"Dead Rising" was an early example of what the then-new Xbox 360 hardware could do. Running through vast crowds of zombies in a mall was wish fulfillment for a generation of people raised on George Romero movies, and slaughtering them wholesale with improvised weaponry was blood-red icing on the cake. A finicky save-game system and terrible AI created two outspoken camps those who couldn't stand the game, and an equally vocal group of apologists.
For the sequel, Blue Castle Games and Capcom took a long look at the first game and addressed nearly all of its major annoyances. The end result is one of the most enjoyable games I've played this year.
Former motocross champ Chuck Greene is a likable guy, which makes his plight all the more engaging. His wife was killed in a zombie attack in Las Vegas the same attack that left his daughter Katey infected with the deadly virus. To get doses of the expensive Zombrex drug, which keeps her infection in check, Chuck has had to do some unsavory things. That path has led him to Fortune City, Nev., where he hopes to cash in on the gruesome show "Terror Is Reality."
The most dramatic improvement is in the way that players interact with other survivors. Non-player characters follow Chuck at the press of a button, and they can be guided to a specific place by adding a trigger pull. I never felt comfortable having the AI shadowing me in the first game, but there were points in "Dead Rising 2" when I was bummed to say goodbye to them.
Chuck can combine specific objects at special stations to create super weapons. If you think a fire axe and sledgehammer are effective against zombie skulls, you'll be impressed with what they can do when they're duct-taped together.
As in the first "Dead Rising," the zombie attacks completely derail some folks who were probably a bit unhinged to begin with. They're not undead, but they're no less deadly. Some are gross and silly, like a memorable run-in with a cannibal chef, though other encounters have a poignancy one might not expect from a game about killing zombies.
The sequel features save-game slots, so it's not as easy to paint yourself into a zombie-infested corner, though time is still the ultimate enemy in "Dead Rising 2."
It's still possible to claw your way into an exceptionally difficult position. The game is designed with replayability in mind, as character progression carries over between playthroughs. If you try to beat the game straight from beginning to end, it's going to be tough, even with a co-op buddy. Instead, I found the optimal way is to join a friend's game and help them progress a while before starting your own game. That way, you'll begin with a more experienced Chuck who can carry more items, has more health, and knows a few fighting moves.
