera, awkward lock-on system, and imprecise aiming controls further hinder the gameplay experience.

Cliff Calo exploring the environmentExploration is hampered by the game’s linear design and technical issues.

Technical Hiccups and Visual Disappointments

Escape Dead Island inherits the technical woes that plagued its predecessor. Glitches, including unresponsive zombies and AI pathfinding issues, frequently disrupt the gameplay. While these issues are less game-breaking than those found in the original Dead Island, they nevertheless detract from the overall experience.

Cliff Calo aiming a weaponThe aiming mechanics and camera controls are cumbersome and detract from the gameplay experience.

The cel-shaded art style, while visually distinct, suffers from a lack of polish. Character models, particularly those of the supporting cast and zombies, lack detail. Environments, while atmospheric, are similarly unrefined. Animations are stiff and awkward, ranging from exaggerated weapon swings to unconvincing takedowns. The forgettable soundtrack fails to capture the atmosphere of the Dead Island universe, relying heavily on serviceable voice acting and sound effects.

A scene from Escape Dead IslandThe game’s cel-shaded visuals, while stylized, lack detail and polish.

Conclusion

Escape Dead Island falls short of expectations, offering a shallow and unfulfilling experience. Its narrative inconsistencies, repetitive gameplay, technical shortcomings, and underwhelming presentation make it a disappointing entry in the Dead Island franchise. While the game attempts to explore new narrative territory and introduce a distinct visual style, it ultimately fails to deliver a compelling or enjoyable experience.

Promotional image for Escape Dead IslandDespite its initial promise, Escape Dead Island fails to deliver a satisfying Dead Island experience.