Summary
Dead Islandis a zombie-slaying FPS RPG series with a long and storied history. The 2011 original arrived on the scene at a time when zombie-centric titles could be said to have been at the height of their popularity, though they still remain fashionable today. With its exotic island setting and crunchy combat,Dead Islandis generally regarded as one of thebest open-world zombie games, selling 5 million copies in two years, and garnering a sequel that was supposed to release much sooner than it ended up doing.
Dead Island 2was announced in 2014. However, it experienced multiple delays and changed hands between developers until Dambuster Studios finally shipped it in 2023.DI2was an even bigger success story, moving 2 million units in its first month alone. Across the franchise, the character of Sam B has become something of a mascot, featuring first as a playable protagonist and then an important NPC. With the events of the story as is, andDI2’s Jacob seemingly set up to be Sam’s successor, it seems natural for a third entry to officially have him carry on Sam’s role.
Sam B was voiced inDI1by comedian and actor Phil LaMarr, well-known for over 200 parts in games and animation. Cavin Cornwall, who has appeared in a number ofStar Warsprojects, portrayed the character inDI2.
Sam B’s background was a rapper whose jokey one-hit wonder “Who Do You Voodoo?” made him a global celebrity, although his popularity afterward waned, and he wound up performing on less glamorous platforms by the time ofDead Island, where he finds himself in the middle of thevirus outbreak on Banoi island. Sam was the unofficial mascot for the series early on, as his charismatic and comedic demeanor combined with his gung-ho approach made him instantly likable if not entirely relatable.
After surviving Banoi,Sam B was a key NPC inDead Island 2, integral to the plot and providing mechanical tutorials. He returned to the city of “Hell-A” to rescue his former flame, A-list star Emma Jaunt, encountering and assisting the player during the course of the story. By the end, Sam reveals the player’s immunity, and receives a dose of the cure from them. However, things aren’t all well, as Sam has been infected with a new version of the virus, and as he succinctly puts it, “this s–t is different.” Sam and Emma escape on a chopper, while the player stays behind to help other survivors, leaving their fates somewhat uncertain.
Although not an artist,Dead Island 2’s Jacobdoes fancy himself a bit of a rock star like Sam B, with a swagger and wit that are on par with Sam’s. An important plot point is the virus has a small chance of mutating certain people, granting them superhuman powers and representing the “next step in humanity’s evolution.” If Jacob turns into one of these “Numen,” it would provide the perfect avenue for him to return in a similar guiding position like Sam.
WhileDead Island 3is not confirmed, with Jacob being essentially the new face of the franchise (at least in the official art), he is in a great spot to take up Sam B’s mantle. Given his immunity and the cliffhanger, he could easily return to fulfill the part Sam played inDI2.Even if, as is likely, there’s an entirely new playable cast, having Jacob appear to serve the same role as Sam would create good connective tissue. It would give fans a chance to spend more time with him, see what he’s been up to, and also possibly resolve the open plot thread while leading into the next chapter of the story.
