Dying Light 2: Bloody Ties DLC Review
With thanks to the folks at Techland I’ve been spending some time with Dying Light 2’s new DLC, Bloody Ties. I’ve spent a week or so battling through the streets, warehouses and alleyways of Carnage Hall to bring out our full video review, extended written review and common-sense parent’s guide.
As with all DLC a lot of our usual ratings (such as visuals and audio) mirror the base game almost exactly. We’ve also looked to avoid spoilers wherever possible. As ever, watch our video review just below or keep reading for our extended written review of Bloody Ties.
The Basics – What is Bloody Ties About?
Bloody Ties brings a whole new world of hurt to the already pretty expansive Dying Light 2. In this first story-driven DLC you’ll enter the world of Carnage Hall (this of it as the Colosseum of the apocalypse). Here you’ll work through the ranks of respect to topple the crooked king of Carnage Hall, which is pretty much all we can say without giving away some story spoilers (No Spoilers!).
Before you even head into Carnage Hall though, you’ll have to complete a number of dastardly challenges set by the Hall’s recruitment specialists. While the very first mission of the new Bloody Ties DLC is available straight away after your inauguration to city life, it’s definitely worth levelling yourself up before getting too involved.
Bloody Ties is designed to pose a challenge to Dying Light 2’s player base, and even on the easy levels it’s still quite tricky to get yourself admitted into the hall. You’ll also need to rely on a halfway-decent set of parkour and combat upgrades in order to go the full distance. Because of this, it’s worth following the main quest for a while, and it’s recommended to complete the story mission before you settle down into Carnage.
Is Bloody Ties Safe for Children – Our Common-Sense Parent’s Guide
Rating: 1 / 5: Adults Only
Bloody ties takes its rating from the base game of Dying Light 2, which is rated by PEGI at 18 and above and by the ESRB at a mature 17+. Dying light is an absolutely brutal game in terms of violence, blood and gore, frightening environments and enemies, and language (up to and including the C-Bomb). You will undertake regular dismembering of both human and biter enemies, and get quite saturated with blood.
With all things considered, the violence, dismemberment, language and terrifying chases over city rooftops mean that Bloody Ties and Dying Light 2 are both getting a 1/5 rating of Adult Only.
Is Bloody Ties Accessible?
Rating: 3 / 5 Tricky
Dying Light itself was never hugely easy, and the Bloody Ties expansion will test your metal with tough and often time-based challenges in the arena. It’s been designed to give Dying Light completionists more to get their teeth stuck into and while it certainly manages that, this means it picks up a Tricky rating of 3/5 for accessibility.
The Run Down – Our Five-Point Rating for Bloody Ties
Gameplay – 3/5: While it adds time to your experience, Bloody Ties doesn’t do much to change up gameplay within Dying Light 2. You’ll find some new enemies in the form of re-skinned arena warriors, and some new weapons, but not much else has changed within this expansion. Adding more gameplay isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and working your way up the ranks of carnage hall can be fun, but don’t expect anything earth shattering.
Visuals – 4/5: Much like the base game, the visuals are pretty excellent here, and we’ve been playing on Xbox Series X and S as well as PC. There are some flickers here and there but other than that the visuals and animation have been great throughout. Bloody Ties’ arenas are well created, colourful and really speak to the dramatic flair of Carnage Hall.
Audio – 3/5:voice acting in the title is good in itself but has been let down by some slightly off-key scripts and awkward wording. As ever, effects and music are good throughout.
Narrative – 4/5:There’s a decent story here, but it has been beset a little with some poor script choices. That said, it’s a story which seems to try and add back a little of the more zany and slightly comedic aspects of the first Dying Light, which is quite welcome. Scripting aside, the narrative itself is a welcome addition to the base game and it’s one which I’ve enjoyed.
Replay – 4/5: I’d have looked to see a little more in terms of an ongoing league throughout your time with Dying Light but for what you pay here Bloody Ties certainly adds on a good few hours of game time.
The Verdict – Is Bloody Ties Worth It?
Pixel Bandits Double Tap Level for Dying Light 2’s Bloody Ties DLC is a Respectable 7/10. The new DLC does add some new story, and I have to respect the additional hours of gameplay you can get here at a pretty reasonable price. It’s Dying Light 2’s first story-driven expansion and it definitely does add to the play time quite well. Sadly, apart from a new story and more of the same, there’s not a great deal more that it adds. Fights in the arena are fun, and if you’re enjoying Dying Light 2 then it’s definitely worth the price to give you some more story to run through, but don’t expect it to be breaking down any barriers.
