With no official gameplay footage available, and a tight-lipped group of developers at Techland, we’ve had to rely on the somewhat generic looking Dead Island screenshots to get a sense of even the most basic gameplay mechanics. However, with buzz for the title still spreading across the Internet, Vincent Kummer of Dead Island publisher, Deep Silver, is giving us a few more details.
Kummer spoke with the official PlayStation Blog about the upcoming zombie title - as well as the publisher’s response to the enormous buzz surrounding the trailer:
There’s no doubt that buzz, and expectations, for the final game could actually work against the title in the long run - so Techland and Deep Silver have a tricky road ahead of them. Many fans were excited about the announcement trailer because it seemed to add a serious and compelling story to the traditional make-your-own-fun storytelling in most zombie shooters. Instead, early previews suggested that Dead Island wasn’t going to be providing the mature narrative the trailer seemed to promise - since the first character that’s been introduced is a shallow, and over the top, rapper stereotype - Sam B. Though, Kummer promises that’s only one side of the equation.
Similar titles, such as Left 4 Dead, rely on overwhelming hordes of undead enemies (as well as some mutated variants) to provide a sense of anxiety - which, unlike the original Resident Evil or Silent Hill titles, represents a more-action-focused approach. Anyone hoping for a dark and brooding romp through sewers and candlelit mansions may be disappointed to hear that Techland seems to be aiming for a bigger, and more open, action experience. However, much like Dead Space 2, the lived-in resort setting should offer plenty of intriguing areas to explore.
The publisher also gave a hint toward what the source of the zombie apocalypse might be - one that isn’t couched in a difficult-to-follow bio-hazard-esque canon:
Despite a (potential) new approach to zombie-shooters, Dead Island is still drawing from other successful videogame series with four player co-op (drop in and drop out), a variety of playable “classes,” as well as RPG elements and weapon upgrades/customizations.
Techland and Deep Silver are obviously attempting to quell the growing impatience, in the gaming community, for a real look at the upcoming title. Kummer presented some intriguing ideas but until we can get our hands on the game, or at the very least see a bit more in-game footage, Dead Island is still far-from being able to deliver on its original promise.
That said, until we get a gameplay trailer, we’ll be enjoying all of the creative Dead Island mash-ups.
Follow us on Twitter @benkendrick and @gamerant and let us know what direction you’d like to see Techland take with the game - Left 4 Dead style or something entirely new?
Dead Island is set for release in 2011 on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
Source: PlayStation Blog
