Alexis Kestler
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I know you‘re as stoked as I am for Dead Island 2 and the chance to explore the incredibly detailed sets modeled after iconic Los Angeles landmarks. As someone who has eagerly followed this title since it‘s announcement back in 2014, I‘ve scoured every trailer, preview, and morsel of info about the ambitious open world the developers are crafting.
While we still have to wait until April 28, 2023 for its release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, I wanted to provide this comprehensive guide to make sure you can fully experience the diverse sets and environments packed into the zombified cities of the City of Angels. From the sun-bleached Pacific beaches of Venice to the blood-soaked Walk of Fame in Hollywood, the sets come alive with an authenticity that celebrates the real LA.
Let‘s dig in on how you can get the most out of exploring the sprawling urban jungle of Dead Island 2. I‘ll provide tips from my years of gaming experience to help uncover every secret, collectible, and breathtaking view the sets have to offer.
What Makes Dead Island 2‘s Los Angeles So Special
Developed by Deep Silver and Dambuster Studios, Dead Island 2 aims to capture the essence of Los Angeles in an open world filled with possibilities. The developers spent years conducting extensive photographic research across LA to recreate accurate street layouts, architecture, landmarks, and more that mirror the real city. This attention to detail brings the sets to life in a disturbingly realistic way.
While games like Grand Theft Auto V and Horizon Zero Dawn offer expansive open worlds, Dead Island 2 doubles down on recreating one real-life city with maniacal precision. The developers‘ goal is to make players feel truly transported to Los Angeles as they traverse familiar neighborhoods now warped by the zombie virus outbreak and military quarantine.
With 7 unique districts to explore spanning coastal communities to the dense Downtown core, the sets convey the personality of each region through environmental storytelling. The graffiti tagged streets of South Central feel immediately distinct from the polished sheen of Beverly Hills. Yet the common zombie threat connects them in this shared world.
How Gameplay Mechanics Support Freeform Exploration
Nailing the look and feel of LA sets is only part of the equation. Dead Island 2‘s gameplay systems grant you the freedom to traverse these environments in multiple ways:
Parkour Movement – New traversal abilities like wall running, climbing, sliding, leaping, and grappling hooks let you scale buildings and access rooftops, fire escapes, and hard-to-reach areas. This verticality opens more ways to interact with sets.
Vehicles – Cars, trucks, helicopters, boats, bicycles, and ATVs offer speedy transportation between sets and the ability to mow down hordes of zombies in the process. Vehicles help you cover ground faster.
Combat – Slice, smash, and stomp zombies using over 100 melee weapons from swords to sledgehammers that provide visceral feedback. Dismembering zombies lets you leave your mark on the sets.
Crafting – Loot parts from the environment to build and upgrade weapons. The sets provide resources for your survival.
Safe Houses – Capture safe house bases in each region to reopen fast travel and use as exploration hubs. They reward fully clearing sets.
District Resets – Zombie hordes and loot reset frequently so revisiting completed sets can offer renewed exploration.
These core systems mean players aren‘t constrained to following a rigid story path or locked out of already visited sites. The sets are your playground for the taking.
Overview of Major Sets and Districts
Based on the trailers and preview coverage so far, here are some of the most striking sets players will get to explore across the districts of Los Angeles:
Beverly Hills
This glamorous neighborhood becomes an ironic scene of carnage with bloody zombies roaming the streets. Cruise through the Business District‘s high fashion boutiques along Rodeo Drive. Marvel at the extreme wealth on display in hilltop mansions and luxury hotels now overrun with undead.
Hollywood
The center of Los Angeles‘ entertainment industry also promises one of Dead Island 2‘s most memorable settings. Take a selfie with your zombie co-stars on the Walk of Fame. Go on a backlot tour of movie studio sets now being used for real zombie defense filming. Battle undead celebrities in the ritzy nightclubs of the Sunset Strip. Hollywood brings glitz, glamour and gore in equal measure.
Venice Beach
Get ready to soak up the sun while bashing in zombie brains along this iconic oceanfront community. Explore the faded mystique of Muscle Beach against a blood red sunset. Search beachfront homes for supplies while avoiding undead surfers. Watch zombies shambling on the Boardwalk where eccentric street performers once captured hearts.
Downtown LA
The towering skyscrapers, transit hubs, stadiums, and civic structures of DTLA‘s concrete jungle offer a dense vertical maze filled with supplies and secrets. Scale rooftops for breathtaking views across the sprawling metropolis below. Fight zombies in the narrow alleys and streets surrounding City Hall. This urban core feels straight out of an apocalypse film.
Concept art showcasing urban decay in Downtown LA (Credit: Dambuster Studios)
And these are just a taste of what players can experience. The beach parties of Santa Monica Pier, the suburban sprawl of neighborhoods surrounding LA, and even landmarks like the La Brea Tar Pits all provide iconic sets. I can‘t wait to see what hidden corners of Los Angeles‘ districts the teams at Deep Silver have bringing to life!
Advanced Tips for Expert Set Exploration
As an avid open world explorer, I‘ve gathered some pro tips for fully investigating Dead Island 2‘s sets based on past zombie games and RPGs with extensive environments:
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Talk to every survivor – they often provide clues about points of interest nearby and set quests in different locations.
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Enter every building – interiors offer supplies and environmental storytelling not visible externally.
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Return often – sets reset with new items and enemies so reexplore previously cleared areas.
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Read notes & computer files – these can highlight hidden caches of gear and secrets about the location‘s history.
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Study the mini-map – scope out alleyways, tunnels, side paths easily missed at first glance.
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Wait for different times of day – the vibe and hazards of a set can dramatically change from day to night or overcast weather.
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Co-op with friends – teamwork lets you access even more dangerous high-level sets early with strength in numbers.
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Use photo mode – take cool pics of memorable sets and discover great vantage points.
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Head towards disturbances – smoke plumes, gunfire, car alarms etc likely indicate interesting events.
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Pack supplies – bring medkits, snacks, and gear to safely venture into ominous quarantine zones and lethal nests.
Mastering these advanced exploration skills will help uncover every secret, collectible, and vista across Los Angeles‘ striking sets. I can‘t wait to see the artistic passion and world building craft the developers have invested.
Highlighting Some of the Best Sets
Based on early impressions, here are a few of the most promising sets I‘m excited to explore at launch:
Griffith Observatory – This iconic landmark perched on the Hollywood Hills provides 360 degree views of LA and seems tailor made for epic confrontations against zombie hordes swarming the pristine white building. Fight zombies in the Planetarium‘s laser shows!
Santa Monica Pier – The towering Ferris Wheel and carnival rides along this popular tourist spot offer fun visuals to pair with bloody zombie combat. Bonus points if you can turn on the rides while battling!
LA Convention Center – Promotional images have shown the glass-walled Convention Center turned into a military bunker and survivor camp. It‘s sure to be filled with resources, stories, and desperate survivors.
Rodeo Drive – Rummaging through the high fashion boutiques for supplies seems irresistible. I hope we get to dress up our character in Versace while stomping past bloody Rolex storefronts!
Hollywood Sign – It wouldn‘t be LA without this landmark. I anticipate epic views from atop the massive white letters in the hills above the chaos. What better selfie spot?
Let me know which iconic sets you most want to explore when the game launches in April! I‘m looking forward to hearing your own tips and stories once you‘ve had a chance to venture out into the zombie-filled City of Angels for yourself. The tools for exploration look top notch. Now we just need to survive long enough to see it all.
Stay safe out there survivor!
