"Dead Rising 2" is uncannily similar to its zombie-filled predecessor. The same zany sense of humor, the same campaign structure, the same use-anything-within-reach-against-the-zombie-hordes combat. There are obviously new features to discuss (co-op, combo weapons and a much swankier graphics engine), but the core of the game is relatively untouched. In this preview, I'll be breaking down the old and the new and how they collide.
The Old
Campaign Structure
Just like in the first game, you're given a set amount of time in "Dead Rising 2" wherein you have to survive. In this case, the hero of "DR 2" is blamed for the latest zombie outbreak and he has to use that time to prove his innocence. Story missions can still only be done at set periods of time, and if you miss one, the rest of them cannot be completed on that playthrough.
Random Survivors
Of course, even if you don't have the story missions to keep you busy, there's still plenty to do in the Vegas-style Fortune City. You can still rescue survivors and bring them back to the safe room for a big experience boost. This works exactly like it did in the first "Dead Rising," but it seems like there are a few more curveballs thrown in for the survivors. For example, one of the survivors you have to rescue has already been bitten by a zombie, and in order to save him, you have to give him some Zombrex, a rare and expensive medicine which plays heavily into the main campaign. If you're got the Zombrex to spare, you'll still have to help him back to the safe room by offering a shoulder for him to lean on, making you a prime target for attackers. Survivor requirements get more complex as the game goes along, so don't expect each one to be a simple dash and grab.
Save System
This is likely to irk some people, but the save system is basically the same as it was in the first "Dead Rising." There are no checkpoints or autosaves. The only way to save is to hit up a bathroom. There is one minor change for the better, though. Players are now given 3 save slots instead of just one, which should save some of the headaches people felt from the first game.
The New
Co-Op And Adversarial Multiplayer
The most obvious new additions are co-op throughout the entire campaign and adversarial multiplayer in the form of wacky game show-esque modes. I wasn't able to test out either of these in the build I was working off of, but you can sort of extrapolate what co-op would be like in typical "Dead Rising" gameplay. When I tested it a few months back, it worked great on a series of networked consoles. Hopefully it works just as smoothly over Xbox Live and PSN.
The Zombie Population
I didn't really realize how much better "Dead Rising 2" looks until I went back and played the first game again. Sorry to say that in the last several years, "Dead Rising" looks very much like a first or second generation Xbox title. In my memory, Willamette Mall was packed with crowds of zombies. Truthfully it's more like clumps here and there.
Fortune City, on the other hand, is jam-packed with zombies. Gambler zombies, police zombies, cocktail waitress zombies, you name it. Massive, massive grounds. How massive? To give you an idea, I took a cruise down The Strip in the game's Hummer-like SUV and within 5 minutes I had amassed 1000 kills. Just take that in for a moment. 1000 kills. You probably didn't come close to killing that many guys in "Halo 3" and here you're doing it in 5 minutes. It's nothing short of delightful.
Combo Weapons
I know everyone was bummed about the loss of the camera in "Dead Rising 2," but Chuck's new ability to make combo weapons totally trumps it. The wacky things the developers came up with will blow your mind. Chainsaws on kayak paddles, teddy bear automatic turrets, makeshift flamethrowers using a water gun and gasoline. Using a combo weapon gives you experience for every kill (kills with normal items give no experience), so the game definitely encourages you to focus your undead annihilation on these. It's a heck of a lot better than just sitting back and taking a goofy picture.
There's plenty more to discuss about "Dead Rising 2," but we're still a month away from release, so we've got time. And even though you don't have a preview build of the game to dig through, you've got the next best thing with "Dead Rising 2: Case Zero" coming out next week, and is a steal at $5 offering an exclusive prequel chapter for Xbox 360 owners.