Haus is the primary story DLC for Dead Island 2 to come back out this yr with Sola Festival slated for a Q2 2024 launch. And it’s one thing that I had hoped would delve into the stranger facet of Lifeless Island 2’s world.
However whereas it does try this to an extent, Haus feels prefer it solely dips its toes into waters which can be as cool as they’re sickening. Let’s get into my evaluate of Haus for Lifeless Island 2.
A promising begin
Haus has a few issues it must do to face out from the bottom recreation of Lifeless Island 2. I praised the sport for its Los Angeles setting and the way in which totally different sections of the world satirized Hollywood tradition. So I used to be actually hoping that Haus would delve even additional into this setting and current a good crazier facet of L.A. than earlier than. I’m joyful to report that Haus does this brilliantly to begin. An ominous invitation brings your character to a Malibu property the place a former loss of life cult reigned supreme. Now its macabre hallways are adorned with the undead, which is an oddly becoming destiny, I suppose.
The brand new Haus property options darkly lit neon hallways and weird rooms that replicate a suburban neighborhood and forest. All of the whilst you’ll be combating zombies lined head to toe in leather-based onesies and different suitably unusual outfits. On a purely aesthetic degree, Haus manages to set itself other than the bottom recreation by providing a location that feels distinctive. Comparatively, it’s a totally totally different sort of vibe from the streets of Venice Seashore. And when you’re searching for one thing that feels a bit of creepier, then this shall be proper up your alley.
However whereas the primary impressions of Haus are certainly constructive, it turns into shortly obvious simply how quick this DLC actually is. You solely get 4 areas inside Haus to correctly discover, and none of them are notably massive or dense with issues to search out. In truth, all of it feels frustratingly easy. And because the DLC focuses on this weird loss of life cult, you’d assume that there can be one thing extra to delve into. However I’m unhappy to report that Haus doesn’t supply a lot to chew on.
So far as issue goes, Haus is less complicated than the previous few missions of Lifeless Island 2’s base marketing campaign. I by no means bumped into an encounter that felt too onerous or felt {that a} quest had overstayed its welcome. It’s properly balanced for essentially the most half, so when you didn’t battle with the principle recreation, it ought to be a breeze. I’d have favored some extra problem right here and there, however I’d take a neater time over an improperly balanced one any day of the week.
It wouldn’t be a DLC if there weren’t some new toys to play with, and whereas Haus doesn’t supply a ton to the lineup of Lifeless Island 2, the additions listed below are a bit of enjoyable. The largest addition is the brand new Crossbow which offers a ton of injury to zombies when you get a headshot. However its gradual reload and low ammo depend make it a weapon that’s ill-suited to hectic fight encounters.
The Crossbow presents a type of gameplay that’s not fairly stealthy however is a bit of sneakier than bashing zombies with a baseball bat. Now you can choose zombies off from a distance with out instantly alerting all of them to your place with the Crossbow. And whereas that isn’t an enormous addition, it’s good that there’s a change of tempo on occasion now.
However the Crossbow’s primary use in Haus is to destroy brains hidden across the space that seal varied doorways. And I do know that doesn’t make lots of sense, however belief me, that’s how it’s. These moments play out as fast environmental puzzles that don’t supply a ton of distinctive gameplay, however they’re enjoyable to assist break up the fight as you scour the world for these pesky brains.
Moreover the Crossbow we’ve bought two different distinctive weapons. The Hog Roaster is an Axe-type weapon with a bit of pig mascot spinning round on the again of the blade. After which there’s the Lifeless Islands, which is just a brand new Mace. Then there are the brand new Ability Playing cards that add a number of new perks to Lifeless Island 2. Other than that, your arsenal of weapons will principally be the identical actual ones you used within the base recreation. And it’s a bit of disappointing that there isn’t far more to search out that’s distinctive to Haus. However that touches on the broader downside that this DLC has.
Reducing issues quick
It took me round three hours to see all the things that Haus needed to supply, together with the brand new Misplaced and Discovered quest for the situation. It’s about so long as progressing via any of the sport’s different areas is. However since it is a DLC that has such attention-grabbing potential, the quick playtime solely disillusioned me extra. The core storyline solely takes about two hours to play via, which isn’t almost sufficient time for the narrative to develop and resolve satisfactorily. And with out spoiling an excessive amount of, the conclusion for the principle story right here is laughably abrupt.
What hurts the story much more is that there are glimpses of brilliance right here. It even manages to tie in with the principle recreation’s plot in a very cool means. Nevertheless it’s simply so wanting an expertise that I can’t assist however really feel massively let down by it. When you issue within the different features that fall quick, it’s onerous to take a look at Haus in a constructive mild.
Haus doesn’t even supply a singular enemy kind or something new to have interaction with, actually. It’s all the identical kind of stuff that you just’ve already seen within the base recreation of Lifeless Island 2. With that mentioned, there actually is a few good stuff in Haus. Soaking within the sick and twisted property the place an untold variety of horrors happened genuinely yields some creepy moments. And it’s refreshing to see Lifeless Island 2 take a extra spooky method to the zombie apocalypse.
On the finish of the day, Haus doesn’t supply sufficient to me to make it really feel worthwhile. It manages so as to add lots of issues I like right into a recreation I loved. Nevertheless it doesn’t go anyplace close to far sufficient to make it really feel like an expertise that stands out. When you actually love what Lifeless Island 2 is already, you then’ll seemingly take pleasure in Haus as nicely. However for anybody who hoped for a much bigger meal, Haus is extra like a sampling that’ll solely begin whetting the urge for food.
Lifeless Island 2’s Haus DLC releases on November 2.