Trailer Check: Dishonored’s artful prequel, Dead Island continues to bring it

Trailer Check: Dishonored’s artful prequel, Dead Island continues to bring it

We don’t post every single video sent to us by the fine PR folks of the gaming industry. That’s just not our thang. However, we do try to highlight the ones that take promotion of a video game to a completely new level. In Trailer Check, you’ll find some of our favorite video game trailers that pop up around the web, and why we love them.

Dishonored: The Tales from the Dunwall, Part 1

Dishonored is one of our most anticipated games this year, thanks to a bonkers showing at E3. This CGI short, titled “The Tales from the Dunwall” and divided into three webisodes, explores the world of Dishonored. This first episode takes a shady look at how some of the supernatural elements came to be. It tells the story of a man named Roseburrow who, down on his luck, came across “something” that changed his fortunes.

The clip is incredibly animated, reminding me of the old Liquid Television frame-by-frame hand-rendered videos. Throw in a few CG backgrounds, and a moody score by Dexter‘s Daniel Licht, and the short bleeds graphic novel emotion and modern tech. I can’t wait for episodes 2 & 3.

Dead Island Riptide’s CGI trailer

The first Dead Island had a memorable — albeit misleading to some — trailer that depicted emotion that wasn’t quite found in the actual game. The trailer for the pseudo-sequel Dead Island Riptide does more of the same, but is being used to convey the backdrop of the world that the game is set it.

“Loss of hope” is the key message here, with the theme displayed in yet another emotionally-gripping short. In it a couple is shown vacationing on a boat one minute, replete with Summery, relaxing island travel music, and surrounded by zombies the next. Their boat has run aground and they’re surely going to die, with only some gas canisters and a lighter to get them through. They look into each others eyes, whisper “I love you,” and… well, watch the clip.

Buy from Amazon: Dishonored | Dead Island Riptide