When Dying Light was released in 2015, one of the most intriguing (and terrifying) creations to come out of it was the Volatile. This massively mutated and ferocious enemy only came out at night and hunted you to no end as you leapt and launched yourself across the rooftops of Harran.
Recently, Techland started sharing early concept art of the Volatile enemy, and while the first one revealed was badass, the most recent creation made my skin itch.
Volatile By Name and Nature
The Volatile is not an enemy to be trifled with. It’s the toughest enemy in the Dying Light series, and running into one in an early-game scenario is guaranteed to spell death. They add an extra streak of spice to exploring the open-world environments of both the first and second game at night, as you never know when one will spot you from across the next rooftop or down a dark alley.
On April 24, Techland shared an image of a Volatile concept that was nothing short of phenomenal. Instead of the creature we all know, this concept revealed a Volatile seemingly made of rock or extremely hardened tissue. It was striped all over with blood-red details, and the humanoid face was twisted into a vicious snarl.
Badass, as I said.
Ever wondered what Volatiles could look like? This is one of the early concepts. How do you like it? 😏 #tbt
Then, along comes Volatile Concept #2.
Yesterday, the team at Techland revealed another design for the Volatile that would have been drawn up more than a decade ago. This variant chilled me, boasting a grey-skinned, hairless body, a gaunt, skeleton-like face, and dark red pustules all over his skin.
There’s something about all those circular, bulging cysts and nodules that made my skin crawl. The first concept had a look of violence on his face, but this second design just stares out of the page with no emotion.
And the claws – the massive claws.
How about this version of a Volatile? 🤔 #tbt
What we were ultimately given as a Volatile fits the bill perfectly and is one of the most iconic enemies from the series, so I’m happy with that. I prefer what we have to one of these creepy, disturbing creations.
The Dying Light series is set to continue this summer with Dying Light: The Beast, a standalone expansion that sees Kyle Crane return to the protagonist slot.
Do you wish we’d received one of these conceptual Volatiles in Dying Light? Let me know on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Titan Quest II has been delayed
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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