Days Gone is an open-world survival-horror title that was released in 2019 for Playstation 4 and in 2021 for PC. The game
was published by Sony and developed by Bend Studio. It received a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences, primarily due to a somewhat unfocused marketing campaign and some technical issues on PS4. Over the years, it has managed to win the hearts of a substantial number of fans, but despite this, Sony canceled the development of a sequel due to disappointing revenues in its first year of release. In 2020, a gamer launched a petition on Change.org requesting a second chapter from the Japanese company, gathering a remarkable 200,000 signatures. Nevertheless, as of today, all signs suggest that we will never see Days Gone 2.
PLOT
The video game is set in the forests of Oregon, where we play as Deacon St. John, a rough biker who struggles to accept the loss of his wife Sarah during the great infection that transformed much of the population into “Freakers,” beings devoid of reason and extremely aggressive. Throughout the story, Deacon will fight to survive alongside his friend Boozer, also a biker, and several groups of people taking refuge in makeshift camps. He will also have the opportunity to uncover backstories about the epidemic by spying on the investigations of Nero, a government agency tasked with studying the behavior of the Freakers. Adding to the hostility of the game world
are the “Rippers,” a cult of lunatics who interpret the infection as a divine act of purification of the world. They worship the Freakers to the extent of inflicting wounds on themselves to resemble them… In this apocalyptic context, our protagonist wakes up each day hoping to find Sarah, unable to turn the page.
CONSIDERATIONS
Immersive, touching, fun, exhilarating… these are the first adjectives that come to mind when thinking of Days Gone, an enormously underrated game that deserved greater success. A work practically without weaknesses, capable of captivating you throughout its entire duration (at least 35 hours) thanks to a beautifully written plot, a
valuable technical component, and extremely satisfying gameplay. The sense of loneliness and abandonment experienced while riding Deacon St. John’s motorcycle through the streets of Oregon, trying to escape from hordes of Freakers, is devilishly realistic. The characterization of the characters is incredible; all the survivors we encounter have been meticulously crafted. We will become attached to some of them and hate others, but very few will leave us indifferent. The boss fights against the hordes are unforgettable, where Deacon must prevail against hundreds of infected at once… and
don’t imagine the Freakers as the classic shuffling zombies. These enemies run, jump, and climb! This particular aspect of gameplay makes Days Gone a unique product, as such a game dynamic had never been seen before.
IN CONCLUSION
If you love settings like The Walking Dead and want to challenge yourself with a substantial and long-lasting game, you cannot overlook Days Gone. You will likely love its protagonist above all else; he will undoubtedly remain in your heart. The advice for everyone else is to give it a try, because in certain respects, Days Gone is an extraordinary work.
We hope that Sony comes to its senses and eventually gives us a sequel.
