When Days Gone was first revealed, it caused some divided reactions. Unlike most other PlayStation exclusives, there was some trepidation about revisiting yet another post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak open-world game. So it has a motorcycle and its zombies definitely aren?t your usual zombie fare, but can it stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of The Last of Us, a game it?s been compared to since the beginning" The more I saw of Days Gone, the more excited I got, and now that I?ve finished it, I can say without hesitation that not only does it stand among the crowd of Sony greats, it?s got an identity all its own.
The comparisons to The Last of Us are certainly warranted from some angles, but from a gameplay perspective, Days Gone is more Sons of Anarchy meets Mad Max. Deacon St. John?s motorcycle is his lifeline, enabling everything from fast travel to quick saves, and even holding a very central part of the narrative, including with his relationships with those he is closest with. Days Gone?s survival elements never become too overbearing, though. There?s a really good balance of creating a threat and a sense of urgency within the world, with making the motorcycle feel like a necessity, and with having enough ease of use and accessibility that it doesn?t feel like a defeating grind just to survive.
You?ll need to upgrade your motorcycle, keep it fueled and repaired, and know where it is for a quick getaway. There?s almost a tactical approach to navigating the ...