New Review Posted: Dead Rising

Daniel Weissenberger · 11-01-2006, 08:59 PM

Hias Wrba reviews Dead Rising, and offers readers a lesson in zombificationism:

"So what exactly is a zombie anyway? A good starting point might be a little historical and etymological context on the species. The word zombie derives from the West-African Nzumbi, an evil spirit and popular character in a rich mythology. The zombie's roots are tied to Voodoo: a Haitian religion which is basically a free-form amalgam of Catholicism and various African beliefs based on the realm of spirits. In its original form, a zombie is a person revived by a priest to serve him. He is an empty shell with neither a soul nor a will of his own. His only purpose lies in fulfilling the tasks that his master gives him. Obviously, a myth which is heavily influenced by the experience of slavery."

Okay, but how's the game?

Mike Bracken · 11-04-2006, 01:29 PM

I still haven't finished Dead Rising...and at this point, I'm starting to doubt I ever will.

It's sad, because a game that essentially allows me to re-enact the entirety of Dawn of the Dead is something I should love--and for the first few hours, I did love Dead Rising--so much so that I was able to overlook the game's numerous flaws (the stupid mission system, the braindead AI of NPCs, the boss fights that were harder than they needed to be because Frank moves like a tank with no treads and aiming is an exercise in futility). However as I progressed I noticed that the game spends more time making me do things that highlight everything's that wrong with the game (the aforementioned missions which invariably involve escorting NPCs) than allowing me to do what I really wanted: explore the mall and slaughter hordes of zombies.

Even when the game does something right (like including the lawnmower as a weapon so I could recreate the climax of Dead Alive) it's far too short because every weapon breaks through repeated use. Then it's right back to the boring missions which are never more than escort quests. If the stupid AI weren't bad enough, the lack of regularly spaced save points is certainly enough to make even a player with the patience of Job rip his hair out in aggravation. There's nothing like spending an hour or so piling up multiple missions only to die or lose your flock of survivors near the end and having to start the entire sequence from square one.

Someone told me the game gets a lot easier once you get past level 15 or so but I never made it. After reaching level 9 I'd had enough. If not for PSU this would probably be the most disappointing game I played this year.

Mike B.

David Stone · 11-04-2006, 01:41 PM

Mike, look into the books. Without spoiling too much, there's a combination that gives you a virtually indestructible mini chain saw, thus allowing you to just play the game. Trust me, it's really fun when you're almost invicible, offensively.

technomancy · 11-04-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

However as I progressed I noticed that the game spends more time making me do things that highlight everything's that wrong with the game (the aforementioned missions which invariably involve escorting NPCs) than allowing me to do what I really wanted: explore the mall and slaughter hordes of zombies.

Who says you have to? If you're trying to do everything in the game in your first play through, you will fail. Period. My first play through, I just explored the mall, tried out various weapons and just, you know, played with it. By the time I was done -- and I escaped -- I was ready to go back and save people and discover what really happens (it's a bit rediculous).

Mike Bracken · 11-04-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by technomancy

Who says you have to? If you're trying to do everything in the game in your first play through, you will fail. Period. My first play through, I just explored the mall, tried out various weapons and just, you know, played with it. By the time I was done -- and I escaped -- I was ready to go back and save people and discover what really happens (it's a bit rediculous).

The problem is that I don't want to play through most games twice--god knows I have enough stuff to play to last me a lifetime without running through a game with horribly flawed mechanics twice.

This book thing sounds interesting though--I'll have to see if I can get it.

Mike B.

GC_Hias · 11-05-2006, 05:59 AM

Hi Mike,

don't give up! I would suggest that you just start a sort of a trial round. Think of it as an expanded tutorial. Run around the mall do all the stuff you want to. Find out where the important items are. Especially the books Bass mentioned. There are also Health upgrade books which come in very handy. Just don't bother with any of the missions.

When you feel you did enough and are maybe around level 15 just start the game over and do the case files. If the AI bothers you avoid the side quests. Just doing the case files still leaves enough time for free-roaming carnage. The 72 hours of game time equal 6 hours of real time (+ a little extra but i'm not gonna spoil that). So once you are familiar with the mall and properly leveled you can pretty much blast through story mode in one or two evenings.

If some of the boss fights bother you: change your strategy or, in one or two cases (keyword: convicts, they can be a huge pain in the ass, i think) just run away.

cheers,
Hias

David Stone · 11-05-2006, 08:39 AM

Also, once you've got the right combo of books with the mini-chainsaws, many bosses become cakewalks. For the ones you have to nail from a distance, I can't tell you how valuable loading up on shotguns is. If you don't have the mini-chainsaws yet, pick up the katana for temporary ass-kicking action.

Also, mix two milks in a blender to make some quickstep. It'll make Frank far less cumbersome.

Finally, in terms of basic health items, stock up on either orange juice or wine (wine is preferable, and plentiful in the supermarket in the north plaza). Your inventory should be at least 25-33% health items.

I really adored Dead Rising - it's one of the few games I've actually played completely through to completion. It does take some getting used to, and you have to obey its rules. But it's well worth the effort.

Mike Bracken · 11-06-2006, 12:00 AM

Ok, you guys have convinced me to give it another go-round. I still don't like the fact that the game seems so user-unfriendly from the outset, but I'll be damned if a game that sends you running through a mall full of zombies isn't something that seems tailor-made for me.

Mike B.