Undead nights: Zombie FPS Dying Light shines bright

Rough and tumble

In a very linear prologue, I am air dropped into the city and almost fall victim to some nasty locals before I even get a glimpse of the undead. As I find out later on, these survivor gangs are über tough – try stealing their turf if you like a challenge!

The Drop

Luckily, a couple of less aggressive survivors drag me away from the encroaching hordes, roused by my pistol shots, and even though one of them dies during the rescue attempt I make it to the huge safe house instantly reminiscent of The Tower of David in Caracas but can I look forward to their support once they become aware of my mission?

For some, getting to grips with the controls of this game will be vomit-inducing. Initially, the fast first person vertical and horizontal jumps left me feeling queasy. As the pace quickens, it’s a do-or-die to try and put some distance between myself and the undead horde.

Kit and caboodle

Swinging and jumping like King Louie from The Jungle Book, I can literally fly through this stunning open world looking for the next hand hold. The open world allows me to traverse the main storyline how I see fit, allowing for lulls in the game’s frenetic pace.

Some of the controls and UI can be slightly counter-intuitive: I couldn’t not work out how to throw a firecracker for five minutes but hey that might just be me being n00by Lucy. Crafty gear and weapons with unique mods was amusing and super easy, and don’t forget you’ll be doing yourself a life-threatening disservice if you don’t look for materials in every nook and cranny.

A shot in the dark

Crafting weapons is especially enjoyable and essential, as weapons wear out with each zombie brain bashed in. Generally, the combat system felt spot on, but this isn’t a turkey shoot. Eight hours in, I had only managed to add one gun and fifteen bullets to my arsenal.