Safe Bet- Dead Rising 2: Case Zero Review

By offering gamers a playground filled with zombie antagonists along with an arsenal of unlikely weapons, the original Dead Rising became a surprise hit during the otherwise lifeless summer of 2006. With the sequel still a few months away, Capcom has taken the unexpected approach by offering a prequel in hopes of rousing the interest of prospective purchasers. It will be fascinating to see if this approach is successful, as Dead Rising 2: Case Zero mends an many series flaws as it inexplicably disregards.

Set in a diminutive hamlet on the outskirts of Las Vegas, the title allows gamers to step into the boots of the series’ new protagonist- Chuck Greene. As a motocross star, dotting father, and engineering savant, our hero is remarkably more interesting  than Frank West; at the very least his paternal instincts make for a stronger narrative impetus. Greene’s half-day scenario requires him to find a temporary antidote for his pre-zombescent daughter along with five motorcycle parts, so the duo can flee the rapidly deteriorating town. As with Dead Rising, gamers are encouraged to accompany any still-human survivors to a safe-house; doing so rewards players with currency and experience points.

One of the most gratifying elements of the original game was an impressive set of makeshift weaponry. From flinging slacks of porcelain plates like giant throwing stars to using mannequin legs as bludgeoning bats, Dead Rising was elevated by an imaginative and wide-ranging arsenal. With Case Zero, players are encouraged to combine two everyday items to form distinctive death-dealing instruments . A trio of drills and a bucket becomes a cerebral-boring shroud, which delivers an darkly comic animation when placed on the heads of the undead. Sadly, there’s a strict limit to the variety of MacGyver-esque killing apparatus which can be fabricated.

Whereas the original title’s save system confounded players, Case Zero makes a few convenient concessions. Death still offers the ability to replay the game without losing any of your experience points, but now players can reload from one of three save slots. Although the intelligence of game’s NPCs would seem to disprove Darwinism, Case Zero‘s hordes generally focus on the player, alleviating much of the frustration found in the game’s ubiquitous escort missions. Generally, the game’s nominal text-based dialog offered little incentive to save the living. This was exacerbated by the languid delivery on each conversation- don’t these dolts know I have a daughter to save?

Sadly, a number of small tribulations damper the gratification of clubbing, stabbing and maiming a township of zombies. Frequent and extended load times have a tendency to whittle away the game’s sense of urgency. Without any kind of targeting, it’s often difficult to clear an undead mob without accidentally striking a fellow human. With the title’s platforming requirement is mercifully low, climbing feels consistently clunky; players can expect a healthy amount of missed jumps.

With a reasonable, 400 Microsoft Point purchase price, and the ability to take your experience, unlocked clothing, and zombie-killing contraptions into Dead Rising 2, Case Zero is a safe investment for the undead aficionado. Capcom’s decision to offer players a low-cost, self-contained mini-adventure instead of the typical demo was a bold move; it’s slightly disappointing that a similar amount of courage wasn’t shown by altering some of the game’s musty mechanics.