Too busy to devote 12+ hours a day to your gaming habit? Here's a review that's sensitive to your needs: Short and focused on just the things that a busy gamer like you really needs to know.
Reviewed On: Xbox 360.
In a Nutshell: Basically, a paid demo for the upcoming Dead Rising 2 - with benefits. You play new protagonist Chuck, a rugged motocross star trying to reach Fortune City with his zombie-infected daughter. The good news? She'll live (but still look creepy as hell) as long as she gets a shot of Zombrex every 12 hours. The bad news? You're broke down in some Podunk town that doesn't have an open pharmacy. Oh, and it's filled with zombies. Lots and lots of zombies.
You fight timed missions, many of which overlap, to find the Zombrex, arrange a way out of town and kick some ass in creative ways. The developers have included a workbench this time around that allows you to create new and, in some cases, really nifty new weapons. But first, you have to figure out what the magic combos are, through trial and error or by finding or earning cards that describe what to do.
%5B1%5D_3.png "Shooting controls are much improved")
Learning Curve: Dead Rising vets can skip the training and dive into the game - but pay attention, a few things have changed. You'll need to climb up buildings now, and it's up to you to visit the dude who doles out missions. No more annoying phone calls - but if you don't make time to find/visit him, you'll miss out on a lot of opportunities.
People who are new to the franchise are likely to have a frustrating experience until Chuck levels up a bit. You may want to take your first day's walkthrough as a learning experience: Run around, kill zombies, rescue some people for bonus points and ignore the main mission. You'll get the "bad" ending, but you'll also become a stronger, faster Chuck who can kick serious ass when you start the day over - sort of like Groundhog Day with leveling. Dead Rising lets you keep all of your earned advantages - including levels, weapon cards and special moves - when you restart the game even if you don't finish the "day."
The Dead Rising franchise is about finding unusual ways to take out the bad guys. Just about everything is a weapon, some good, some pointless. Run around, try stuff out and don't be afraid to dump things that don't work for you. Guns are rarer than melee, but they are out there - and the shooting controls work pretty well this time.
The Save Game: Improved, but still not ideal. One of the biggest complaints about the original Dead Rising was that you had to find a designated save point - usually a bathroom, but there was also a gym that no one ever found - and you had to save over your single game slot. In other words, make one bad save choice and you were hosed. Case Zero offers three slots, which feels luxurious after suffering with the single slot option for so long. You still have to find a bathroom, but they are plentiful even in the small town. (Tip: There's a save point in the café, by the slot machines. Centrally located, and near where you pick up missions!) It's not save anywhere, anytime, but it's definitely better than it was.
Family Factor: No. Seriously, just no.
Buy or Skip? This is DLC only via Xbox Live Arcade, though there is a demo so you can try before you buy. I'm loving the game, because there are so many different "games" to play (see my tips below for details). This is a pretty good deal for just $5, and a must-buy if you plan to get Dead Rising 2 - you'll be able to enter the game with a Level 5 Chuck, which is a definite advantage in a game genre where repeating sections to level up is par for the course.
On a Personal Note: I'm a huge fan of Dead Rising, and continue to pull it out every few months just to run around and wreak havoc. I've never fully finished the first game - I simply hate that garage! - but for me, it's not about the main mission. It's about the creativity and sheer joy of finding new ways to try to save the world (well, until it blows up in the end because I haven't finished it). So I was extremely excited to hear there were enough zombie-slayin' masochists like me out there to justify a sequel. I'm loving Case Zero, and what I played at PAX Prime indicates there is more fun to be had once we reach Fortune City.
Tips and Tricks: Whether you're a katana-wielding, photo-taking Dead Rising killing machine or brand-new to the franchise, there is a lot to enjoy in Dead Rising 2: Case Zero. Here are some tips for getting the most of your game. In order to level up, you must get down with the sickness, ladies and gentlemen.
Here's how: Make up your own games!
True Dead Rising aficionados know it's not about the main mission - it's about making up mini-games to play. The developers have acknowledged this with several opportunities to go forth and have fun. The downside: your in-game daughter probably won't be too happy at the end (no, this is not a spoiler). But if you can handle it, ignore the main mission and go for the levels. Here are my recommendations:
SPOILER WARNING: Details about the Case Zero environment and map follow below. There are no story spoilers, however.
Explore your world. Finding esoteric items that happen to be lying around town is a huge part of the main storyline - and it won't be as easy as finding a store that sells what you need. By identifying key buildings and mapping your routes (both entry and escape), you'll have a leg up when it comes time to beat the actual game. Plus you'll find all sorts of fun weapons! There are a fair number of doors that are boarded up - ignore them, you aren't getting in. If a door says "Locked," it means you can unlock it - from the inside. Wander around (and possibly, up) and find the other entrance. Unlock as many doors as possible: There is an achievement for this!
While you're exploring your world, keep an eye out for areas rich in your preferred weapons (e.g., firearms vs. melee) and food. Everything regenerates in the game, so a pie on the table now will be there again later. I'd recommend, at minimum, finding the following locations (and how to enter): the Café (includes a save point!), Hunt & Fish shop, Movie Theater, Bowling Alley, Department Store and Quarantine area. There are also some clothing items to be found, so play dress up!
Kill the zombies. You'll feel better. This can easily be combined with your exploration, but consider taking a run in which you do nothing but thin out the population. This will both level you up and also prepare you for combat later when it counts. Once you master the mini-dumpster on wheels, you can thin the crowds quickly and effectively - as long as you don't crash into something solid. Case Zero includes a new workbench feature that allows you to combine certain mundane items into kick-ass weapons. Some are kind of obvious (and lying near your first workbench), others are just... wow. You'll get hints in the form of a weapon card each time you level up to help you figure out combinations. I also saw one combo in a poster that looked innocuous from afar - so take time to look at things. You'll get more PP (level points) when you kill zombies using a combo weapon, so get creative!
Save the idiots. Yes, yes, I know... one of the worst parts of Dead Rising was saving the bimbos who couldn't get two steps without being attacked. Well, good news, everyone! The folks who survived this time around can move - yes, even THAT guy - and are fully capable of making it to the safe house without screaming for help. Just keep pressing Y to yell at them and try to run away from large zombie hordes. They'll be fine. I even had two with zombies wrapped around them when I opened the door, and they followed with no trouble. In fact, trying to defend them too closely could get them to turn on you if you hit them by mistake, so give them some space and let them do their thing. You'll get PP when they join you and massive PP for saving them - Level up, baby! Level up. Oh, and be sure to visit them after they're safe. Some will offer you missions.
Play the mini-games. Okay, these aren't official mini-games, but there are some things you can do in this resort town, including bowling (pins or zombies, your choice...) and gambling (some you win, some you lose). Plus, lots of zombies are just dying to play baseball with you. Batter up! Wow, look at that head fly - it's a homer for sure!
Get rich or die tryin'. You can go the old fashioned, risky way and play slots, or you can just beat the hell out of the slot machines and ATMs. Granted, you'll only get to do this once, but hey - at least you won't lose any cash. There are slots and ATMs all over the city, so you'll still have plenty of chances to gamble if you really wish to do so.
Ah hell, just do the main mission. Yes, eventually, you will want to find out what happens when you do everything right, meet your deadlines and save the day. Maybe you'll just jump right in. But take my strong advice: Get thee to GameFAQs (or another walkthrough) and find a list of where to find the key items. Seriously. I walked by one key item about a dozen times and never noticed it, and it still took jumping on a dumpster and scanning carefully when I knew where it was. That was just cruel. It made me sad. It made me mad.
I took it out my frustration on a zombie.
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