In many ways, Dying Light: The Beast is more Dying Light than its immediate predecessor, and that’s what makes it such a great entry. After Dying Light 2: Stay Human altered the formula a bit too much, The Beast brings things back to basics for an authentic and grounded Dying Light experience. At the same time, there are some notable changes at play in the latest entry — some that are obvious, like Beast Mode, and others that will only show up if players know where and how to look for them. One of its biggest changes is more hidden than others, though fans of the franchise should be fully aware of it by the time the credits roll.
Perhaps the most iconic feature of the Dying Light series is where it derives its name: its nighttime experience. As its name suggests, there is a significant emphasis placed on the dying light of the zombie-infested world, as things get far more dangerous once the sun goes down. In accordance with the series’ DNA, Dying Light: The Beast still features that same experience, though it is largely put on the back burner more than any entry before it. This is despite it being arguably the most terrifying rendition of the experience yet, but there is still an obvious purpose behind it that might not be immediately noticeable.
Dying Light: The Beast's Night Shift Is No Accident
Dying Light: The Beast's Night Experience Takes a Backseat
In Dying Light: The Beast, the nighttime experience hasn’t been toned down one bit. If anything, it has been ramped up to be the most adrenaline-inducing, fear-fueled version of it yet, as players attempt to navigate Castor Woods in pitch-black darkness among patrolling Volatiles that can quickly bring players back to a previous save. However, even with it being immensely spooky, its design and implementation has caused it to take a backseat in exchange for a world worth seeing.
Dying Light: The Beast only forces players into the dark a handful of times during the story and certain side quests, but apart from that, there is very little reason not to just rest in a bed until morning, when it’s safer to go out. The nighttime experience does offer players double XP and other opportunities for extra loot, but not only is the double XP unnecessary, the opportunities for extra loot are so few and far between that it’s not worth the added danger that comes with the dark. For one thing, players can easily reach max level in Dying Light: The Beast by simply completing all the quests in the game, but the extra loot that comes from the game’s nighttime opportunities is generally nothing worth having.
A World Designed to Hold Attention
In other words, there’s almost no reason to explore Dying Light: The Beast‘s Castor Woods when it’s dark. The reason for this, though, can likely be found in just how beautiful the game’s open world is. When the sun goes down in Dying Light: The Beast it is impossible to see anything without some form of light, and even then, only the player’s immediate surroundings are viewable. As such, the world that Techland has poured so much love into creating can’t truly be appreciated until the sun comes up and illuminates it.
One of Dying Light: The Beast‘s best side quests even forces players to slow down for a moment and take in the view from the balcony of an abandoned house. The message, then, is clear: Dying Light‘s iconic nighttime experience has been traded in The Beast for something worth admiring. Perhaps the next entry will bring balance to both, but for now, players can enjoy the beauty of Castor Woods in the safety of the light.