Dead Rising 3
Producer: Microsoft
Release Date: November 22, 2013
Platform: Xbox One
Rating: Mature
Genre: Action-Adventure
From Your Grave
Written by Jesse Seilhan
Dead Rising is a franchise that pretty much ran its course within two releases. The zombie-infested mall spilled out into a casino strip and after playing as the gritty Frank West and loving father Chuck Greene, it seemed as if this series was as dead as the millions of corpses left in their wake. But when Microsoft needed a big third-party game to debut on their brand new shiny Xbox One console, they helped Capcom Vancouver along by publishing Dead Rising 3 and bringing something different to the console wars. With the power of a new machine, the developers were able to do things that prior iterations could not to really bring the genre to the next generation. But it takes more than just horsepower to make a successful product and Capcom took the time and energy to make sure this game worked.
The story follows Nick Ramos, a mechanic in Los Perdidos that is attempting to escape a zombie outbreak and certain death as the government is set to destroy the city in seven days. This game takes place a decade after the second one, so zombies are just a normal part of life, with medicine and weapons created specifically to deal with the shambling antagonists. The city is larger than either area from the first two and no loading is required to venture through any corner of the four neighborhoods within the game. Most buildings can be scaled and nearly as many can be entered, with specific items, weapons, and outfits waiting for you. Mission structure remains about the same, tasking you with finding survivors and bring them back to safehouses while also fighting over-the-top bosses to move the story further. The plot gets weird with each twist and turn, but the final chapter payoff is worth the dozen or so hours it will take to finish.
Dead Rising’s patented wacky nature has been toned down a bit this go-around, but the costumes are back and some of them offer unique attacks and other bonuses. Weaponry is also crazy as usual, but the new wrinkle of being able to combine weapons on the fly without the need of a bench is a godsend. The same goes for the game’s new vehicle combos that lead to awesome creations like a motorcycle/steamroller hybrid that, of course, shoots fire. There are over a hundred different things to create and thousands of things to wield on their own, so the combat never feels boring. While slogging through thousands of zombies can sound like a grind, being able to use something different and cool each time you take a swing breaks up the monotony. Online co-op is back and much improved, allowing players to choose what style of buddy smashing they are looking for, whether it’s hunting down all the collectables or just pushing through the story.
The biggest addition to the game is the skill tree. Prior games pushed players down a linear path, upgrading specific metrics with each new level, but DR3 lets players put skill points into a variety of things, drastically changing the play style from person to person. Those that love vehicles will want them to handle crowds easier and those interested in melee combat will want to hold stronger items for longer. Even when the level cap has been hit at 50, there is still so much more to do and upgrade, and replaying prior chapters with an improved Nick makes exploring the world pretty engaging. While the game hits some technical snares when the action gets too intense, this is the most next-gen of any launch title on either new console. The things you do and see couldn’t possibly be made on last decade’s hardware and while the game is mostly just refinement from prior formulas, Capcom finally made the most successful and accessible Dead Rising game yet. If you picked up an Xbox One recently or got one for the holidays, make sure you skip the crappy ports and rehashed sports game and go for a real winner in this violent thrill ride.