Ever since the first teaser trailer for "Dead Island" shocked the world with its backwards-zombie-child shenanigans, people have been wondering how the actual game plays. Thanks to a preview build sent over by the game's publisher, Deep Silver, we're able to show you. Yes, here is the first 20 minutes of "Dead Island," captured from one off my play sessions. (Well, more like 16 minutes...we cut out some of the loading screens...but who's counting?)
NOTE: It's really, really, really violent. Like way more violent than "Dead Rising" and "Left 4 Dead" combined. If you have a fondness for the undead, you should probably not watch.
PART 1 - PROLOGUE
In the prologue, I'm basically progressing through a linear hotel sequence. I've selected one of the four characters, the thrown-weapons specialist who was a pro football player in another life. The other characters have other specialties (blunt weapons, sharp weapons and guns) which determine their skill trees. Some zombie fun kicks off towards the end, including a calamatous death by yours truly. (Deaths in "Dead Island" just cause you to respawn nearby, but they do remove some of your cash.)
PART 2 - SKILL TREES AND CHOPPED HEADS
Part 2 opens with a look at one of the four skill trees in the game. Each of the four characters has a unique tree. Skill points are unlocked by completing quests accepted from survivors scattered throughout the island. The skill I select unlocks my character's Rage ability. In his case, it lets him throw a handful of small knives at a group of zombies.
A little later on, I stumble upon a bunch of zombies on fire and throw knives at them. Then I stumble into a shack and try to make some new weapons. Unfortunately I don't have the required ingredients. I'm screwed.