Dead Island 2’s first DLC, Haus, takes players from battling zombies to facing mindless cultists in a cult compound in Malibu. Developer Dambuster Studios introduces players to eccentric characters, rich elites, and zombies dressed for the runway. However, the DLC falls short with its three-hour runtime and lack of new features, making it a short-lived and somewhat unexciting experience.
Haus continues the humorous and incomprehensible story of Dead Island 2, with the DLC introducing a cult obsessed with immortality and their predictions of the zombie apocalypse. Players engage in absurd missions like fighting a giant zombie dressed as a pig and throwing dismembered heads. While the cult’s portrayal as a benevolent organization is questionable, the writing remains amusing and the new characters and one-liners add to the enjoyment.
Haus features a visually surreal location, with each room designed uniquely by the eccentric characters. The graphics and art of Dead Island 2 continue to impress in the DLC, enhancing the gameplay experience in these environments, despite the monotonous action that occurs.
The main drawback of Haus is the lack of new features and ideas to break up the repetitive gameplay. Aside from the introduction of a new crossbow, players still face the same enemy types and limited crafting options. The addition of a few new skill cards doesn’t significantly impact the gameplay. The DLC would have been improved with new enemies or expanded crafting mechanics.
The crossbow stands out as a solid addition to the game, offering better ranged combat compared to other weapons. It provides high damage and accuracy, making it useful for long-range attacks. The crossbow is also necessary for destroying Dark Brains, obstacles that block progression in the DLC levels. Despite its shortcomings, the mandatory use of the crossbow encourages players to experiment with it.