Weapon Durability In Dead Island 2 Is A Useful ‘Instrument’ For Dambuster Studios

The topic of weapon durability has been a hot topic among players for years. It is loved by some, others don’t mind it and there are those who hate it. The feelings you have about the topic will differ depending on whom you talk to. When someone mentions weapon durability in games such as The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, I immediately think of The Legend of Zelda. It was an important aspect of the game’s release. Personally, it didn’t bother me at all. 

It doesn’t matter if you love it or not, weapon durability will always be there in video games. However, when done correctly, it can help players find new things. Dead Island’s 2011 experience featured weapon durability as a key component. Dead Island 2 will bring that back when the game launches on April 28 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Dambuster Studios developed it as a guide tool for players.

David Stenton from Dead Island 2 tells me, “With the durability we’re not overly harsh about it.” It’s not a survivor horror, or simulator game. The tool is there to encourage players to return to the workbench and repair their weapon. Or maybe they’ll tell them to level up. Maybe my favourite weapon…was level 5 a couple hours ago. Are you willing to spend that much money leveling up for a weapon? Or maybe it’s a good idea to go to a vendor and get a pre-modified weapon. Maybe I will spend it on this mod, and some other ingredients.

“It’s about giving players options, encouraging them to return to their workbench and trying something new.” 

As someone who’s played roughly 8 hours of Dead Island 2 – you can read my full thoughts on that experience in the latest Game Informer cover story here – I agree with Stenton’s assessment of what weapon durability is doing in the game. Since there was not a single moment when I thought about the weapon’s durability, it wasn’t quite what I expected. Combat is chaotic, hectic, and fast-paced. My weapon wheel was large enough that I could switch between weapons while I was fighting a zombie invasion.

While there were instances when one my favourites was no longer usable due to it’s durability issues, I always had another favorite close by. I imagine it’ll be easy to get attached to weapons in Dead Island 2 – I especially loved my Slaughtering Cremator Cleaver and Enhanced Impactor Improvised Hammer – but in just my eight hours with the game, I probably encountered more than 100 others. You can always find a replacement weapon if one of your favorite weapons fails. 

You can find out more information about Dead Island by reading my Dead Island Cover Story here. Game InformerDead Island 2 coverage hub. Here you will find exclusive stories about the game, such as why it is set in a city other than an island and detailed breakdowns for Ryan (and Dani) – that aren’t available anywhere else. Exclusive gameplay will also be available in videos such as this one that shows Dambuster Studios recording the sounds of zombies in Dead Island 2. You can also learn more about the Dead Island 2 cover discussion episode. Game Informer Show.

Let us know your opinions on the topic of weapon durability in video games. Leave a comment below with your views on weapon durability in games