Game Review: Dead Rising

If Dead Rising were a movie, I'd never watch it. To my knowledge, the movie it bears closest resemblance to is 28 Days Later. The game puts you in the role of Frank West, a journalist who gets a scoop that something big is going down in the small town of Willamette. He flies in on a helicopter to see that all roads into the town are blocked off, and there are fires and chaos everywhere. His pilot drops him off on the roof of the mall and tells him he'll be back to pick him up in 72 hours.

You rock, Willamette! Thank you and goodnight!

Frank shortly learns that the mall has been overrun with werewolves. No wait, zombies. Yeah, zombies. Frank has 72 hours to learn the truth and get the hell out of the mall without dying or becoming zombified. There are also survivors around the mall that you can find and escort back the security room as well as human psychopaths. After all, where there is chaos and no law, you'll see the worst sides of human nature from many people. Frank's job is to find out the truth behind the zombie invasion, and take lots of photos along the way. Taking good photos gets you XP, and thankfully Frank levels up and gets considerably stronger along the way.

The game is an absolutely gory bloodbath, and if you were to watch one play you'd think it mindless, but it's far from it. Yes, you're surrounded by zombies shambling after you and they cover damn near every square foot of the mall. Yes, you smash the fuck out of them with any and everything you can get your hands on: benches, trash cans, cds, golf clubs etc. Not to mention the fun to be had when you find the gun shop and the hardware store. But you can't get caught up in the nutsness of the constant chaos and destruction, because you're kept on a tight schedule. Apart from needing to be on the roof at the 72 hour deadline, there are plotlines unfolding along the way, and if you screw up or are late to be somewhere, you'll see the "The Truth has Vanished into Darkness" screen and BAM - game over. Reload from your last save please. From your only save, as Dead Rising only gives you one save slot. I mean, shit!

Don't ya want your balloon?!

Graphically, Dead Rising is a gorgeous, very detailed game. This game comes as close to realistically emulating the human face as any game I've ever seen. The stores are full of merchandise, the mall is laid out in a realistic and logical manner. You can pick up various outfits for Frank in the clothing shops, (including some dresses for all you cross dressers out there) swing by the food court to replenish some lost health, or grab that battle axe from the antique shop in the Entrance Plaza (sure, it's only a replica....) You'll encounter mini-bosses referred to as psycopaths in the game such as a chainsaw-wielding clown, a religious zealot sacrificing people (it's the apocalypse, kids!) and a crazed grocery store manager looking to mow down anyone who comes through the door.

Rated E for Everyone!

In short, Dead Rising is nuts, but it keeps its nuts in a very tightly controlled environment. And it's hard, and I do mean hard (insert your own pun here.) Likewise the achievements are difficult to get, and Dead Rising can at times cross that Final Fantasy line between fun and work. It's a maddening, paradoxical game. And a good fun game. It'd just be nice to not have to race the clock all the time.

Oh yeah. Don't try to play this game on a SD TV. Fuck you, Capcom.

3 wombats out of 4.