Embarking on my fourth rooftop-leaping, zombie-slicing adventure in the Dying Light series, I questioned if the thrill of this violent survival horror-parkour experience would wane. Yet, after another 40+ hours of intense tucking and rolling, I’m genuinely delighted to report that it remains incredibly enjoyable, even if the core mechanics haven’t evolved drastically since 2022’s Dying Light 2: Stay Human.
This latest journey through Eurasian cities and rural landscapes teeming with the undead introduces a significant twist: you play as a human imbued with monster DNA. This grants you the unsettling yet satisfying ability to literally tear off heads with your bare hands. The horror of being caught outside at night, swarmed by seemingly undefeatable Volatiles, is as intense as ever. The primary letdown is that ‘The Beast’ doesn’t offer much beyond these “hulking out” abilities. After a decade of games with minimal innovation, there aren’t many surprises left. Still, a consistently entertaining series has its merits, and I gladly immersed myself in every side quest and climbing challenge I could uncover.
The Beast picks up with Kyle Crane, the original game’s protagonist, who has undergone a grotesque transformation into a half-human, half-monster hybrid. He can now leap fifty feet into the air and emit ear-splitting screams that inflict “psychic damage” on the undead – yes, it’s as bizarre as it sounds! The plot itself is rather thin: a straightforward revenge quest against a generic Bond-esque villain and a mad scientist, unfolding exactly as expected. However, it serves as a decent enough pretext to chase down powerful bosses and delve into the more engaging side quests, which often boast better writing and a charmingly silly tone. Despite the minimal effort put into the main story, the diverse characters you encounter and befriend are memorable enough to keep you invested in their lengthy conversations.
On your path to the ultimate showdown (a journey that took my completionist tendencies around 40 hours, but could be rushed through in under 20), you’ll bolster your power by tracking down and defeating formidable, genetically altered zombies known as Chimeras. Injecting yourself with their blood unlocks ‘The Beast’s’ core new mechanics. These range from practical abilities like shoulder-charging through hordes of zombies effortlessly, to outright ludicrous ones, such as changing direction mid-air by savagely yanking on your grapple hook. Becoming a Hulk-like terror in your quest for vengeance adds a fresh dimension to the already solid gameplay. There’s a primal satisfaction in ditching your machete to pummel twenty zombies into oblivion in just ten seconds.
If you’re a veteran of the Dying Light series, much of your time with ‘The Beast’ will feel comfortably familiar.
However, this monstrous transformation is a relatively minor adjustment to the proven Dying Light formula. You can only unleash your inner werewolf periodically, after building up your rage meter by both dishing out and taking damage. For the majority of your playtime, you’ll still be wielding makeshift weapons and frantically escaping Volatiles, just as before. While this familiarity isn’t necessarily a drawback – it’s often a welcome return to beloved mechanics – it does lend itself to a sense of déjà vu, a parkour trip down memory lane.
‘The Beast’ also sets itself apart with its unique boss battles against super-powered infected, each guarding a new ability for you to unlock. These initial encounters are genuinely exciting, introducing formidable foes that then become part of the general zombie population. Imagine a lightning-fast skeletal zombie that dances over weaker undead before pouncing with razor claws, or a hulking ghoul that can vanish and reappear, forcing you to nervously scan your surroundings for its tell-tale growls. While these first meetings are undeniably cool, the campaign eventually loses some steam by presenting variations of previously defeated bosses – like a gas-masked brute with a new vulnerability to poison. Despite this late-game repetition, these boss fights remain entertaining highlights throughout the journey; after all, who can resist a good boss battle?
Dying Light: The Beast – Screenshots
(Image gallery showcasing various screenshots from Dying Light: The Beast.)
Your entire revenge quest unfolds in the new open-world valley of Castor Woods. This setting cleverly blends familiar elements from previous Dying Light titles into a more contained and “cozy” experience. You’ll find expansive rural zones, reminiscent of the original game’s ‘The Following’ expansion, alongside a compact city area offering ample stone structures for agile parkour. Castor Woods feels noticeably smaller than the sprawling maps of its predecessors, hinting that ‘The Beast’ may have initially been designed as a ‘Dying Light 2’ expansion. The surrounding mountains create a circular, somewhat restrictive space traversable by car in mere minutes. However, this smaller scale isn’t a detriment; it ensures every inch of the map is utilized effectively, preventing large, empty stretches often found in larger open worlds.
Castor Woods delivers on the essential Dying Light experience. In the urban zones, I was continually reminded of the strategic advantage of rooftops, leaping between buildings to evade the relentless hordes below. When venturing into the sprawling woods and treacherous swamps that dominate the map, I found myself relying heavily on vehicles to ram my way to objectives, desperately avoiding being caught exposed. Much like many aspects of ‘The Beast’, Castor Woods is perfectly functional and enjoyable, though it rarely pushes boundaries or offers truly unique landmarks. Nevertheless, I still forged many new memories amidst the terror and destruction I left in my wake.
TieGuyTravis’ Top Zombie Games
(A curated list of top zombie games by Travis Northup, including titles like The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series — Season One, Dying Light, Resident Evil 4, and Dead Space.)
On a positive note, Techland deserves credit for delivering the most technically polished Dying Light game to date. My playthrough on a high-end PC was largely devoid of major or persistent bugs, offering arguably the best possible experience. Apart from a single crash and occasional pop-in, the journey was remarkably smooth – even before the day-one patch. While I did encounter a few frustrating moments, like getting briefly stuck in a vent due to odd geometry or my character snagging on environmental elements at critical junctures, these instances were infrequent enough that they didn’t provoke an “unleash the beast” moment of frustration.
Verdict
Dying Light: The Beast offers an entertaining, albeit familiar, return to the beloved zombie-infested rooftops and brutal combat that fans have cherished for the past decade. The core mechanic of transforming into a terrifying monster to battle other mutated foes is well-executed and largely compensates for a somewhat generic story and a map that holds few true surprises. While the new rampaging abilities and some genuinely freaky boss encounters add flavor, the game largely adheres to the successful formula of its predecessors. This means that for players who recently experienced the previous titles, ‘The Beast’ might feel a bit unoriginal. However, the signature blend of fluid parkour and visceral melee combat remains engaging, and ultimately, there’s little to complain about when it means more Dying Light.