Dead Rising proves itself to be a cut above all others when it comes to zombie mayhem. The title sports some wonderful technical features, great gameplay that doesn't really get old, and a B-movie storyline. If you've ever seen Dawn of the Dead, the game may seem a bit familiar.
You are Frank West, a freelance photojournalist who gets a tip about a big story in the town of Willamette, Colorado. He is dropped off at the Willamette Parkview Mall, with three days to go get his story. It doesn't take long for the horror to be revealed. Thousands upon thousands of zombies lay siege to the mall, wandering aimlessly and eating body parts, the usual zombie sthick. The bulk of the story follows Frank's interactions with two Department of Homeland Security agents assigned to handle the problem.
In a game like this, however, the story takes a clear backseat to the gameplay, which proves itself to be some of the most entertaining on the 360. It really is just like the commercial says, you can pick up anything and everything and use it as a weapon in your fight for survival. Favorites of mine include the sledgehammer, small chainsaw and katana, but more mundane objects do the job just as well. 2x4s and lead pipes are all over the place. Zombified cops still carry thier guns and nightsticks, and other zombies carry knives. The stores in the mall yield some good weapons. You'll feel like a child on Christmas when you enter a hardware store and feast your eyes on the vast array of usable items.
Sound is fine in Dead Rising. Music is scarce, but the weapons all sound awesome. Lead pipes make just the right 'clink' when they hit a zombie skull, and knives make a very satisfying slicing sound. Everything sounds pretty much like you would expect it to sound. Graphically, its solidly middle of the road. That is, until you consider the number of enemies on screen at once. You can literally have as many as FIVE HUNDRED zombies on screen at the same time with almost no slowdown. The only time a noticable chug happens is when numerous bloody deaths all happen at the same time (ex. a wide sledgehammer swing at a crowd of zombies).
Flaws are few in Dead Rising. The save system has drawn the ire of many a reviewer, but I see no problem with it. It adds to the survival aspect of the game. Will you be able to stay alive long enough to get to the next save point? It's not like there's not enough save points. As soon as you pull up the map you find one in almost every area of the mall, usually less than a minute out of your way. It's only an occasional bother. My only other complaint is at the lack of time you get to do everything in a single playthrough. Then again, Dead Rising is designed for multiple playthroughs.
Overall, Dead Rising makes for a unique gaming experience. A solid 9/10, and one of the best titles on the console.
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