Is it supposed to be this close? (Dead Rising question)

So, this is my first time playing Dead Rising (and I am not going for a pre-leveled playthrough either, I started from level 1 and plan to play the game from start to finish that way, unless I find it to be impossible), and let me tell you, for a game that I thought would offer a small amount of structure, this game really keeps you on the clock. For instance, the 2-3 case, Medicine Run, I seriously DID NOT think I was going to make it, and I only made it by seconds as is. The timeline's are REALLY strict, and I am finding it nearly impossible to keep up with some of them. Not to say that they are absolutely impossible, just very difficult.

So, is it supposed to be like this, or am I doing something wrong here?

Best thing to know about Dead Rising is you can't do everything on one playthrough especially on a low level, just do the missions you think are possible to complete.xxmatt125xx

It's easily possibly to do everything on one playthrough, especially at a higher level. I played the first XBLA game and got to level 5 then played some co-op, I started my game at level 7 and I was able to do everything. I did miss a few of the survivors but that was only because they were ones I had to find at a certain time, if I knew where they were or was given a mission I could have done it all and got the S ending (which apparently isn't the true ending based on Case West which uses A).

you're not supposed to be able to complete every mission the first time you play. the game is designed to be impossible to do that unless you're character is Level 50 and you know what to anticipate.

i think people trash the game because they're expecting to do a perfect run, and then get frustrated that they can't finish all the side-missions the very first time they play the game.

it's an old-school game. it requires plenty of play-thrus and prior knowledge. i think gamers now days have been accustomed to games making things easy for them that they simply don't understand what type of game Dead Rising is.

unless you're character is Level 50