Zombie games have been a hit since the release of Resident Evil in the late ’90s. Out of the hundreds of games featuring zombies, Dying Light arose from the dead to bring the genre back to life. Released on January 26, 2015, from Techland, Dying Light is a zombie game like no other. Set in the fictional world of Harran after a virus outbreak, the player is tasked to survive in an open-world, zombie-infested wasteland. What makes this game unique is the ability of the main character to do parkour. This gives the player a unique skillset, creates a different viewpoint, and creates a dimension of gaming that many other games do not. Playing this game using my PC, I was able to get the full experience of the crisp sound, detailed graphics, on-the-edge gameplay, intriguing side missions, dynamic characters, and worthy replay value that make Dying Light a distressing but entertaining adventure. Sound is a key factor in creating an atmosphere for a game; the music and environmental sounds should be pristine. This game doesn’t disappoint the player in this aspect. Dying Light has a distinct soundtrack that complements the gameplay very well with music that compares to ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies. It gives this game an eerie vibe, contrasting music that sounds playful and energetic with scenery that is quite the opposite. This contrast twists the brain’s preconceptions to intensify the feeling of delusion and hopelessness that is found in the game. Along with the music are the 360 degrees of environmental sounds submersing the player into the game, keeping them on their toes with random bangs and zombie screams. Zombies can be heard from all angles and the gamer knows where they are coming from before they can see them, adding to the effect of feeling like being dumped into the center of a very dire, yet exciting situation. Although Dying Light was released in 2015, it is certainly able to stand up to today’s games in terms of graphical quality. Beautiful night and day cycles with sunrises and sunsets, along with weather aspects such as rain and storms look life-like and incredible. The game includes detailed shadows and lighting effects that have the ability to show themselves off in the darker environments. Because of this, the gamer is kept on edge as they are only given a flashlight and a weapon in many small, enclosed dark areas. This game gives a realistic depiction of a shredded city as light is playfully augmented with smoke, fire, lightning, and explosions to create an atmosphere of unrest and dread. The gameplay of Dying Light does not detract from the level of detail and suspense the creators intended and gamers crave. From the very beginning, the player is thrown right into the action as the main character is dropped into a city street of Harran via airplane, where he is immediately bitten by a zombie. Dying Light is able to pull the gamer into the story and keep them hooked without them having any idea of what is going to happen next. Jump scares and plot twists keep the story fairly unpredictable and therefore interesting. The game mixes the genres of action and horror into one to make the storyline attractive to the end. The main storyline is fairly large, but the side missions are the real treat of Dying Light. In the side missions, the character development is a quality factor as the player comes to understand the backgrounds of the characters and is given information on the factions that have formed due to the situations they have had to face. In addition, there are a plethora of DLCs (downloadable content) that can help further explain elements of the game, continue the experience of the main story, intensify the levels of horror, or increase the skills of parkour. Some of the downloadable content is so detailed that it could be a stand-alone game. All of these story options combined create a nearly unlimited amount of exploration and immersion into the progressively more difficult world that will most likely lead to many hours of intriguing gameplay. Part of having a good storyline is having good characters, and the developers delivered with Dying Light. As the story progresses, the player learns more and more about the main character, his background, and his thoughts. He turns out to be a very dynamic character, changing throughout the game as he learns who he can and cannot trust. Players also get to learn about the different factions, their leaders, how they came to be, and who is helpful or out to do harm. Even the zombies have a diverse set of traits, with names like Biter, Virals, and Bombers, which describe their abilities to wreak havoc. As for the replay value of this game, it could best be described as decent. For a game that has a fairly linear story line and skill development, once it is played through, that is just about the full experience. With that being said, Dying Light does have many features that lend itself to being played again and again, such as an open world with randomization of weapon, ammo, and material placement and the ability to craft and trade to earn money in various ways. Also, because the story is quite meticulously detailed, there are sure to be some nuances that players may not have picked up the first playthrough. Overall, I would give this game a solid A. This definitely is not your dad’s glitchy and played-out Resident Evil from the ‘90s. Dying Light is one of the best story games I have ever played. Its storyline is able to take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride; in the end it leaves the player feeling happy that they had the experience, sad that it’s over, and a little shaken up from the turns, hills, and valleys. The music and setting were carefully crafted to make this game a full experience, as well as the detailed visuals and character development that add depth. While the replay value is of average quality, I would highly recommend this game to anyone that enjoys fast-paced story games, role-playing games, and especially horror games.