Released in 2019 for PlayStation 4 and hitting PC in 2021, Days Gone carved a unique path in the zombie apocalypse genre. Developed by Bend Studio, the game throws you into the broken boots of Deacon St. John, a gruff biker trying to survive in a world overrun by “freakers” (infected humans) and rival human settlements.Days Gone has garnered mixed reactions since its release. Some praise its intense horde encounters and open-world exploration, while others criticize its repetitive missions and occasionally rough technical aspects. This review dives deep into the game, exploring its strengths, weaknesses, and whether it’s worth your time in 2024.

Story: A Bleak Hope in the Broken Road

Days Gone unfolds in a post-apocalyptic Oregon two years after a devastating pandemic. Deacon, a former motorcycle club member, struggles to carve out an existence scavenging for supplies and evading the ever-present threat of freakers. Driven by the loss of his wife Sarah early in the outbreak, Deacon searches for a reason to live and a glimmer of hope in this desolate world.

The narrative takes its time establishing Deacon’s motivations and the harsh realities of the world. You’ll encounter various settlements, each with its own struggles and agendas. Some offer refuge and trading opportunities, while others are more hostile, forcing you to make difficult choices.

The story is character-driven, with Deacon’s relationships with other survivors forming the emotional core. You’ll grow attached to certain characters, making their fates all the more impactful. While the overall plot might not be mind-blowing, it’s well-acted and engaging enough to keep you invested.

Horde Encounters: The Thrill of the Swarm

One of Days Gone’s defining features is its massive freaker hordes. These can number in the hundreds, and facing them head-on is a terrifying yet exhilarating experience. The game masterfully conveys the sheer scale and overwhelming nature of these encounters. The constant movement of the horde, the guttural roars, and the ever-present threat of being overrun creates some of the most intense moments in recent gaming.

Taking down hordes requires strategic planning and utilizing the environment to your advantage. You can lure them into choke points, set traps like explosive barrels, or use your motorcycle to outmaneuver them. Every encounter is a frantic scramble for survival, pushing your combat skills and resourcefulness to the limit.

However, some players find the initial repetition of horde encounters tiring. While the first few are undoubtedly thrilling, the later ones can feel formulaic after a while. The good news is that the game eventually introduces new freaker variants and challenges to keep things interesting.

Open-World Exploration: Beauty and Brutality

The Pacific Northwest serves as the backdrop for Days Gone, offering a diverse and visually stunning open world. From lush forests and snow-capped mountains to abandoned towns and desolate highways, the environments are meticulously crafted and teeming with detail.

Motorcycle travel forms the backbone of exploration. Deacon’s trusty bike, affectionately named “Drifter,” is your primary mode of transportation. Upgrading Drifter becomes a constant pursuit as you scavenge for parts and improve its performance. Taking in the world from the back of your bike offers a sense of freedom and allows you to truly appreciate the beauty and brutality that this post-apocalypse has wrought.

While the world is visually impressive, some repetitive side quests and fetch missions can bog down exploration at times. However, there’s always a sense of discovery, whether it’s uncovering a hidden Nero research camp with valuable resources or stumbling upon a beautiful hidden viewpoint.

Gameplay Mechanics: A Mix of Grit and Grind

Days Gone borrows mechanics from various genres, creating a unique gameplay experience. The core gameplay loop revolves around scavenging for resources, completing missions for settlements, crafting weapons and tools, and of course, taking down freakers.

Combat is a brutal affair. Guns are scarce and ammo is precious, forcing you to rely on your melee skills and environmental tools like Molotov cocktails for most encounters. Melee combat has a satisfying heft to it, with impactful sound design and animations.

The survival elements add a layer of tension. You need to keep your bike fueled and in good repair, manage your health and stamina, and constantly be on the lookout for resources. This adds a sense of urgency and makes every decision feel consequential.

However, the repetitiveness of certain missions and the occasional technical hiccups can dampen the experience. Some players find the crafting system overly complex, while others criticize the shooting mechanics as clunky. While these are valid points, the core gameplay loop remains engaging, especially when you factor in the thrilling encounters with hordes.

FAQs

Is Days Gone worth playing?

Days Gone received mixed reviews upon release. Some players praised its open world, intense horde battles, and unique motorcycle gameplay. Others criticized the repetitive missions, uneven story, and technical glitches. Ultimately, whether Days Gone is worth playing depends on your gaming preferences.

What are the good aspects of Days Gone?

Thrilling Horde Battles: Days Gone shines in its massive Freaker hordes, offering a frantic and strategic challenge to take down.

Motorcycle Gameplay: Traversing the open world on your customizable motorcycle feels great, providing a sense of freedom and vulnerability.

Open World Exploration: The Pacific Northwest setting offers a diverse landscape to explore, filled with hidden secrets, enemy camps, and environmental storytelling.

Crafting and Upgrading: Upgrading your weapons and bike adds a rewarding layer of progression to the gameplay loop.

What are the downsides of Days Gone?

Repetitive Missions: Many side quests and objectives feel repetitive, with similar goals and enemy encounters.

Story and Characters: The narrative can be predictable at times, and the protagonist, Deacon St. John, can be a divisive character.

Technical Issues: The PS4 version of the game launched with some technical glitches and performance issues, though these may be less prominent now.

How long is Days Gone?

The main story of Days Gone can be completed in around 30-40 hours. However, with all the side activities and post-game content, the game can take upwards of 60 hours to complete fully.

Is there a PC version of Days Gone?

Yes, Days Gone was released for PC in May 2021. This version generally offers improved performance and visuals compared to the original PS4 release.

Should I play Days Gone before the sequel?

There is currently no confirmed sequel to Days Gone. However, the ending leaves room for a potential continuation. Whether you need to play the first game before a hypothetical sequel depends on the story direction chosen by the developers.

Is Days Gone scary?

While Days Gone features hordes of Freakers and tense survival elements, it’s not strictly a horror game. The atmosphere can be unsettling at times, but the focus leans more on action-adventure with horror influences.

What difficulty settings does Days Gone have?

Days Gone offers several difficulty settings, allowing you to tailor the experience to your skill level. Difficulty affects enemy health and damage, resource scarcity, and overall challenge.

Is Days Gone a good game for solo players?

Yes, Days Gone is designed as a single-player experience. There is no online multiplayer component to the game.

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