Dead Rising 2

When it comes to survival horror games, there are only a few series which deliver such a delightful mixture of a solid dose of fear and refreshing excitement.

Dead Rising, a series created by Capcom, is one of them. Its fans simply love its combination of the all-encompassing chaos of a zombie apocalypse and unique black humor. Dead Rising 2, released in 2010, sparked a lot of excitement among players eager to fight bloodthirsty hordes of zombies. 

Storyline

Picking up the narrative threads from its predecessor, Dead Rising 2 delves into the gripping saga of a virus that transforms ordinary people into the dreaded undead. The virus, initially discovered in the town of Willamette, CO, yet again returns to haunt the world. Set a few years after the events chronicled in the original game, this mysterious affliction has expanded its malevolent grip, spreading like wildfire across the US. Among the afflicted regions stands Fortune City, a metropolis synonymous with indulgence and excitement, reminiscent of the iconic Las Vegas. 

Players embody Chuck Greene, a former motocross champion, now a desperate father. His mission: find a cure for his infected daughter amidst all the chaos. Facing thousands of undead on-screen, Chuck's journey epitomizes survival horror's blend of fear and triumph.

Mechanics

Confronting such overwhelming hordes demands innovation, and the creators of Dead Rising 2 have delivered a host of novel weapons and environmental tools. The game's defining feature remains its remarkable ability to wield almost anything as a weapon – from swords, flowerpots and underwhelming diamonds scavenged from jewelers, all the way through to an impromptu slot machine. A novel facet in Dead Rising 2 is the introduction of eccentric contraptions, ingeniously transforming them into lethal implements. Think dual chainsaws affixed to a paddle, grenades nestled in soccer balls, or a wheelchair bristling with machine guns.

Reception

Dead Rising 2 was generally well-received by both critics and players upon its release. The game's blend of intense zombie action, creative weapon combinations, and the new setting resonated well with fans of the series and newcomers alike. The expanded arsenal of improvised weapons, combo weapons, and the ability to craft inventive tools of destruction was widely praised. The sheer variety of ways to dispatch zombies and enemies certainly added a layer of depth and enjoyment to the gameplay.

Key features

• Vast arsenal of weapons – literally anything can be used as a weapon
• Major addition to the gameplay is the ability to combine items to create unique combo weapons
• Dynamic environments to explore
• Time-based progression system which adds urgency to completing missions
• Player choices influence the game's ending – various possible outcomes