Latest news with #KyleCrane
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dying Light: The Beast adds more monstrous ways to thrive in a brutal but luscious parkour paradise
Kyle Crane's return is so far shaping up to be a worthy entry into the Dying Light franchise, with the setting of Castor Woods and new monster powers being the stars of the show. Techland's next open-world zombie slash-a-thon keeps things familiar for the better, wrapping it around a new location and a fresh combat system to make roleplaying a monster an absolute blast. It's somehow been 10 years since the original Dying Light rose up from the ashes of Dead Island to become one of the most popular (and surprisingly consistent) zombie games ever. Rather than look fully ahead for its next entry, however, Polish developer Techland also finds itself equally willing to peer back, choosing to combine elements old and new to make a concoction that all series fans will likely adore. Dying Light: The Beast, as a DLC expansion-turned-full game, not only does this by having a beastlier version of the first game's protagonist return, but by also bringing a renewed focus on making the game scary again thanks to some truly tense night-time scenarios and bigger, more dangerous Volatile enemies to face. All this, mixed in with some truly monstrous ways to dispatch the undead, is already helping the game's parkour paradise premise come alive like never before. Having enjoyed 2022's Dying Light 2: Stay Human well enough but preferring Kyle Crane's original 2015 adventure, I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good to be back in the character's shoes for this third full instalment. The hero of Harran he may be, yet a lot about him has changed since the end of Dying Light: The Following's canon ending. This most noticeably comes in the form of voice actor Roger Craig Smith's much gruffer tone of voice, way more F-bombs, and a new infection type that has seen Kyle gain new monster powers where he can occasionally hulk out. The latter of which might suck for him personally as a character, but works brilliantly for us as players since trying to successfully navigate a world where thousands of undead flesh-eaters roam is no longer about merely surviving, but viscously thriving too. My three-hour preview session kicked off shortly after the game's beginning, with Kyle fresh off escaping the clutches of a villain known only as the Baron, who has had him caged up like an animal for the past 10 years. Kyle chooses to use his newfound freedom not to find a nice beach somewhere (if any still exist) and retire, but rather by forming new human connections and setting up a base of operations in the luscious, more naturalistic region of Castor Woods. Turns out it's the perfect place to loot weapons, tools, and gear while Kyle works out exactly how to claim his revenge. Such narrative machinations so far aren't adding to a story that's anything particularly spectacular. But hey, these opening hours do well to get you up to speed with the stakes quickly – regardless of if you're familiar with the way Dying Light works or not. Better yet, it does all this while making you question: is the 'beast' referred to in the game's title Kyle at all, or something else entirely? Unleash the beast From a pure mechanics perspective, I was initially surprised by just how similarly Dying Light: The Beast plays to previous entries. Simply put, this isn't some grand reinvention of the open-world zombie-slaying formula that has worked so well before, but it does mean that Dying Light 2 aficionados will feel right at home with what it means to engage in Techland's fun and well-formed parkour system all over again. There's still plenty of reasons to run, clamber, and (in some instances) swing through this playground-like world. Offering a sharp change of tone to these usual antics, though, is of course the new setting of Castor Woods. Touting plenty of greenery, swamps, and open woodland that contrasts nicely with its built-up areas, already the location is making a claim to be my favourite to ever feature in a Dying Light game. Because whether it was exploring the old town district situated in the centre to set up camp at town hall or leaping over swamp shacks in search of a contact, moving through this incredibly diverse map elegantly was never a chore. Once again, Techland has clearly taken the time to make Castor Woods a beautiful, dangerous, but also fun world to move through – and I already can't get enough. I got the sense during my session that Castor Woods won't be as large as Dying Light 2's Villador, but that's okay given the level of variety it offers, and the ability to explore its more cut-off areas via truck. Yes, The Beast marks the first time since The Following's buggy where vehicles are also a viable option. Unlike Kyle's buggy from before, however, he's able to jump into most cars, all of which only have a limited amount of fuel, meaning you can't come to rely on them too much. Cars effectively being just another currency in Dying Light: The Beast also ensures that you're never discouraged from performing the core act of climbing for too long. I say this as someone who got a great kick out of ramming down endless hordes of biters on the road in the few instances I was required to drive to get to the next mission marker. Being able to switch between first- and third-person view on the fly while in vehicles is also an improvement I quickly came to appreciate, helping driving here feel more flexible and less of a chore than in, say, Far Cry 5. The monster within Third-person view is something you'll get accustomed to quite a lot in The Beast when out of vehicles too, as the camera regularly switches between the two perspectives during cut scenes. At first I was worried this might make you feel less aligned with Kyle Crane as a character, when in fact it has the opposite effect. Actually being able to see Kyle, and all the concerning ways this beastly virus is taking over his body, works far better to make him feel like an actual character, rather than just some disembodied voice merely made up of wavy hands and springy legs. Finally, there are obviously the beast abilities themselves, which are so crucial to the experience of this third game that they've been given their own skill tree. That said, unlocking points for it is kept totally separate from the three other strands, requiring you to take down mission critical bosses called Chimera. I fought a handful of these grotesque nasties during my demo, and taking them down was almost always made easier once I'd dealt enough damage to activate beast mode itself. You're not fully invincible in beast mode, but being able to wail on unwitting enemies with your bare hands as the screen swells is something I found to be pleasingly cathartic. Dying Light's melee combat is usually meticulous in that you're trying to dodge while trying to find a gap in an enemy's defence to land the perfect hit. Beast mode, meanwhile, is the complete opposite, and the fact it just activates by itself in the early hours – whether you want it to or not – is a neat way of having it neatly tie to the narrative as Kyle slowly gets to grips with what he has suddenly become. So far then, Dying Light: The Beast seems to be striking that perfect balance of leaning into what worked previously, but coating it in some exciting new traversal and combat systems to help make this visit to Castor Woods feel like its own distinct adventure. Following my demo, I was left curious as to what new Beast abilities are waiting to be unlocked in the late game, in what other ways Castor Woods could potentially open up, and whether or not the beast in the title is all it seems. In other words, there's plenty of secrets still to discover in this third zombie-fuelled go-around, all of which I can't wait to discover.
Digital Trends
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Dying Light: The Beast turned me into a bloodthirsty animal
In real life, I'm not a violent man. I'd even go so far as to say that I'm a bit of a pacifist, though 2025 has really tested the limits of that day after day. It takes a special kind of game to really bring the animal out in me, leaving me to soak in some digital bloodshed with a smile. Dying Light: The Beast is very much that flavor of game. At this year's Summer Game Fest, I got 45 minutes of hands-on time with Techland's latest zombie survival game. I've only really experienced the series from a distance until now, so I walked into my demo unsure if its gory combat would hook me. As soon as I beat down an entire room full of monsters with Kyle Crane's beastly new powers, I felt like I had found the safe outlet for my repressed rage that I've really needed all year. Recommended Videos Despite being more of a spinoff, Dying Light: The Beast isn't so different from Dying Light 2: Stay Human. It takes place in a zombie filled world full of shambling monsters whose flesh can be torn up with barbed wire baseball bats and crowbars. Kyle Crane, the hero of the first Dying Light game, returns here in a revenge story as he tracks down the Baron, a villain who performed some kind of horrible experiment on Crane. That kicks off a quest for blood that features all of Dying Light's signature features, from rooftop parkour to deadly dropkicks. The one slight departure from Dying Light 2 is that The Beast leans more into survival horror territory this time. When the sun is out, I can easy get around sporadic patches of zombies who are easily felled by a few good bat bonks or fooled with a decoy grenade. The earliest part of my demo as me treating them like punching bags as I hack through their flesh, skin and blood flying everywhere. That changes when night falls and far more dangerous creatures fill up the streets. I need to go into stealth mode to survive, scrambling up abandoned train cars and hiding in thick forests to avoid getting chased down and beaten to death. Those are the rare moments where I feel powerless. Any other time? I'm the one in control. Techland goes to great lengths here to make sure that every one of Crane's weapons just feels morbidly satisfying to use. When I get a bow midway through my demo, I take pleasure in lining up headshots that take out wandering guards with laser precision. Shortly after that, I drop into a dark basement and get to blow through corridors full of zombies with a tremendously powerful shotgun. Even my dropkick is a weapon of mass destruction, sending weak zombies flying. Everything just hits. That idea gets taken to the next level here thanks to Kyle Crane's new trick. Due to the experiments inflicted upon him, Crane can now activate beast mode when building up enough power. When activated, it essentially turns him into an unstoppable killing machine for a brief moment. I first get to use it when I fix a fuse box in a basement and find myself trapped in a room with a dozen zombies. I unleash my inner animal, throwing out rapid punches without my stamina bar draining. Seconds later, the undead are back on the floor. It happens in an instant and I'm almost left panting when it's done. It's absolutely thrilling. Everything comes together in the demo's final boss fight, as I need to take down a hulking flesh monster in a junkyard filled with abandoned cars. I unload every bullet I have into it while dodging away from its charging attacks at the last second. I get to use another lethal tool there: a flamethrower that chars its skin until it looks like a well-done steak. It gets desperate in its second phase, grabbing hold of a shambling zombie and tossing it at me. I dodge, get some final shots in, and eventually tear my foes head clean off. It feels like I've just watched a battle between lions in the jungle, and I'm the one left with blood in my jaws. If bloodshed isn't your thing, there's a lot more to The Beast than its sheer brutality. I'm especially impressed by the environmental design here, a parkour playground that sends me running around densely detailed rooftops. One puzzle segment has me climbing my way up an abandoned water tower, pushing me to observe the intricate design to find loose pipes I can mantle up with the right timing. It all makes for a world full of pathways that feel like they exist naturally in the world, rather than heavily signposted platforming gauntlets. I'm sure I'll appreciate that even more in the final game, but I mostly look forward to swinging that baseball bat again and watching it cave in a zombie's face. It's grotesque, but I can be grotesque when a game is this good at turning me into a depraved little monster. Dying Light: The Beast launches on August 22 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dying Light The Beast official release date, pre-order perks, and more announced
(Image via Techland) Techland has officially announced some major details about Dying Light: The Beast during Summer Game Fest 2025. The official launch date and timing, along with some enticing pre-order incentives, remained in the spotlight. The upcoming title was originally planned as Dying Light 2 DLC, but instead, it evolved into a full-fledged standalone experience. It marks a significant step for the highly anticipated standalone entry within the popular zombie survival game franchise. Here is all we know about the brutal new chapter. Dying Light The Beast official release date Mark the calendars, as Dying Light: The Beast is coming on August 22, 2025. It will be released on PlayStation, Xbox Series X/S, and PC too. The date was confirmed by Techland during the Summer Game Fest event, with the new gameplay trailer premiering brutal combat, intense parkour action, and a deeper look into the dark storyline of the game. The date follows the earlier confirmation of the studio, made at Gamescom 2024. It stated that the standalone project targets a mid-2025 release. With the release date available now, players can get excited about stepping into the shoes of Kyle Crane—the original protagonist from Dying Light (original game), but with a horrifying transformation (part zombie, part human) coming after the enduring gruesome experiments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Khám phá bí quyết sở hữu nhà container hiện đại giá tốt tại Việt Nam – tìm hiểu ngay Container houses | Search Ads Tìm Ngay Undo Additionally, the narrative even promises survival, revenge, and uneasy alliances in the world that's overrun by the infected. Dying Light The Beast pre-order details and exclusive bonuses Dying Light: The Beast pre-orders are now officially open. The game carries the standard price of $59.99 across all the available platforms. PC players will be able to secure the copy through Steam or Epic Games Store. Additionally, Techland has sweetened the deal with the Hero of Harran bundle, which is exclusively available with pre-orders. Dying Light: The Beast - Gameplay Premiere Trailer | Summer Game Fest 2025 The package will also deliver 5 distinct items that blend the practical use with the nostalgic call-backs. The list of items includes the Ultimate Survivor Outfit (apocalyptic look), stealth-focused Follower Crossbow (deadly tool), the swift melee Harran Combat Knife, In Jade's Memory Pistol, and also rugged Castor Woods Patrol vehicle to mow down the infected hordes. Additionally, players who own Dying Light 2: Stay Human Ultimate Edition will get The Beast for free, automatically, as part of their pre-order bundle. Dying Light The Beast offers discounted deals on previous titles Celebrating the upcoming title's announcement, Techland rolled out some major discounts on Dying Light and Dying Light 2. Fans can grab the time-limited deals at less than half the original price of the games. Dying Light 2: Stay Human is available at 67% off and now is priced at $23.09 on both Steam and the PlayStation Store. Original Dying Light, on the other hand, is available at 80% off ($3.99) and 70% off ($8.99) on Steam and PlayStation, respectively. The offers will last until June 19, 20025. It is a perfect opportunity for the newcomers to catch up on the Dying Light franchise before Dying Light: The Beast arrives. With the gripping story, rewarding pre-order bonuses, and enhanced gameplay, Dying Light: The Beast will shape up to be one of the must-plays for fans of survival horror.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 years later, Dying Light's night time psychological warfare is still one of the strongest hooks in horror gaming history
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A digital watch has never been more threatening than in 2015's Dying Light. Picture it: you're crouched on a rooftop after losing track of time, and the staccato alarm emanating from Kyle Crane's wrist feels like a chastisement. Pained howls pierce the darkened sky. Nightfall is here. You are out of options, out of time, and out of daylight. The fear is paralysing – and that's the whole point. Dying Light's harnessing of player psychology is part of what cements it as one of the best horror games of all time. Like Pavlov's dog, upon hearing those sharp digital beeps, the player is obediently trained to break out in a cold, dreadful sweat. The watch is a harbinger of doom, alerting us to the fact that you do not want to be caught out on the streets of Harran at night. Immediately, it's fight or flight: do I stay put and finish my mission, or run for the nearest pool of UV light? It's still an underused feature in horror games in 2025, but looking back a decade later, Dying Light's day and night cycle truly is the crux of what makes it the stuff of nightmares. Bloodied legacy Dying Light: The Beast wants to be "the ultimate zombie adventure", and it only exists because Techland's DLC plans leaked "Night is coming." The on-screen text marks the terrifying home stretch at the tail end of Air Drop, the first Dying Light story mission that brings us face to face with a Volatile. Tower resident and ally Judy's voice crackles over the radio receiver, and her words are anything but encouraging. "The nightmares are walking. Don't let them see you." What comes next is one of the most stomach-churning chase sequences I've ever experienced, firmly in line with anything you'd expect from one of the best survival horror games, as a low level Crane has no choice but to run for his life from the most dangerous undead in the game. You cannot kill them; all you can do is go. It's true that danger is shambling around every corner in Dying Light, no matter the time of day. But while some of the other best zombie games are set in a state of perma-darkness (like Resident Evil 2 Remake) or feature scripted time shifts (like The Last of Us), Techland uses time differently. It's a dynamic tool, intended to psych the player out by creating a palpable sense of imminent danger, higher stakes, and ramped up difficulty. There is so much buildup around the terrors of the moonlit hours that, save for one or two missions, interacting with them at all is almost completely at your discretion. So why would anyone risk it? Because there are actual benefits to risk-taking. There's no illusion of danger in Dying Light – the Volatiles are stronger, faster, more relentless than regular zombies, and you are more likely to run into a world of hells when you venture into their dens. But by having only one or two main mission segments where exploring after nightfall is unavoidable, thereby relegating the majority of night time quests to optional side content, the inference is that it's your call to avoid it. ...nothing quite compares to the simple yet omnipresent fear of Kyle Crane stepping out into the gloaming... The optionality of interacting with Dying Light's strongest horror moments is cyclical. That was certainly the case for me when I replayed Dying Light recently; I avoided going out at night at all costs, which in turn made the night scarier and scarier. Darkness was a constant source of anxiety, prompting me to weigh up whether I'd have enough time for one more mission before the telltale watch alarm would spell out my fate. Ultimately, this turned me into just another resident of Harran; I was playing it super safe. It just goes to show how easy it is to get swept up in Dying Light's narrative and lore, with the time cycles feeding into the semblance of Harran as an ever evolving, ever shifting entity with deadly peaks and troughs. On one hand, it makes us feel more powerful when the sun comes out. On the other, we constantly fear the dying light above us. The utility of day and night cycles in horror games – and the psychological warfare that can be waged against the player's sense of self-preservation through implementing them correctly – is a surprisingly rare find, even now. Only 2007's Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl comes to mind immediately, with The Forest and Darkwood no doubt taking inspiration from both it and Dying Light later in 2017. Sure enough, Dying Light 2 doubled down on the potentiality for night time dangers by implementing an immunity meter, with Aiden's exposure to darkness increasing the likelihood of his transformation into a Volatile himself. Still, nothing quite compares to the simple yet omnipresent fear of Kyle Crane stepping out into the gloaming, knowing full well he's not fully capable of fighting back. With Dying Light: The Beast potentially just months away from launch, replaying the first game feels all the more exciting in 2025. Dying Light marked a pivot in zombie fiction as we once knew it, and with such strong material under its belt ready to be pushed to new extremes, I've no doubt that Techland is set to impress us once again with Crane's long-awaited last hurrah. Check out all the upcoming horror games set to scare you in 2025.
