Zombies in a ‘Dead Island’ Vacation

Zombie stories never have happy endings. So when the heroes of 2011’s “Dead Island” made it out alive, you knew there had to be a catch.

The catch is that any video game that isn’t a complete flop gets a follow-up these days. And as “Dead Island Riptide” (Deep Silver, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $49.99; PC, $39.99) begins, the zombie virus has infected the ship that rescued the survivors — and they soon wash up on another undead-infested tropical paradise, called Palanai.

So it’s time for the old gang — Rapper Sam B, hotel clerk Xian, ex-cop Purna and jock Logan, along with a newbie, a Navy cook named John — to sharpen their machetes and get back to work. You can play as any one of the quintet, and you can team up with friends online to try to even the odds against the ravenous hordes.

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