The past few months have been incredibly hectic. So much so, that as a gamer, I've been forced to let my video games take a backseat so I could push on with other projects and activities. One of the most personally heartbreaking things for me through all of this was the fact that I had PlayStation 4 exclusive title, Days Gone, sat in my library waiting for me. From SIE Bend Studio, it's a game that has been through delays, and one that has been on my radar ever since its initial E3 2016 reveal.
Once I began to immerse myself into the zombie-riddled world offered up by the game however, I was thankful for the chance to experience every minute of the narrative with a clear mind. This isn't just another zombie story. Instead, it revitalises the genre which has felt heavily bogged down in recent years. Whilst The Walking Dead struggles to remain unique and original, Days Gone manages to quickly work its way into your heart. Some critics have said that the narrative isn't up to par with zombie games of the past, such as The Last of Us, but that's not something I personally felt playing through Days Gone. For me, it was gripping from start to finish.
In Days Gone, you take on the role of Deacon, a man who is caught up in the middle of a viral takeover, which causes those of humanity it manages to affect to lash out violently. Sam Witwer puts in a brilliant performance, voicing the protagonist, and is joined by some great company, including Jim Pirri as his friend Boozer, and Courtnee Draper as Deacon's wife, Sarah. When an escape helicopter has reached almost its maximum capacity, Deacon sends his injured wife away to what he hopes will be safety, opting to stay behind with his friend. Cut to two years later, and this is where we begin to take control of Deacon's journey.
I'm one of those gamers who absolutely loves a horror experience, but is terrified by every little sound or movement in the distance. So, when I first came up against the hordes of the living dead that have over 100 zombies all vying for their next meal, I panicked and quickly became lunch meat. Once you've gotten the hang of things however, they can be some of the most thrilling experiences Days Gone has to offer.
When it does come to combat, there's nothing groundbreaking on offer, but if it's not broke, it doesn't need fixing. If you've played any games of a similar vein in the past, it shouldn't take too long for you to pick up the skills of battle here.
One of the best aspects of Days Gone's gameplay is the bike in your possession, which you must keep to the highest standard if you wish to make it from A to B successfully. If you leave your bike five miles West, believe that you will be going right back that way on foot if you want to take it on the rest of your adventure (and save the game!). This is an open world begging to be explored, and there's no better way to do that on the back of your bike.
Whilst bugs are minor, they are quite frequent. There were at least five times when audio dropped out completely, and a couple of occasions when animation went wrong. On the whole however, the experience is one that ranks amongst some of the best games on the market.
Days Gone is available now, exclusively on PlayStation 4. A code for the game was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.