For a launch title on Xbox 360, Dead Rising can still keep up with some of the current releases today.
STORY:
The basis of the story is that you are a photo journalist, Frank West, investigating Willamette Mall in Colorado. Of course it is overrun with zombies, but the answers as of why are a mystery to you. Throughout the game, Frank has to solve the cases in a chronological order to get the true story about the cause of zombies. The player has 72 hours (about 15 real-time minutes equals 1 in-game hour) to complete all the cases in the mall. The player does have the freedom to ignore the cases and scoops, but then the facts will disappear forever. Dead Rising has multiple endings depending on how you decide to play the game out which is a nice touch to the game. Although I am not a huge fan of games with time limits, dead rising is an exception and when starting a new game, Frank still keeps all his Levels and Skills from a previously played game.
GAME PLAY:
Killing thousands of zombies is always good fun, and to have the freedom of almost everything in all mall, it lets the player get very creative with their killing. Most of the controls are pretty easy to pick up and play, but using some of Frank's skills can be a little tricky to get down, or just plain awkward to use. (e.x. dodge rolling by tapping the L stick twice in a certain direction.) The game does have a very nice level of challenge that doesn't make the game too easy, but doesn't leave it impossible at the same time. Boss battles are intense and sometimes you have to be smart about what you bring into the boss battles. I also thought it was a nice touch to have a bunch of psychopaths throughout the mall as well. Not only were they creepy and humorous but they added a new challenge for Frank to face.
Although Dead Rising may look like just a hack n' slash, it also shares an RPG element I was quite fond of. As you kill zombies, Frank gets PP which eventually levels him up allowing him to get increased stats or learn new skills. Frank can also use his camera to take pictures throughout the game, and each photo he takes is quickly graded and scored giving Frank PP.
Dead Rising also has a lot of little secrets and it feels like there is always something to explore in the mall. Another nice touch to the game is the fact that some achievements grants the player unlockable weapons, costumes, etc, giving the player incentive to complete certain tasks or get certain achievements.
SOUND:
The sound effects in Dead Rising are satisfying, bloody, and simply very well put together. The games music is a nice touch from casual mall music to some more tense and serious music. I didn't find the voice actors to be very annoying or over dramatic, etc. In other words, the sound is top-notch.
MINOR SETBACKS:
Dead Rising does have an awkward save system, and some of the escort missions can get a tad tedious (although they are optional). One of my bigger complaints is the small font throughout the game. If you own a bigger TV this shouldn't be much of a problem, but for people like me who owns an older and smaller TV, reading the text can become a little problematic at times.
VERDICT:
Although Dead Rising has a few minor setbacks, it was and is a great launch game, and is worth picking up. (especially that it's about 20 dollars or less now). It will offer many hours of gory and entertaining action, and alternative unlockable game modes will give more reason to go back for more.