Dying Light: The Beast elevates franchise with parkour and brutal combat

Techland surprises fans with the release of Dying Light: The Beast, a chapter that brings back protagonist Kyle Crane and delivers a more refined and engaging experience. Available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series, the game dives into a revenge-driven plot, with Crane escaping 13 years of cruel experiments conducted by a villain known as the Baron. Set in the fictional city of Castor Woods, the title combines fluid parkour, brutal combat, and a new Beast Mode that transforms the protagonist into a destructive force. The narrative, more cinematic, focuses on the consequences of the experiments and the search for allies, while players face zombies and the fearsome Chimeras.

The game arrives at a strategic moment for Techland, following mixed reviews for Dying Light 2. Crane’s return, one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, answers fans’ requests and reinforces the series’ identity. The setting, inspired by Swiss and Polish landscapes, creates an immersive backdrop with dense forests, treacherous swamps, and snow-capped mountains. Additionally, the Portuguese dubbing maintains high quality, bringing familiarity to Brazilian players.

• Key highlights of the game:
  • Kyle Crane’s return as the protagonist.
  • New Beast Mode, activated in intense battles.
  • Unique Castor Woods setting.
  • More elaborate and engaging side missions.

Castor Woods: A vibrant new setting

The city of Castor Woods is a highlight of Dying Light: The Beast. Unlike Harran, with its Turkish aesthetic, or Villedor, inspired by France, the new map evokes Swiss and Polish landscapes. Historic buildings blend with dense forests and swamps, with a snowy mountain in the background adding an epic touch. The region-based level system returns but is better balanced, allowing natural progression without excessive grinding. Main and side missions provide enough experience to unlock advanced areas. Parkour, the series’ hallmark, reaches its peak. Movements like climbing, jumping, and sliding are fluid, making exploration a constant pleasure. Vehicles, such as ranger pickups, ease long traversals but require maintenance and fuel, found at gas stations or abandoned cars. Running out of fuel at night, when Volatiles dominate, can be deadly, adding strategic tension.

• Map features:
  • Architecture inspired by Swiss and Polish villages.
  • Forests and swamps with challenging trails.
  • Dark zones with valuable rewards.
  • Functional vehicles with realistic limitations.

Kyle Crane: The return of the tortured hero

Kyle Crane returns as the heart of Dying Light: The Beast. After 13 years imprisoned and subjected to experiments, he escapes the Baron’s control and embarks on a revenge crusade. The narrative explores his trauma, portraying a hardened and determined protagonist. The dubbing, in both English and Portuguese, retains the same actors, ensuring emotional consistency. Techland included a recap in the main menu, narrated by Crane, summarizing the events of Dying Light and The Following for new players. The plot is more dramatic, with cinematic moments highlighting Crane’s moral choices. A notable side mission involves a father with memory issues mistaking Crane for his son, leading to emotional decisions and intense battles against Volatiles. These better-written missions elevate the franchise’s narrative level.

Brutal combat and the innovative Beast Mode

Combat in Dying Light: The Beast retains the series’ essence, with melee weapons like axes, hammers, and machetes delivering realistic impact. Strikes dismember zombies, with visual effects enhancing the brutality. Firearms are available, but ammo is scarce, found only in military convoys. The Beast Mode, a result of Crane’s experiments, is the big innovation. It allows temporary transformations, ideal against Chimeras, unique bosses requiring strategy. The skill tree splits into survival, agility, strength, and Beast Mode. New options, like crafting a flamethrower, add depth. The night remains dangerous, with more aggressive Volatiles, but Beast Mode allows direct confrontations, shifting the nighttime exploration dynamic.

• Combat innovations:
  • Beast Mode for facing bosses and hordes.
  • Melee weapons with realistic visual impact.
  • Limited ammo for firearms.
  • Exclusive skills unlocked with Chimera blood.

More engaging side missions

Side missions, a weak point in previous games, received special attention. They now feature richer dialogue and varied objectives. One mission stands out, involving the search for a missing father, with choices affecting the emotional outcome. Others include random events, like saving survivors from zombies or human gangs, which are more dangerous than the infected. Dark zones, like apartments and shops, offer stealth challenges and rewards, though some areas lack variety. Techland balanced linearity and freedom, making these missions more integrated with the main story. Exploring Castor Woods is enriched by these events, encouraging players to stray from the main path without feeling like they’re wasting time.

A milestone for the franchise

Dying Light: The Beast recaptures what made the series a success, addressing flaws from Dying Light 2. Crane’s return, paired with a well-designed map and refined mechanics, creates an experience that honors the franchise’s legacy. Beast Mode and better-crafted side missions show Techland’s care in listening to fans. While some areas, like dark zone variety, could improve, the game delivers a gripping adventure. The blend of parkour, brutal combat, and a more mature narrative makes The Beast a must-play for action and survival horror fans. The Castor Woods setting and quality dubbing enhance immersion, while Beast Mode adds a unique strategic layer.

• Defining game features:
  • Cinematic narrative with moral choices.
  • Refined and fluid parkour.
  • Brutal combat with varied weapons.
  • Immersive and detailed setting.
  • Side missions with greater depth.