First I heard of this game I was like, "Yeah, so..." *shrug*
But the most recent Gamespot preview (http://tinyurl.com/f75nn) may have changed my mind. While it still appears to be rather mindless fun, I was surprised at the variety of action shown in the trailer as well as described in the article. While it might better relegated to a rental first or a wait for a price drop at retail, I was surprised that it interested me at all.
Anyone else had an eye on this so far?
Update: Well, 1UP.com has a less rosy look for their preview so I'll just climb back up on the fence and remind myself that this game launches around the same time as Madden
I'm psyched about this game. It seems like a lot more than just mindless fun. Multiple endings, freedom to do just about whatever you want, very interactive environments and 100's of zombies on screen at once. Can't wait to get my hands on it. I have a mild interest in the zombie movie genre and this game looks like it really does it justice. You really have to read the previews to get an idea of how much you can do in the game. A few screen shots won't tell you anything.
Update: Well, 1UP.com has a less rosy look for their preview so I'll just climb back up on the fence and remind myself that this game launches around the same time as Madden Razz
I read the review and it seemed very positive to me. Their only complaint were the load times. Was it a different preview you read?
Last edited by LAking on Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Be tolerant of those who describe a sporting moment as their best ever. We do not lack imagination, nor have we had sad and barren lives; it is just that real life is paler, duller, and contains less potential for unexpected delirium." -Nick Hornby
I wrote:Update: Well, 1UP.com has a less rosy look for their preview so I'll just climb back up on the fence and remind myself that this game launches around the same time as Madden Razz
I read the review and it seemed very positive to me. Their only complaint were the load times. Was it a different preview you read?
Hmmm. Perhaps I got the tone wrong but it did seem they were a bit cynical regarding AI (see "bull human") and the protgaonist's use of spitting as a weapon. Lastly, was the comment about the load time.
However, I missed the line almost immediately following:
"Right now [the cutscenes are] the only thing getting in the way of a bloody swath of pure, unadulterated awesome."
So yeah, I feel a bit better about it on a re-read.
AJColossal wrote:Hopefully it's not too mindless, a la State of Emergency.
Now plunking down my money on *that* piece of drivel is more chilling than any zombie movie I've seen
Obviously a lot of info as well as a demo has been released on this game and I must say I am back off the fence and will pick it up.
Willamette news feature <- I noticed this viral video campaign for the game and thought some of you might find it interesting. It is a fictional news report on the zombie plague and it advertises a companion website www.swarmwatch.com
The video is live-action, no game footage, and is a little more than 6 minutes long.
I am trying my best to avoid the spoilers, reviews et al. I am looking forward to going around the open environment and "try" different ways to tell the zombies I think they are bad bad bad.
I have a HD AND a mem card so I am still picking this up for my kid who wants it in the worst way.
But those of you with just an HD may want this heads up.
GS review..................
"The real-time structuring of Dead Rising has its unique qualities, but it doesn't always work particularly well. Specifically, the mission structure and the game's rather punishing save system simply don't get along with one another. Save points are scattered in a few specific spots throughout the mall, and you only get one save per storage device on the Xbox 360. Considering most people probably only have one storage device, that means one save for the whole game. The inherent problem with this is that because the game revolves so heavily on a rigid schedule for the case files, if you save yourself into a corner where you can't feasibly get to that next case file in time, you're screwed. All the case files are connected, and if you fail to get to one on time, the trail goes cold and you're unable to pick up any of the other story missions.
Interestingly enough, if this nightmare scenario happens, you can opt to save the game with Frank's current level and abilities intact and start the whole story over (which you'll basically have to do if you find yourself in this position anyway).
By nature, having to be places on time is not an inherently fun thing. It's especially frustrating when the penalty for not being somewhere on time is the whole story mode ending and you having to start over from hopefully a close enough spot to eventually make it."
Last edited by Boltman on Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I managed to pick it up on the way home from work yesterday, and dug into it just a bit last night. It's considerably more involved and a bit harder than the demo may have led me to believe. You're constantly getting notifications about different side missions, people stuck in the mall, etc., and it's just impossible to get to all of them. You really have to make choices, which speaks well for multple playthroughs. The save system is definitely unique, but they seem to give you a good amount of time to tackle the main case files. The only way I can see falling into the situtation described in that review where you miss the case file and can't progress is if you just can't resist taking on every side mission and time gets away from you.
The game gets downright creepy when you're in the mall at night. Early on, there's an encounter in the park at the mall's center with some escaped convicts commandeering a jeep that gives off a bit of that creepy vibe that the bikers did in the original Dawn of the Dead, or even that rogue army unit in 28 Days Later.
I thought my girlfriend might take a shine to this game, but she seemed a little disturbed when I ran over a line of zombies with the lawnmower.
This game is an absolute blast. The missions and the pacing of the game really add the urgency common in zombie movies, much more than the demo. The only thing you do have to watch out for is the clunky save system. Be sure to save after every completed mission, and DON'T override your save after you die unless you want to start the whole game over. (I already did that once )
The 'psychopath' missions are a blast, at least so far, and while I understand they probably will get boring, the escort missions actually do make the zombies somewhat of a threat. You can't go swinging your weapons wildly, either, or else you can kill the people you are trying to protect. I smashed some poor woman's head in with the sledgehammer.
TCrouch wrote:Against my better judgment, I picked it up. I'll be toying around with it in a couple hours.
"Against my better judgment" is a perfect way to describe the urge i have to pick this game up at fry's on the way home from work. I've told myself i'll just have to wait until i can get it cheaper on ebay but it's so hard to resist. The demo and the way people are describing the full version are making it sooooo hard to resist. I've had so many expenses pop up recently. I need to save but the zombies are groaning my name.
"Be tolerant of those who describe a sporting moment as their best ever. We do not lack imagination, nor have we had sad and barren lives; it is just that real life is paler, duller, and contains less potential for unexpected delirium." -Nick Hornby
I hope to get it. I don't get EB & gamestop anymore, no pre-order no copies. Meanwhile Best buy has it on their shelves, apparently EB doesn't want my business anymore.
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Hello Best Buy pricematch.
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