Dead Island 2's upcoming Neighborhood Watch mode looks to give players a serious change of pace once it gets released. Players should expect the same kind of zombie-slaying action that makes up the bulk of Dead Island 2, but the twists in the mode should make it a new experience for veterans. While not the only aspect of the game being introduced in the update, Neighborhood Watch got a reveal trailer all to itself, and for good reason. Dead Island 2 fans will get plenty from the new update, and Neighborhood Watch is a big part of the package.
The major Dead Island 2 update in October is bringing two big additions: New Game+ and Neighborhood Watch. New Game+ is a feature that a lot of games have benefited from, and Dead Island 2's variant looks to add extra bonuses to entice players to check it out. Neighborhood Watch may be an even more exciting new feature, largely due to being a whole new game mode outside of the main campaign. There are a lot of details that players will have to learn to get the most out of Neighborhood Watch, but the trailer provided enough information to help fans prepare.
A Dead Island 2 Feature Shouldn't be an Afterthought in The Sequel
Dead Island 2 added a rather underrated feature that the first game lacked, and the third game can expand it to an incredible degree.
Neighborhood Watch Tasks Players With Defending the Bobcats' Home From a Massive Horde
Dead Island 2's Neighborhood Watch Brings an Entirely New Campaign to Play Through
There are a lot of big differences between Dead Island 2's new horde mode and the main campaign. While players can take the main story at their own pace, Neighborhood Watch takes place over the course of five in-game days before the final showdown. It should also be mentioned that, rather than the six Slayers from the main game, players get three new characters to choose from:
- Dez, the Chemist
- Rav, the Medic
- Bozzy, the Hunter
There are a lot of skills that will carry over from the main game, but Neighborhood Watch's unique gimmicks will require their own strategy to overcome.
Neighborhood Watch's Missions and Rewards Are Vital For the Bobcats' Ultimate Survival
Neighborhood Watch's protagonists, the Bobcats, have a mission that differs from what Dead Island 2's Slayers were tasked with. Rather than escaping, their goal is to fortify their home base in order to survive a horde that will approach at the end of the week. In the days before the horde, players will need to perform missions in order to earn new traps and weapons that they can deploy against the zombies. However, Neighborhood Watch's five-day deadline will require players to act fast and plan their moves accordingly. Every mission and reward is a part of the lead-up to Neighborhood Watch's big finale.
Neighborhood Watch's Final Horde is a Chaotic Defense of the Bobcats' Home
Neighborhood Watch's horde is Dead Island 2's version of tower defense. Players aren't alone in Dead Island 2's Neighborhood Watch, because they'll have the chance to litter the area around their home with traps designed to take out zombies in spectacular fashion. The Bobcats' own abilities, such as deploying health stations and creating powerful explosives, add to the player's arsenal. While Dead Island 2 has already taught players to tear through hordes, Neighborhood Watch challenges them to play defense rather than charging forward. Should they be up to the challenge provided, they will be able to reap the rewards.
Dead Island 2's Neighborhood Watch is putting a twist on gameplay that should prove entertaining. The new game mode further shows how flexible the zombie genre is in gaming, and it could be a concept worth watching for the future. Neighborhood Watch and its gameplay loop will bring a new approach to Dead Island 2's traditional gameplay that should give players the chance to develop many new battle plans, especially when playing with friends. Dead Island 2's Neighborhood Watch mode will be added in the game's Patch 6 update on October 22, 2024.
Dead Island 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 57%
- Released
- April 21, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Dambuster Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
WHERE TO PLAY
The open-world zombie slaying action RPG makes its long-awaited return. Dead Island is back, and with it comes a host of enhancements to its winning combination of creative first-person zombie slaying, pitch-black humor and open-world exploration. Welcome to HELL-A. The City of Angels has been transformed into a hellish sprawl, its populace now mutated into disgusting zombies with an insatiable appetite for humans. In this extensive, visceral RPG experience you’ll journey to iconic LA locations, taking on quests, meeting eccentric survivors and enjoying a joyously pulpy narrative along the way. The game’s brutal melee combat gives you access to an expansive array of inventive zombie-slaying weaponry that lets you slice, smash and tear through the hordes before they get the chance to do the same to you. Can you survive HELL-A?
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Dead Island
- Number of Players
- 1-3
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- File Size Xbox Series
- 61 GB (February 2024)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
