Dead Island 2 transports players to the sun-drenched, zombie-infested streets of HELL-A, where numerous hidden secrets await discovery. Among the various optional side activities scattered across the coastal zones, the Message in a Bottle quest stands out as a highly engaging Lost and Found mission. Successfully navigating this objective requires players to thoroughly investigate specific beach coordinates and track down a series of culinary clues left behind by an arrogant reviewer.
How to Trigger the Quest on Santa Monica Beach
To begin this unique scavenging hunt, players must first gain access to the expansive pier area located within the Santa Monica district. The quest officially triggers when you interact with a physical glass bottle half-buried in the sand near the shoreline. Snatching this item reveals a written note from a pretentious food critic named A. R. Oliver, who claims to have found refuge in a nearby restaurant.
This initial discovery marks the starting point of a multi-stage investigation across the local tourist hotspots. Players should ensure their weapons are fully repaired and upgraded before embarking on this search. The surrounding coast is teeming with aggressive infected variants that will actively disrupt your exploration process.
Locating the Bucket O Fish Restaurant
The first cryptic clue contained within the parchment directs players toward a local fast-food establishment situated nearby. Navigating to the Bucket O Fish requires you to maneuver past several toxic pools and avoid patrolling crushers along the boardwalk. Once inside the dilapidated building, your primary goal is to search the lower staff quarters for the next journal entry.
Fighting your way through the narrow corridors reveals a hidden clipboard resting on a metal table near the back exit. Reading this update confirms that the reviewer fled the scene after the staff refused to accommodate his culinary demands. Collecting this second note automatically updates your quest tracker and unlocks the next physical location on the map.
Searching the Pier Grill for the Third Clue
The paper trail continues toward a prominent outdoor dining facility known as the Pier Grill, situated closer to the amusement park rides. As you approach the entrance, you will encounter a large group of electrified and burning zombies guarding the immediate area. Clearing out these hostile threats allows you to safely investigate the seating arrangements near the main counter.
The next vital piece of evidence lies on a wooden table directly outside the main kitchen area. This update indicates that Oliver moved toward a more secure location after finding the local menu unsatisfactory. Players should take a moment to scavenge the surrounding crates for rare crafting ingredients before heading to the final destination.
The Final Showdown at the Lifeguard Headquarters
The dramatic conclusion of the quest takes place near the heavily fortified lifeguard station located at the far end of the beach. Upon arriving at the designated zone, players will face a formidable named zombie representation of the food critic himself. Defeating this elite enemy requires tactical positioning and the smart deployment of elemental curveballs to bypass his high defense stats.
Once the target is permanently eliminated, he will drop a high-tier weapon reward along with the final completion chest key. Unlocking the nearby container yields a powerful asset to bolster your endgame arsenal against the undead hordes. Completing this lengthy mission adds substantial progression toward securing total completion status across HELL-A.
