Dead Island 2 was delayed back in October, and the next entry in the over-the-top zombie co-op series is now slated to launch on 27th April. As we draw ever closer to that appointed date, we learn more about the long-in-the-grave title, like the fact that we will be able to utilise zombie powers, apparently.
Another fun factoid regards the game's skill system, which does away with the obligatory and tired skill tree action games insist we dutifully work our through to get to the good stuff. It sounds like Dead Island 2 will take a different tact, however.
In a Q&A session with Game Informer (transcribed by NME), creative director of Dambuster Studios, James Worrall, describes the skill deck system as a "collection of slots that represent all kinds of different abilities, and you swap the cards in and out, on the fly, however and whenever you want. You can take some real risks with your loadout. It sometimes pays off, it sometimes goes horribly wrong."
Apparently, these skills can be changed literally on the fly; that is to say, skills can be swapped out in mid-air if you want to, allowing the player to chop and change as the situation demands.
What do you think of Dead Island 2's more open-ended approach to skills? Does this sound like a more interesting approach to progression, or do you prefer a more traditional approach to character progression? Be prepared for anything in the comments section below.
[source youtube.com, via nme.com]
Comments 16
Just sounds laborious to me. But let's see how it pans out when the game releases.
Sounds great to me. Better than being locked in to your choices. Games with skill trees should always let you respec easily. More interesting than the traditional route anyway.
Meh, hate it when games make me pick between different abilities or perks. I want to reach the end game with the skill tree fully maxed and be op, not worrying about having this or that selected
I guess. First and foremost, is the game fun... that is the question hopefully a demo will answer
Dambuster Studios, makers of such classics as Haze, Ryse: Son of Rome and Homefront: The Revolution...
Yeah I think I would ditch the pre-order and wait for some reviews on this one.
This sounds stupid, akin to Far Cry 6 (which I just abandoned) tying abilities to pieces of clothing.
Sure, you could swap them. But who wants to pause the game as they're fighting bad guys to change your gloves just so you can do something the older games let you do all the time?
This sounds stupid as hell to me and actually severely lowers my anticipation for it. And yes, I was legitimately looking forward to this. I love goofy zombie games.
@Perturbator Wait they made Haze?
Nice! Time for me and everyone else to use Dead Island man as their PS5 avatar!
Calling it based does not make it based.
I have no issues with skill trees but I want to be able to respec even with a small penalty like losing a few levels or something.
Any sort of new idea is welcome in this world of generic by the numbers, identikit games.
@Constable_What Ok man, but remember your promise to Merino!
@khayl I think there may be a mistake in the headline, or at least it doesn’t make sense to me. It should probably read “a Skill-based Deck” or just “a Skill Deck.”
@Impossibilium Based Skill Deck VS Cringe Skill Tree.
That's how I read it. Lol
@Impossibilium I was actually going for what @constable_what pointed out, I hear that is how the cool kids speak these days. Can totally see the confusion now though ahaha
@Khayl Haha, no problems. I’m old, so I didn’t catch on to that, lol.
@Khayl You didn't change it either, which is a chad move.
A gigachad move, I'll even say.
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