In an interview with Game Informer, Dambuster Studio’s senior render programmer and technical art director discussed the specifics of the tech utilized in Dead Island 2’s zombie-slaying. This tech uses the FLESH system (Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids), which turns the undead into “meat piñatas”. The phrase ‘Flesh system’ is sure to appear multiple times in this article, so if you want to avoid nightmares, you may want to look away now.
Dambuster has previously discussed the Flesh system, but they have now gone into detail about how it works and what it does. The system will create wounds on zombies that are befitting the weapon being used; knives will slash, hammers will bludgeon, and they will pass through layers of skin, fat, muscle, bone, and organs. The system will also feature a form of procedural dismemberment if a certain spot on an enemy is continually struck.
The game includes a system that is applicable to all zombies and provides in-depth simulations. A developer proudly declared that they are even able to create “bruises around the wounds” of opponents, depending on the weapon used. This is both impressive and alarming.
The developers have made an effort to create a realistic system. A dagger will not be able to cut someone in half, nor a sledgehammer cause a minor wound to the head. Instead, the damage will be based on various parameters. This includes the health of the zombie, the number of times the same area has been attacked, the type of weapon and more. All these elements are used to determine the effects of the attack.
The trailer certainly appears to be convincing, which is why it’s somewhat alarming when people are complimenting a system that involves dismembering people. Dambuster Studios commented that they’re aiming for a “movie-style” or “faux-realistic” violence. They clarified, “It’s not supposed to make viewers feel uncomfortable, rather ‘This is horrible, and I do want to see it!'”.
It’s been nine years since Dead Island 2 was first announced, but finally, on April 28, the game that commits a multitude of crimes against the body will be released. It will be available on the Epic Games Store.
The game will be released on April 28, 2023 on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
