The Dying Light "The Following" DLC released last week and the feature that impresses most players is the ability to drive dirt buggies and run down zombies in the new outback area of the game.
However, those dirt buggies are also customizable, meaning that players can modify everything from the buggy's color to its engine type, while also adding decorative bobbleheads that sit on the buggy's dashboard. Even better? You can also weaponize the vehicle.
So how exactly does buggy customization work? Here's a quick guide:
Fueling And Maintenance
The base buggy that you get in "The Following" has pretty standard Level 1 equipment. One thing that players will notice right away, though, is that the vehicle runs out of fuel the more you use it. However, it's easy to refill: If you have extra fuel, exit the buggy and approach it from behind, and an option appears that allows you top off your tank.
But where does that fuel come from? This is the zombie apocalypse and most gas stations are no longer in service, so the only fuel available is what's sitting unused in the tanks of abandoned cars and trucks. To stock up on fuel, it's best to stop at each abandoned vehicle (killing any zombies that get in the way) and check it for gas: some are empty, but others have enough fuel to keep your buggy running.
Players will also notice that once you've run down a lot of zombies, the buggy needs ongoing maintenance. This means that you'll need screws, and a lot of them: they are found by wandering through the outback, although it's a lot easier to buy them from vendors. If you have enough screws handy, though, just exit the vehicle and walk to its front: options appear to upgrade and repair the vehicle. Choose Modify, which opens a window that shows what needs repairing and lets you either repair everything all at once or just certain parts.
Modifying The Buggy
The Modify menu also allows you to start upgrading your buggy with new components. For example, players can replace their Level 1 engines with a Level 2 engine. Blueprints for new parts are found throughout the outback, although some vendors also carry those upgrades and blueprints, too. You will need all the necessary components to build an upgrade, but once created, it's as easy as choosing which part you want to upgrade in the Modify menu: a second window comes up with what's currently available, then just choose the upgrade to replace the old part and it's done.
You can also find additional blueprints, upgrades and equipment throughout the game that lets you make a weaponized buggy that's faster and better at killing the undead. For example, you can attach a flamethrower or ramming bar, items sure to help in plowing through a group of zombies. There's also an electric cage that zaps those pesky zombies that jump on the vehicle.
If you plan on doing any night driving, adding UV headlights is a must, but definitely keep the weapons, too, because you earn more skill points for running over and killing zombies in the dark.
Customizing The Buggy
What's a tricked-out buggy without a custom paint job? There are a variety of paints you can acquire through the game, but you'll have to hunt for many of them. Of course, there are the standard colors that you get early on, including blue, green, red and yellow. But other colors are found by wandering around, such as zebra (near Jasir's farmhouse in a gas station on a shelf), black widow (in a cemetery in the southeast of the Countryside), rally prism (inside a hunting tower, south of Jasir's farmhouse), cherry bomb (in an abandoned rail car southeast of Jasir's farmhouse) and cultist (south of Jasir's farmhouse, near the water).
However, you can also get bobbleheads to put on the buggy's dashboard to keep you entertained while driving. You can acquire some of these by completing missions, but others are found by searching various areas of the outback.
"The Following" DLC for Dying Light is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Photos: Techland
