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[Salsa]

Analog is undoubtedly the most satisfying way to play. Also more difficult, but much easier to target limbs IMO. Groups aren't a problem because I stay on my Double Dragon jump kick shit.

after playing with analog for a bit - its worse than what i thought

i just find it hard to target a limb, since once you hit LT you sorta become "auto-aimed" to that particular limb, and given how unprecise the right analog stick can be on an FPS (specially when you have a zombie very close), it just kinda misses the whole point for me.

Granted ive grown up playing first person games on a mouse and keyboard and maybe people a bit more savvy using a 360 pad can use it fine.

 

[codhand]

As for analog, Brad @ GB made it look really easy, but I honestly believe after about an hour It gets better, def more janky than I had hoped, maybe I'm just masochistic but it seems better....


I'm happy with Purna despite an utter lack of guns, the football dude brah's special move seems legit too

 

[SeanR1221]

Any word on length if I just do main missions? Considering blasting through this on a red box rental.

 

[Rygar 8 Bit]

Any word on length if I just do main missions? Considering blasting through this on a red box rental.

14 hours only playing co-op with friend and only on act 2 i hear theres a jungle after the city so i dont know around 20 hours?

 

[Evolved1]

I noticed that all the characters have different skill trees. Which character is the best? I tried ancient chinese secret lady but after my save got corrupted (thanks!), I have to start over again.

I'm thinking about this too... I'm worried there aren't enough guns in the game to justify playing as firearms specialist lady. Asian chick I thought would be cool, with sharp weapons, but I didn't really like kicking people in high heels. :/

Since my save games has been nuked twice, I have to start over... but the one guy throws weapons. What's the point of fixing up a weapon if you're going to constantly throw them? He also looks like a huge douche.

This leaves the big dude...

I haven't actually looked at the skill trees for the other players... would be nice if you could get a look at that before making a choice. The information they give you at the selection screen is seriously lacking.

 

[Kacho]

This game is hard to find in Northern VA. I don't see this game in stock at Walmart, Target, or Best Buy.

 

[Neuromancer]

I noticed that all the characters have different skill trees. Which character is the best? I tried ancient chinese secret lady but after my save got corrupted (thanks!), I have to start over again.

I quite like Logan, the thrown weapons expert. I generally throw a knife at a dude, kick him, then finish him off with a crowbar or something while he's down. Very satisfying.

Since my save games has been nuked twice, I have to start over... but the one guy throws weapons. What's the point of fixing up a weapon if you're going to constantly throw them? He also looks like a huge douche.

I can't speak to his douchiness as that's pretty subjective, but the thrown weapon thing is really nice. Just walk around with a weapon you're going to throw and have a backup weapon ready for close combat. Also he has perks that give a chance of recovering a thrown weapon automatically and hitting two zeds with one weapon.

 

[orion434]

On the X360 version I ran into a glitch at the start of Act I, When you go out to help the lifeguard defend himself, I killed all the zombies and the kept saying Quick help me finish them off... even though there were no Zombies around? He says to the left... right... I was running all over looking for a zombie that might have been caught somewhere, but there wasn't. I tried to reload last Check-point and that didn't help... I had to quit and restart to make him continue to the cut-scene after I helped him. I was ready to just restart a new game it was getting frustrating.

 

[Flunkie]

after playing with analog for a bit - its worse than what i thought

i just find it hard to target a limb, since once you hit LT you sorta become "auto-aimed" to that particular limb, and given how unprecise the right analog stick can be on an FPS (specially when you have a zombie very close), it just kinda misses the whole point for me.

Granted ive grown up playing first person games on a mouse and keyboard and maybe people a bit more savvy using a 360 pad can use it fine.

I started out with kb/m and hated analog at first too, but now after playing with it for ~4 hours, I wouldn't go back. You can pick preciesly what direction you want to attack from and which limb you want to target. Just had to turn my sensitivity up (as always with controller-based games) and it's the perfect control setup. Even with large groups it's fine, as I just lock my direction by holding all the way down on LT and swinging back and forth until I can get some separation with some kicks and single out some guys.

Protip: By partially holding down LT, you can still draw back your weapon, and still turn at the same time. Holding down LT locks your view, and locks you onto a zombie (and the body part you are targeting, respectively) if you're close enough.

 

[cleveridea]

woah nice dead island now #2, #7 and #13 on amazon (some items are hardware, points card etc so its even higher)

LOVE this game

more I play the more I love it

 

[arab]

this game is exactly what i wanted when i heard of its existence. it may not be AAA but i'm happier playing a game that delivers to my expectations than a AAA game that isn't completely fulfilling.

 

[Havok]

As for analog, Brad @ GB made it look really easy, but I honestly believe after about an hour It gets better, def more janky than I had hoped, maybe I'm just masochistic but it seems better....

I felt that way too, eventually getting used to it, but I switched back to digital and started having fun again once the encounters got more crowded. The analog controls fall apart when there are more than a couple guys rushing you (i was having some crazy targeting bugs, unfortunately).

 

[robot]

I felt that way too, eventually getting used to it, but I switched back to digital and started having fun again once the encounters got more crowded. The analog controls fall apart when there are more than a couple guys rushing you.

Same here, tried really hard to use analog but it's very very slow, couldn't get the targeting right and just kept getting my ass kicked. Maybe it's not default for a reason.

 

[ii Stryker]

I'm thinking about this too... I'm worried there aren't enough guns in the game to justify playing as firearms specialist lady. Asian chick I thought would be cool, with sharp weapons, but I didn't really like kicking people in high heels. :/

Since my save games has been nuked twice, I have to start over... but the one guy throws weapons. What's the point of fixing up a weapon if you're going to constantly throw them? He also looks like a huge douche.

This leaves the big dude...

I haven't actually looked at the skill trees for the other players... would be nice if you could get a look at that before making a choice. The information they give you at the selection screen is seriously lacking.

I'm playing as Sam B he's basically the tank and I love his skill tree.

he has a lvl 3 tackle move that allows you to sprint into and knock down the regular zombies. I've also gotten his second main combat attack which allows me to curb stomp zombie heads for insta kills. from what a friend was telling me though everyone has the curb stomp at combat lvl2. The curb stomp CAN be interrupted by incoming zombie attacks or your coop partner can interrupt the animation if their attacking the same zombie you
are.

Purna, the weapons specialist, will automatically get guns when she goes into her fury. From what I've seen of her she has avlot of passive party buffs so she's an ideal choice for coop play.

 

[LegoDad]

I started out with kb/m and hated analog at first too, but now after playing with it for ~4 hours, I wouldn't go back. You can pick preciesly what direction you want to attack from and which limb you want to target. Just had to turn my sensitivity up (as always with controller-based games) and it's the perfect control setup. Even with large groups it's fine, as I just lock my direction by holding all the way down on LT and swinging back and forth until I can get some separation with some kicks and single out some guys.

Protip: By partially holding down LT, you can still draw back your weapon, and still turn at the same time. Holding down LT locks your view, and locks you onto a zombie (and the body part you are targeting, respectively) if you're close enough.

I can actually use digital and still aim for arms and legs, so I don't know why you need to go analog.... When on a zombie you the cursor will slow down and you can then drag it to the head or legs... much more fun than just selecting arms or head, etc.

 

[ironcreed]

My copy is out for delivery via USPS. Getting it about a day earlier than expected. Works for me.

 

[BattleMonkey]

On PC is there a way to get rid of the 360 screen prompts with the proper keyboard+mouse notations?

 

[Revolutionary]

Pretty disappointed that the analog scheme can't be used with the m+kb.. I was hoping I could put my Mount & Blade experience to use.

 

[Flunkie]

I can actually use digital and still aim for arms and legs, so I don't know why you need to go analog.... When on a zombie you the cursor will slow down and you can then drag it to the head or legs... much more fun than just selecting arms or head, etc.

When using digital, though, I don't get that same satisfaction just pulling a trigger to swing a baseball bat, compared to pulling back and letting the analog fly, similar to actually swinging a bat.

I don't know, it just feels more immersive. I'm not trying to tell people how to play the game, just trying to convince some that if you stick with analog, it's very rewarding.

Pretty disappointed that the analog scheme can't be used with the m+kb.. I was hoping I could put my Mount & Blade experience to use.

I actually thought that's how DI worked with kb/m controls at first. If that was the case I would probably still be using kb/m. Mount & Blade = awesome combat.

I was about to sell of my copy but I gave it another shot last night after listening to Giantbomb. The analog control is satisfying for blunt objects against small encounters but coming up against my first thug and as the sharp weapon specialist chick (forgot her name) I found it way too slow and clunky. I would go up to the thug, begin swinging and he would hit me, breaking my animation/attack every time. I literally could not hit him. I would even dodge his attack, and immediately parry, and he could swing fast enough again and break my parry attack. I am wish I could have digital for my knives and analog for my blunt objects. I am thinking about restarting with the blunt object specialist. Not really digging the knives much at this point.

I did decide to hold on to the game though. Despite the tons of bugs and lack of polish, smashing zombies skulls is pretty fun.

You can eventually cut thug's arms off with sharp objects. The early knives, from my experience, suck. It's all about the Bleeding Baseball Bat, Spiteful Sickle, and Cleaver for me right now. You need to focus on disabling thugs' limbs before trying to attack them head-on. Blunt objects will do the same, only break their bones.

 

[gutterboy44]

I was about to sell of my copy but I gave it another shot last night after listening to Giantbomb. The analog control is satisfying for blunt objects against small encounters but coming up against my first thug and as the sharp weapon specialist chick (forgot her name) I found it way too slow and clunky. I would go up to the thug, begin swinging and he would hit me, breaking my animation/attack every time. I literally could not hit him. I would even dodge his attack, and immediately parry, and he could swing fast enough again and break my parry attack. I am wish I could have digital for my knives and analog for my blunt objects. I am thinking about restarting with the blunt object specialist. Not really digging the knives much at this point.

I did decide to hold on to the game though. Despite the tons of bugs and lack of polish, smashing zombies skulls is pretty fun.

You can eventually cut thug's arms off with sharp objects. The early knives, from my experience, suck. It's all about the Bleeding Baseball Bat, Spiteful Sickle, and Cleaver for me right now. You need to focus on disabling thugs' limbs before trying to attack them head-on. Blunt objects will do the same, only break his bones.

Thanks, will stick with her until I get some better weapons. I think I just need to hold off on the first thug mission.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

Is it just me or is this the game Dead Rising (or DR2) should have been? It can be buggy as hell, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

Though 5 and half hours in, I'm still debating whether to start over or not. The gun expert's skill tree seriously sucks. No regenerating health at all. Blargh!

 

[BattleMonkey]

Is it just me or is this the game Dead Rising (or DR2) should have been? It can be buggy as hell, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

Though 5 and half hours in, I'm still debating whether to start over or not. The gun expert's skill tree seriously sucks. No regenerating health at all. Blargh!

Dead Rising 2 was what it was, a sequel to the first. This is a pretty different game.

Regenerating health seems pretty pointless anyways though as healing stuff seems to be everywhere in the game, while regen is extremely slow.

 

[LegoDad]

When using digital, though, I don't get that same satisfaction just pulling a trigger to swing a baseball bat, compared to pulling back and letting the analog fly, similar to actually swinging a bat.

I don't know, it just feels more immersive. I'm not trying to tell people how to play the game, just trying to convince some that if you stick with analog, it's very rewarding.


I actually thought that's how DI worked with kb/m controls at first. If that was the case I would probably still be using kb/m. Mount & Blade = awesome combat.


You can eventually cut thug's arms off with sharp objects. The early knives, from my experience, suck. It's all about the Bleeding Baseball Bat, Spiteful Sickle, and Cleaver for me right now. You need to focus on disabling thugs' limbs before trying to attack them head-on. Blunt objects will do the same, only break their bones.

Hmm, I thought you could still swing like that in Digital mode, i just never have done it, will check tonight.

 

[Dead Prince]

Is it just me or is this the game Dead Rising (or DR2) should have been? It can be buggy as hell, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

Though 5 and half hours in, I'm still debating whether to start over or not. The gun expert's skill tree seriously sucks. No regenerating health at all. Blargh!

i picked xian and focused on sharp weapons. maxed out the weapon break and working on stamina one. love me some cleaver action. might switch to analog. and cut some legs off lol.

 

[cleveridea]

this game is exactly what i wanted when i heard of its existence. it may not be AAA but i'm happier playing a game that delivers to my expectations than a AAA game that isn't completely fulfilling.

to me its AAA, but in terms of ambition and carving such a new and unique experience (in aggregate) with a relatively low budget. they focussed on RPG things like a huge world to explore with tons of quests and nice RPG stats behind the scenes, vs say beautiful cut scenes.

most "AAA" games are that way because of high budgets, eg COD has 500+ people working on it.

reviewers are artificially swayed by production values, a side effect of high budgets.

 

[oldschoolpinball]

I just hit act 2 and man oh man does this game pick up. I did not die once in act 1 but after reaching this act the gameplay picks up significantly. Definitely my GOTY until November i bet. There is tons of fun to be had in this game

 

[Chinner]

Is it just me or is this the game Dead Rising (or DR2) should have been? It can be buggy as hell, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

Though 5 and half hours in, I'm still debating whether to start over or not. The gun expert's skill tree seriously sucks. No regenerating health at all. Blargh!

They're totally different games. Dead Rising is a charming and innovative game that uses time and an intimate open-world environment to make genuine tension as well as forcing to make gamers plan and think ahead. Dead Island appears to be another zombie game, just run in and kill everything and hey if things go back you spawn a few feet away pretty cool bro!!!

 

[Flunkie]

I just hit act 2 and man oh man does this game pick up. I did not die once in act 1 but after reaching this act the gameplay picks up significantly. Definitely my GOTY until November i bet. There is tons of fun to be had in this game

Yeah, and I'm glad the difficulty did ramp up around Act 2, because it was getting pretty easy towards the end of Act 1. I can tell I'm in for a treat later on.

 

[codhand]

<== now scared about Analog for Act 2

 

[oldschoolpinball]

Yeah, and I'm glad the difficulty did ramp up around Act 2, because it was getting pretty easy towards the end of Act 1. I can tell I'm in for a treat later on.

definitely. I was a little worried after picking up many schematics in the first act that i wouldn't find all the pieces i needed and lo and behold the loot whoring kicks up a notch in act 2.One thing I find crazy is I find myself really hiding in corners after seeing a horde of infected running after me. This game really does have a great feeling of making your character feel afraid

 

[Sullichin]

It's easy for me to get disenchanted with this game. There just doesn't seem to be much to it.

I think I was hoping for more "survive and level up" and less mindless fetch quests.

EDIT: obviously the game is about surviving and leveling up, maybe that wasn't the best way to put it. I just don't feel like I'm really beefing my character up like I do in other RPGs, like Fallout. I think it's because the zombies' levels scale to you. It also bothers me how quickly they respawn, and in the same spots :/

EDIT2: The game feels closer to Borderlands than Fallout, and I didn't like how Borderlands handled its RPG aspects.

 

[Neuromancer]

Is it just me or is this the game Dead Rising (or DR2) should have been? It can be buggy as hell, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

I was thinking the same thing. As much as I loved DR1 and liked DR2, this game just comes together so much better. More fun, less BS.

 

[AkuMifune]

I quite like Logan, the thrown weapons expert. I generally throw a knife at a dude, kick him, then finish him off with a crowbar or something while he's down. Very satisfying.

This is how I roll right now and it's fun as hell, but I'm wondering if his one skill in firearms will be adequate for endgame stuff.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

It's easy for me to get disenchanted with this game. There just doesn't seem to be much to it.

I think I was hoping for more "survive and level up" and less mindless fetch quests.

EDIT: obviously the game is about surviving and leveling up, maybe that wasn't the best way to put it. I just don't feel like I'm really beefing my character up like I do in other RPGs, like Fallout. I think it's because the zombies' levels scale to you. It also bothers me how quickly they respawn, and in the same spots :/

EDIT2: The game feels closer to Borderlands than Fallout, and I didn't like how Borderlands handled its RPG aspects.

The problem is the shallow RPG mechanics, the Zombies leveling to you, the respawning items/enemies after minutes it seems, the shitty save system, and the boring sidequests. IMO there just isn't much there and I prefer Dead Rising series to this any day. Though it is satisfying chopping Zombie heads off.

 

[tjohn86]

Did the nighthawk

Spoiler

find the plane

mission disappear from anyone elses quest list? Mine is gone...

 

[LegoDad]

Did the nighthawk

Spoiler

find the plane

mission disappear from anyone elses quest list? Mine is gone...

That one was never on the list for me....

Spoiler

I wondered the jungle over and over and never found it anyways.. I think you don't find it till later?

 

[Sullichin]

The problem is the shallow RPG mechanics, the Zombies leveling to you, the respawning items/enemies after minutes it seems, the shitty save system, and the boring sidequests. IMO there just isn't much there and I prefer Dead Rising series to this any day. Though it is satisfying chopping Zombie heads off.

I agree. For all of Dead Rising's flaws/design choices, it felt more like a completely realized game.

With this game, it's like they made this cool atmosphere and satisfying zombie melee mechanics, and then assumed that would be enough to keep players interested, because it doesn't seem like they put the same love into other areas of the game.

 

[Xanathus]

Did the nighthawk

Spoiler

find the plane

mission disappear from anyone elses quest list? Mine is gone...

Supposedly this quest is hidden from your list until late in the game.
http://deadisland.wikia.com/wiki/Nighthawk

 

[cleveridea]

I quite like Logan, the thrown weapons expert. I generally throw a knife at a dude, kick him, then finish him off with a crowbar or something while he's down. Very satisfying.

yeah one very nice thing is it enforces variety of weapons and techniques used.

I think the game is boring if u focus too much on one weapon type.

eg blades have very different effects and looks as blunt weapons, same with using your fists.

I find the game a lot more fun mixing up all my attacks, all my weapons, mix in jumps and flying jumps, throw weapons etc. I also only upgrade the coolest weapons, otherwise I constantly grab new weapons and use them up.

 

[tjohn86]

Supposedly this quest is hidden from your list until late in the game.
http://deadisland.wikia.com/wiki/Nighthawk

Awesome. Thanks.

 

[vitaminwateryum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Zz2JwnFk0

Video is up.

 

[KoreanBarbecue]

Got a question for folks playing on 360...

Does this happen for you? When I sell stuff to one of the vendor guys, say random crap like batteries, etc, the cursor jumps all over the place after I make the sale.

Example: I select "large battery" and hit X to sell it. Instead of the cursor in the menu staying put, it just randomly jumps up to another item in the list, usually into the section with my weapons. It's making selling stuff extremely slow and frustrating.

 

[tjohn86]

Whoa... gmg just emailed me two more keys ?


Anyone else?

 

[Scruggy]

Master Craft is a tool brand, and makes a fine hammer

 

[Badgerst3]

Wow- just discovered redbox rents games now.

Easy on line reservation system and game in hand one hour later.

Color me impressed!

 

[Sanic]

Whoa... gmg just emailed me two more keys ?


Anyone else?

Looking to share? ;P

 

[Sullichin]

Wow- just discovered redbox rents games now.

Easy on line reservation system and game in hand one hour later.

Color me impressed!

How much is a redbox game rental?

 

[Concept17]

After messing around with Hamachi for about an hour or so, we finally got 4 of us on one game. Co-op is glorious. Once you start finding decent weapons, repairing, upgrading, and unlocking mods, the game picks up considerably. I think we're not quite to Act2

Spoiler

headed to the city next

The only problem we've been having is one of us locks up anytime he tries to 'use' certain objects/switches. And by lock up I mean he is stuck in place, can't move or do anything, but not frozen. Its weird.

I feel like I spent so much time on the beach the first two days of release, and watching mostly video footage of the beach, I thought it would get a little repetitive. But my god,

Spoiler

the hotel, the freezer, pool area

the atmosphere in this game is fantastic. Its a shame there is no day/night cycles.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Just finished downloading a update on steam. After the 70mb one. This is new.

 

[Badgerst3]

How much is a redbox game rental?

$2.00 day

The online reservation and held for pickup sold me.