Dying Light: The Beast - A Thrilling Expansion Review

Hey guys! Let's dive deep into the world of Dying Light and specifically, its amazing expansion, The Following. We're going to talk about The Beast, a vehicle you get to drive around in the game, and whether it's worth your time. I've spent countless hours dodging zombies, parkouring across rooftops, and generally trying to survive in Harran, and I'm stoked to share my thoughts on this wild ride.

What is The Beast in Dying Light?

So, what exactly is The Beast? Well, it's a heavily modified buggy that you get to cruise around in The Following, which is an expansion pack for Dying Light. Think of it as your personal zombie-slaying mobile. It's not just any vehicle; you can customize it with a bunch of different weapons, like flamethrowers, spiked bumpers, and even UV headlights to fry those pesky night-time Biters. The map in The Following is much larger than the original game's city setting, so you'll be super happy to have a ride to get around.

Initially, the buggy is just a simple frame with basic components. You'll need to find parts, upgrade it, and customize it to make it a true zombie-killing machine. This gives you a sense of progression, and it feels satisfying to see your buggy evolve from a rickety frame to a heavily armored beast capable of taking on hordes of zombies. You will encounter a variety of terrains while driving The Beast. Some parts of the map are optimized for driving, such as vast open fields and winding roads, allowing for high-speed chases and thrilling maneuvers. Other areas, like dense forests and narrow pathways, require more careful navigation and skillful driving. The balance between driving and parkour is well-maintained, ensuring that players experience both the freedom of vehicular combat and the challenge of navigating the environment on foot.

The buggy's design is both practical and visually striking. The vehicle has a rugged, post-apocalyptic aesthetic, with exposed metal, reinforced armor, and various attachments that enhance its functionality. The buggy's appearance can be further customized through paint jobs, decals, and other cosmetic upgrades, allowing players to personalize their ride and make it stand out. The vehicle's physics and handling are well-tuned, providing a satisfying driving experience that complements the game's fast-paced combat. The buggy's durability and performance can be improved through upgrades to the engine, suspension, and armor. As you progress through the expansion, you'll unlock more powerful weapons and attachments, enabling you to take on increasingly challenging encounters. The integration of the buggy into the game's mechanics adds a new dimension to the gameplay, encouraging players to explore the vast open world and engage in thrilling vehicle-based combat.

Customization Options

The buggy's customization options are extensive, allowing players to tailor their vehicle to their preferred playstyle. You can modify the buggy's engine to increase its speed and acceleration, improving its ability to navigate the environment and escape from danger. The suspension can be upgraded to handle rough terrain and absorb impacts, enhancing the buggy's durability and performance. Armor upgrades provide increased protection against enemy attacks, ensuring that the buggy can withstand heavy damage. You can also equip the buggy with various offensive and defensive weapons, such as flamethrowers, machine guns, and electric shockers, to eliminate zombies and other threats. Cosmetic upgrades include paint jobs, decals, and other visual enhancements, allowing players to personalize their buggy and make it unique. The wide range of customization options ensures that players can create a vehicle that suits their playstyle and enhances their overall experience.

Driving and Combat: How Does It Feel?

Alright, let's talk about the fun stuff: driving and combat. Driving the buggy is a blast! The controls are responsive, and it's incredibly satisfying to plow through hordes of zombies. The map is huge, and having a vehicle makes exploring it a lot more enjoyable and efficient. The combat is where it truly shines. You can run over zombies, shoot them with your weapons, and even use the buggy to perform stunts and takedowns. It adds a whole new dimension to the game, and it's a refreshing change from the usual parkour and melee combat. The feeling of running over zombies is so satisfying! It's like a zombie-themed demolition derby, and it never gets old.

• Vehicle Handling: The buggy handles surprisingly well for a vehicle in a zombie apocalypse. It's not perfect, of course; you'll have to get used to the controls and the weight of the vehicle. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be drifting around corners and taking down zombies with ease. The physics engine is also well-implemented, allowing for some fun stunts and maneuvers. You can jump off ramps, and the buggy can also be flipped by environmental objects or enemy attacks. It adds a level of unpredictability and excitement to the driving experience.
• Combat Mechanics: The combat with the buggy is simple, but effective. You have a few different weapon options, such as a machine gun, flamethrower, and a ramming attack. You can also use the buggy to run over zombies, which is always fun. The buggy is also durable, so you don't have to worry too much about getting it destroyed. The combat is designed to be accessible and enjoyable, with a focus on action and excitement.
• Enemy Encounters: Enemy encounters are a mix of close-quarters combat and vehicle-based engagements. Sometimes you'll face hordes of zombies that you can mow down with the buggy, and other times, you'll have to fight on foot. This mix of combat encounters helps keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.

The Map: A Vast Open World

The Following takes place in a massive, open-world map that's much larger than the original game's city setting. This new area is a sprawling countryside filled with farms, forests, and villages. It gives a sense of freedom, especially when you have The Beast to get around. You'll find lots of side quests, hidden areas, and challenges to keep you busy. The scale of the map is impressive, and it provides a vast playground for the buggy. You'll have plenty of space to roam around, explore, and take down zombies. The map's design encourages exploration, with numerous hidden areas and secrets to discover.

The map's layout is designed to take advantage of the buggy's capabilities. There are vast open fields perfect for high-speed chases and thrilling maneuvers, winding roads that provide exciting driving experiences, and dense forests that require careful navigation and skillful driving. The diverse terrains ensure that players can engage in both vehicular combat and parkour, offering a varied and engaging experience. The map is also filled with various points of interest, such as abandoned settlements, military outposts, and hidden bunkers. These locations offer unique challenges, opportunities for looting, and chances to uncover the secrets of the world. The map's environmental details are meticulously crafted, with realistic landscapes, detailed buildings, and dynamic weather effects. The atmosphere is enhanced by the game's lighting and visual effects, creating a visually stunning and immersive world.

Exploring the Open World

Exploring the open world is a core aspect of the Dying Light: The Following experience. The map is filled with various points of interest, side quests, and hidden areas that encourage players to venture off the beaten path. The open world design fosters a sense of freedom and discovery, allowing players to explore the environment at their own pace and uncover its secrets. Players can travel across vast open fields, navigate winding roads, and traverse dense forests. The buggy's capabilities enhance the exploration experience, allowing players to cover large distances quickly and efficiently. The vehicle's design ensures that players can easily access various points of interest, making exploration more engaging and rewarding.

Upgrades and Customization

As you progress, you'll find blueprints and resources to upgrade your buggy. This includes things like better armor, more powerful weapons, and improved engines. The sense of progression is super satisfying as you turn your basic buggy into a zombie-slaying machine. You'll also be able to customize the look of your buggy, so you can make it your own. The upgrades are not just about making the buggy more powerful. They also improve its handling, making it easier to drive and control. The game also includes cosmetic options, allowing you to customize your buggy with different paint jobs, decals, and other visual enhancements.

The game's upgrade system is designed to be accessible and rewarding. Players can obtain upgrade materials by completing quests, defeating enemies, and exploring the world. The upgrade blueprints are scattered throughout the environment, encouraging exploration and discovery. The upgrades provide a tangible sense of progression, allowing players to feel like they're constantly improving their vehicle and their chances of survival. The customization options are extensive, allowing players to tailor their buggy to their preferred playstyle. The ability to personalize their vehicle helps create a more immersive and engaging experience.

Crafting and Resources

Crafting and resource management play a vital role in Dying Light: The Following. Players must scavenge for resources in the open world, completing quests, and defeating enemies. These resources are used to craft ammunition, medkits, and other essential items. Players can also use these resources to upgrade their buggy, increasing its performance and durability. The game features a robust crafting system, allowing players to create a wide range of items to aid in their survival. The crafting system encourages players to explore the environment, discover resources, and learn new crafting recipes. The crafting system also adds depth to the gameplay, as players must make strategic decisions about which items to create and when to use them.

The Story and Characters

While The Following focuses heavily on the buggy and the open world, it also includes a compelling story and memorable characters. You'll meet a group of mysterious cultists who seem to have a unique connection to the zombies. The story explores themes of faith, survival, and the lengths people will go to in order to survive. The characters are well-written and engaging. The story is also well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. The game's narrative complements the gameplay experience, enhancing the player's engagement with the world and its characters. The integration of the story and gameplay creates a cohesive and immersive experience.

Narrative and Plot

The narrative in Dying Light: The Following explores themes of survival, faith, and the consequences of human actions. The story centers on Kyle Crane, the protagonist of the original game, who ventures into the countryside to investigate the rumors of a cure. Crane encounters a group of mysterious cultists known as