This is a critic's option one Dead Rising, A game which despite being one of the best games
on Xbox 360 still has its flaws.
About the Game:
Dead Rising is a game set in Willimete, Colorado. You are Frank West, a photojournalist who
gets a tip that something big is happening out in Willimete. You have three days to survive the
zombies and various pyschopaths in the local shopping mall.
Review:
You start this game with 72 hours to do anything you want (about 6 real time), and as soon
as you start you are instantly pulled directly into the zombie infested gameplay. The main
factor of this game is choice. You don't have to complete the storyline, you don't have to
save survivors, and you don't have to fight pyschopaths. Instead you can flunk the story,
avoid the pyschopaths, and kill all the survivors you want. I have heard a lot of people
complaining that survivors are stupid and don't move when or where you want them to, but I
guess it makes sense. Most of the time you are running between zombies with outstreched
armes, waiting to feed on your flesh, but in real life, would you do that?
In reality, the survivors would fit right in (if there were a zombie apocalypse). For all
those people who think the survivors are pathetic, try remembering that that's how you would
act.
One problem I have with this game is that you aren't actually scared (or even intimidated for that matter).
The zombies don't even pose a threat! I was hoping to feel hunted when I played this game, to feel like I was
being tracked down effortlessly by meat sensing undead. Instead, its more like I was trying
to get lots of the zombie's attention. It all felt kind of pointless to be standing in the
middle of 100 zombies, only to be chased by one or two. Once I completed the 72 hour mode
and started the overtime mode I actually stared to have some real fun. In the overtime mode
I was actually being hunted down by special forces who, at first, were stronger than me. I
felt that rushing adrenaline of being chased at all times, and was actually have a tough
time staying alive. After I had completed Overtime I unlocked Infinite Mode. In infinite mode
instead of needing your help, survivors actually try to kill you, and your life slowly depletes
over time so I needed to get health every now and again. Health items don't respawn either,
so you have to ration them. On another note, you can unlock combos. At first I was eager to try
some of these out, but after trying a few times I gave up.
The controls for this game are pretty
good, but the buttons for the skill combos screw it all up. You have to press the same two
buttons simultaniously for most of the combos, but there is a different one for each side of
the zombie. For example, if I want to pick a zombie up I might accidentally bear hug him from
behind, and fling him backwards. This is not good design. One of the good things about this
game however is that you get rewards for some achievements. Most game just give you 20 gamerpoints
or so, however with dead rising you will receive hidden items along with the achievement.
Another thing is that there isnt a distinction between hard and easy achievements. You will
get 20 gamerpoints for killing 1000 zombies, and then get another 20 gamerpoints for killing 53000.
You would think they would make the harder achievements have more points. Your character is
likeable though and you have a suprising amount of outfit customization. However, there are some outfits
that I would rather rub a cheese grater on my face than wear. There apparantly were trying to appeal to
the female player by letting you wear dresses but I can honestly say that I believe most women
playing this game will be just as sexually confused as me after seeing Frank posing in a dress.
Another factor are the zombie skins. You will only see about 30 different looking zombies in this game
and you will often see 3 or 4 of the same zombies standing next to each other, and to be ironic one of the
skins is a hooker zombie, meaning 1/30 of willimete was hookers.
Well I guess it's time to ask the five questions:
1. Is it fun?
Yes
2. Does it have replayability?
Yes
3. Does it have good controls?
In short, no
4. Does it have Interesting Dialogue?
Yes
5. Is it worth the money?
For $20? Sure
Summurary:
When it comes down to it I'd say rent before you buy. You probably will buy it, but you tend to get bored
waiting around sometimes for new missions and crap so make sure you REALLY want it before you waste your money.
on Xbox 360 still has its flaws.
About the Game:
Dead Rising is a game set in Willimete, Colorado. You are Frank West, a photojournalist who
gets a tip that something big is happening out in Willimete. You have three days to survive the
zombies and various pyschopaths in the local shopping mall.
Review:
You start this game with 72 hours to do anything you want (about 6 real time), and as soon
as you start you are instantly pulled directly into the zombie infested gameplay. The main
factor of this game is choice. You don't have to complete the storyline, you don't have to
save survivors, and you don't have to fight pyschopaths. Instead you can flunk the story,
avoid the pyschopaths, and kill all the survivors you want. I have heard a lot of people
complaining that survivors are stupid and don't move when or where you want them to, but I
guess it makes sense. Most of the time you are running between zombies with outstreched
armes, waiting to feed on your flesh, but in real life, would you do that?
In reality, the survivors would fit right in (if there were a zombie apocalypse). For all
those people who think the survivors are pathetic, try remembering that that's how you would
act.
One problem I have with this game is that you aren't actually scared (or even intimidated for that matter).
The zombies don't even pose a threat! I was hoping to feel hunted when I played this game, to feel like I was
being tracked down effortlessly by meat sensing undead. Instead, its more like I was trying
to get lots of the zombie's attention. It all felt kind of pointless to be standing in the
middle of 100 zombies, only to be chased by one or two. Once I completed the 72 hour mode
and started the overtime mode I actually stared to have some real fun. In the overtime mode
I was actually being hunted down by special forces who, at first, were stronger than me. I
felt that rushing adrenaline of being chased at all times, and was actually have a tough
time staying alive. After I had completed Overtime I unlocked Infinite Mode. In infinite mode
instead of needing your help, survivors actually try to kill you, and your life slowly depletes
over time so I needed to get health every now and again. Health items don't respawn either,
so you have to ration them. On another note, you can unlock combos. At first I was eager to try
some of these out, but after trying a few times I gave up.
The controls for this game are pretty
good, but the buttons for the skill combos screw it all up. You have to press the same two
buttons simultaniously for most of the combos, but there is a different one for each side of
the zombie. For example, if I want to pick a zombie up I might accidentally bear hug him from
behind, and fling him backwards. This is not good design. One of the good things about this
game however is that you get rewards for some achievements. Most game just give you 20 gamerpoints
or so, however with dead rising you will receive hidden items along with the achievement.
Another thing is that there isnt a distinction between hard and easy achievements. You will
get 20 gamerpoints for killing 1000 zombies, and then get another 20 gamerpoints for killing 53000.
You would think they would make the harder achievements have more points. Your character is
likeable though and you have a suprising amount of outfit customization. However, there are some outfits
that I would rather rub a cheese grater on my face than wear. There apparantly were trying to appeal to
the female player by letting you wear dresses but I can honestly say that I believe most women
playing this game will be just as sexually confused as me after seeing Frank posing in a dress.
Another factor are the zombie skins. You will only see about 30 different looking zombies in this game
and you will often see 3 or 4 of the same zombies standing next to each other, and to be ironic one of the
skins is a hooker zombie, meaning 1/30 of willimete was hookers.
Well I guess it's time to ask the five questions:
1. Is it fun?
Yes
2. Does it have replayability?
Yes
3. Does it have good controls?
In short, no
4. Does it have Interesting Dialogue?
Yes
5. Is it worth the money?
For $20? Sure
Summurary:
When it comes down to it I'd say rent before you buy. You probably will buy it, but you tend to get bored
waiting around sometimes for new missions and crap so make sure you REALLY want it before you waste your money.
