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| designer = [[Keiji Inafune]] (producer)
| designer = [[Keiji Inafune]] (producer)
| engine =
| engine =
| released = US: [[August 8]] [[2006]]<br />EU: [[September 8]]{{Fact}} [[2006]]<br />JP: [[September 28]] [[2006]]{{Fact}}
| released = [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|22px|United States of America]] [[August 8]], [[2006]]<br /> [[Image:European flag.svg|22px|European Union]] [[September 8]], [[2006]] {{Fact}}<br /> {{flagicon|Australia}}/{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[September 15]], [[2006]]<ref name="aunz">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising + Bonus! (Xbox 360) | work =www.gpstore.co.nz | url =http://www.gpstore.co.nz/Games/1515482.html | accessdate=2006-08-10}}</ref><br />[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|22px|Japan]]: [[September 28]], [[2006]] {{Fact}}
| genre = [[Action game|Action]]
| genre = [[Action game|Action]]
| modes = [[Single player]]
| modes = [[Single player]]
| ratings = [[ESRB]]: Mature 17+ (M)<br> [[PEGI]]: 18+ <br> [[BBFC]]: 18 (for frequent bloody violence)
| ratings = [[ESRB]]: Mature 17+ (M)<br> [[PEGI]]: 18+ <br> [[BBFC]]: 18 (for frequent bloody violence)<br>[[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]]: MA 15+
| platforms = [[Xbox 360]]
| platforms = [[Xbox 360]]
| media =
| requirements =
| input =
}}
}}
'''''Dead Rising''''' is a one-player [[computer and video games|video game]] for the [[Xbox 360]] produced by [[Keiji Inafune]] and under development by [[Capcom]]. It will go on sale in the United States on August 8, 2006. <ref name="cap">{{cite web
'''''Dead Rising''''' is a single-player [[computer and video games|video game]] for the [[Xbox 360]] produced by [[Keiji Inafune]] and development by [[Capcom]]. It was released in [[North America]] on [[August 8]], [[2006 in video gaming|2006]]. <ref name="cap">{{cite web | title =Release Dates | work =www.capcom.com | url =http://www.capcom.com/release_dates.xpml | accessdate=2006-06-17}}</ref> <ref name="ign">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising | work =xbox360.ign.com
| url =http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/748/748396.html | accessdate=2006-06-17 }} Release date August 8, 2006.</ref> A playable demo was released for download to the Xbox 360 from the [[Xbox Live Marketplace]] on [[August 4]], 2006.<ref name="market">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising Demo Lurches onto Marketplace | work =Xbox Live Marketplace | url =http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/deadrising/demo.htm | accessdate=2006-08-04}} </ref><ref name="mex">{{cite web | title =Demo: Dead Rising | work =www.majornelson.com | url =http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/08/04/Dead-Rising-Demo.aspx | accessdate=2006-08-04
| title =Release Dates
}} Xbox Live members can now download a demo for ''Dead Rising''. This demo is not available in [[Mexico]], [[Germany]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] or [[Asia]]. </ref>
| work =www.capcom.com
| url =http://www.capcom.com/release_dates.xpml
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}</ref> <ref name="ign">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising
| work =xbox360.ign.com
| url =http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/748/748396.html
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}} Release date August 8, 2006.</ref>
A playable demo was released for download to the Xbox 360 from the [[Xbox Live Marketplace]] on [[August 4]]th, [[2006]].<ref name="market">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Demo Lurches onto Marketplace
| work =Xbox Live Marketplace
| url =http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/deadrising/demo.htm
| accessdate=2006-08-04
}} </ref><ref name="mex">{{cite web
| title =Demo: Dead Rising
| work =www.majornelson.com
| url =http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/08/04/Dead-Rising-Demo.aspx
| accessdate=2006-08-04
}} Xbox Live members can now download a demo for 'Dead Rising.' This demo is not available in Mexico, Germany, Australia, New Zealand or Asia. </ref>


==Storyline==
The player character, Frank West, is an "overly zealous freelance photojournalist"<ref name="team">{{cite web
{{spoiler}}
| title =Dead Rising (Xbox 360)
The game takes place from September 19th to 22nd, 2006. The player character, Frank West, is an "overly zealous freelance photojournalist"<ref name="team">{{cite web| title =Dead Rising (Xbox 360)| work =teamxbox.com | url =http://games.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1169/Dead-Rising/ | accessdate=2006-06-17
| work =teamxbox.com
}} </ref> who investigates a series of suspicious goings-on in Willamette, a small town in [[Colorado]], by helicopter, as the town has been quarantined by the National Guard. Flying overhead, he notices a large crowd attacking, but isn't sure what is going on. He is forced to land on the mall roof to get the scoop. He tells the pilot to return to pick him up in 72 hours, the time in which he must get his story and stay alive. The player must rescue other survivors and get out of the mall alive with the best scoop possible.
| url =http://games.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1169/Dead-Rising/
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}} </ref> who is trapped in a mall filled with flesh-eating [[zombie]]s. The player must rescue other survivors and get out of the mall alive with the best scoop possible.
Frank West wishes to win a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his story. During the game the player must choose between taking pictures, or simply killing the zombies which brings a twist to the gameplay. The game's shopping mall environment is very similar to [[George A. Romero]]'s classic zombie movie ''[[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]''.


{{spoilerend}}
[[Image:Dead rising.jpg|thumb|200px|left|An early image of ''Dead Rising'']]


==Gameplay==
If the player takes pictures, he may win a Pulitzer, but it may make surviving more difficult.
Frank West wishes to win a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his story. During the game the player must choose between taking pictures, fighting the living dead, or managing both, bringing a twist to the gameplay. If the player takes good enough pictures, he may later win a Pulitzer, but it may make surviving more difficult. The player can also help other people being attacked by [[zombies]], or let them get eaten, taking pictures of their demise. Depending on the actions a player chooses, the ending will vary.
The player can also help the people who are attacked by zombies, or let them get eaten, taking pictures of their demise. Depending on the actions a player takes the ending will vary. "Designed to be totally open-ended, Dead Rising allows you to investigate whatever you want, kill whoever you want and finish the game by completing whatever objectives you saw fit."<ref name="my">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Preview
| work =www.myxbox360.com
| url =http://www.myxbox360.com/items/review/23
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}</ref>


[[Image:Dead rising.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An early image of ''Dead Rising'']]
The main character can use hundreds of everyday items as weapons to kill zombies. Trailers show the player using a lawnmower, baseball bats, swords, CDs, 2x4's, showerheads, chairs, plates, bowling balls, knives, tennis racquets, chainsaws, hockey sticks, plastic light sabers, safety cones, pies, plasma screen TVs, potted plants, fully deployed beach umbrellas, a battle axe from an antique store<ref name="Hands">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising - Hands On Impressions
| work =360.advancedmn.com
| url =http://360.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=6990
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}</ref> and the more conventional shotguns, machine guns and pistols. There are over 250 items that a player can use to attack zombies.<ref name="my" /><ref name="ign">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Hands On You've got 72 hours to murder the dead.
| work =xbox360.ign.com
| url =http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/689/689267p1.html
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}</ref> Electronic Gaming Monthly explained there are up to 800 zombies on the screen at once.<ref name="EGM">{{cite journal
| first =Crispin
| last =Boyer
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =2006
| month =July 1
| title =Dead Rising
| journal =Electronic Gaming Monthly
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/87562.html
}}</ref> During the day the zombies are more sluggish, but at night they become more active and deadly.<ref name = "half"> {{cite journal
| first =
| last =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =2006
| month =May 17
| title =Xbox 360: Dead Rising Preview
| journal =www.halflifesource.com
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =http://www.halflifesource.com/site/news/xbox_360_dead_rising_preview/article5935.htm
}}</ref><ref name="core">{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Preview for Xbox 360
| work =www.xboxcore.com
| url =http://www.xboxcore.com/previews/xbox360/256.html
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}</ref> The trailer also showed what seemed to be a mega buster, a reference to Capcom's Megaman series.


The main character can use hundreds of everyday items as weapons to kill zombies. Trailers show the player using a lawnmower, baseball bats, swords, [[Compact Disc|CDs]], 2x4's, showerheads, chairs, plates, bowling balls, knives, tennis racquets, chainsaws, hockey sticks, plastic lightsabers, safety cones, pies, plasma screen TVs, potted plants, fully deployed beach umbrellas, a battle axe from an antique store<ref name="Hands">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising - Hands On Impressions | work =360.advancedmn.com | url =http://360.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=6990 | accessdate=2006-06-17 }}</ref> and the more conventional shotguns, machine guns and pistols. There are over 250 items that a player can use to attack zombies.<ref name="my" /><ref name="ign">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising Hands On You've got 72 hours to murder the dead. | work =xbox360.ign.com | url =http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/689/689267p1.html | accessdate=2006-06-17 }}</ref> [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] explained there can be up to 800 zombies on the screen at once.<ref name="EGM">{{cite journal | first =Crispin | last =Boyer | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =2006 | month =July 1 | title =Dead Rising | journal =Electronic Gaming Monthly| volume = | issue = | pages = | id = | url =http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/87562.html
Despite the presence of zombies, the game is not officially tied to Capcom's ''[[Resident Evil (series)|''Resident Evil'' series]]''. Inafune explained that the game is more humorous in tone compared to the ''Resident Evil'' series. This is reflected by the main character himself, who is not a "cool" hero working for a special task force, but an average citizen with an ordinary job.
}}</ref> During the day the zombies are more sluggish, but at night they become more active and deadly.<ref name = "half"> {{cite journal | first = | last = | authorlink =| coauthors = | year =2006 | month =May 17 | title =Xbox 360: Dead Rising Preview| journal =www.halflifesource.com | volume = | issue = | pages = | id = | url =http://www.halflifesource.com/site/news/xbox_360_dead_rising_preview/article5935.htm }}</ref><ref name="core">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising Preview for Xbox 360 | work =www.xboxcore.com | url =http://www.xboxcore.com/previews/xbox360/256.html | accessdate=2006-06-17}}</ref>


==Dead Rising demo==
===Open ended===
Previews for ''Dead Rising'' described an open game like ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'': "Designed to be totally open-ended, ''Dead Rising'' allows you to investigate whatever you want, kill whoever you want and finish the game by completing whatever objectives you saw fit."<ref name="my">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising Preview | work =www.myxbox360.com | url =http://www.myxbox360.com/items/review/23| accessdate=2006-06-17
The Dead Rising demo can be found on [[Xbox Live Marketplace]] which requires an Xbox 360 to access the demo. In the demo, the player is in "Paradise Plaza", which is a small section of the mall. If you try to leave this section of the mall, you will be treated to a cutscene (depending on what section you tried to enter, the cutscene varies) and the game will bring you back to the demo's main menu. There are around 50 weapons that can be used, and 20 stores to explore. There are no specific missions and the player is free to roam a section of the mall. The demo is timed, however, the player has 15 minutes of game time, with infinite replayability.<ref>The download page on Xbox Live features a disclaimer "THIS GAME WAS NOT DEVELOPED, APPROVED OR LICENSED BY THE OWNERS OR CREATORS OF [[George A. Romero|GEORGE A. ROMERO'S]] [[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|DAWN OF THE DEAD(tm)]]", which acknowles the similarity in tone and plot aspects to the famous horror film (innumerable zombies in a mall setting, etc.)</ref>
}}</ref> While there is a giant mall to explore, and players can occupy themselves with zombie hunting and item collecting, the game itself runs on a fairly strict timer. If a player runs around the mall too long, it becomes impossible to finish the primary objectives and resolve the plot. However, if the player fails an objective early in the game he/she will be given the option to resume the game. This will allow them to freely explore the mall and do as he/she sees fit. There's also an "Infinite Mode" one can unlock by completing the game and fulfilling the objectives; this may be the kind of "totally open-ended" sandbox-style game that the previews were saluting. But, during "Infinite Mode" your life drains slowly.


===Save system===
==Game officially not on sale in Germany==
''Dead Rising'' has an unusual save system: only one game-in-progress can be saved per memory device. For Xbox 360 owners with hard drives, the only way to secure additional save slots is with Xbox 360 memory cards or by creating another [[Xbox Live]] Gamertag. With this single-save system, it is possible to save a game far away from a critical objective with little time remaining, making it impossible to reach the next objective in time, and thus, impossible to complete the plot.
Capcom's upcoming ''Dead Rising'' will not officially be on sale in Germany. The USK, the equivalent of ESRB of Germany, refused to give the game a rating. This is the first Xbox 360 game to have no rating. Unrated games can be banned later on (rated games cannot be banned anymore) but this would have to happen after official release.<ref name = " "> {{cite web
| title =First Xbox 360 Game Ban: Dead Rising Banned From Germany
| work =gamingbits.com
| url =http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/890/2/
| accessdate=2007-07-18
}} </ref> Capcom stated: "The game has not been banned in Germany. It is scheduled for release on September 8."<ref name = "banned"> {{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Banned in Germany? Zombie-killing not so verboten, after all.
| work =www.1up.com
| url =http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152252&did=1
| accessdate=2007-08-04
}} </ref>


In these cases, ''Dead Rising'' allows players to save their current level and status, and restart the game from the beginning as a more powerful player. The system is a deliberate game mechanic, borrowed from one of Capcom's [[Console role-playing game|RPG]]s ''[[Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter]]'' <ref name="save">{{cite web | title =Dead Rising 360 Review. | work =www.1up.com | url =http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3152674&did=1 | accessdate=2006-08-10 }}</ref> - the two games share some development team members.
==Quotes==

{{cquote|The demo gets underway inside an airborne helicopter, which photojournalist Frank West is using to bypass army checkpoints and such en route to the town of Willamette, Colorado after being tipped off that something big is going down there. What he finds, long before arriving at the aforementioned mall, is that the whole town is overrun with zombies, and as the helicopter pilot flies over the town, Frank wastes no time putting his telephoto lens to good use. This sequence plays out a lot like a rail shooter, except that you're armed with a camera instead of a firearm, and your targets are--for the most part--already dead.<ref name="handson">{{cite web
The save game system has adversely affected the critical reception of ''Dead Rising'': reviews from publications including [http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3152674&did=1 1UP] and [http://gamesradar.com/us/xbox360/game/reviews/article.jsp?articleId=2006080816050791089&sectionId=1000 Games Radar] questioned the juxtaposition of an unforgiving save structure and an open world environment.
| title =Dead Rising Hands-On We check out a timed playable demo of Capcom's undead action game for the Xbox 360.

| work =www.gamespot.com
==Reaction==
| url =http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadrising/news.html?sid=6153381
''Dead Rising'' has earned generally positive reviews. [http://www.gwn.com/reviews/gamereview.php/id/986/ GWN.com] has a five page spread along with a video review, awarding it a rating of 89%, claiming "Dead Rising is not the best game on the Xbox 360, but it may well be the most fun." 1UP.com, which rated it 8/10, states that the game "provides a wealth of secrets and mysteries for both eager gamers and the adventuresome." [http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1203/Dead-Rising/p1/ TeamXbox.com] gave it a 8.7/10, also earning an Editor's Choice Award. IGN gave the game an 8.3/10 while Gamespot.com rated it 8.4/10. GameSpy awarded it an Editor's Choice Award with a 4.5 of 5 score [http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/dead-rising/724190p1.html] while Yahoo Video Games gave it the highest score of 5 out of 5 stars [http://videogames.yahoo.com/gamereview?cid=1951039653&tab=reviews&page=0&eid=475330].
| accessdate=2006-07-14

}} Explains in detail the opening minutes of the game and "prestige points"</ref> }}
The reviews shared a general consensus. All the reviewers commended the game's "sandbox" style [[mall]] to explore and the sheer amount of ways to kill the hundreds of zombies. The complaints mostly surrounded the archaic save system described above. Other complaints concerned the weak [[artificial intelligence]], lack of multiplayer, difficult-to-read text on SDTVs, and the overall repetitiveness of the gameplay itself.

Due to its graphic violence, the [[Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle]], Germany's equivalent to the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board]], has refused to rate the game. Because of that, only adults are allowed to buy the game and advertisement is forbidden.<ref>http://www.dreisechzig.net/wp/archives/566</ref>

Prior to its release, ''Dead Rising'' topped the video game sellers chart of [[Amazon.com]].
Some have said that this game is a rip-off of Dawn of the Dead.

==Trivia==
* The game's shopping mall environment is very similar to [[George A. Romero]]'s classic zombie movie ''[[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]''. Because of such a similarity, Capcom has issued a disclaimer in the beginning of the game which states that this game is not licensed by George Romero as a game based on the movie, but more or less is a tribute to it.
*Despite the presence of zombies, the game is not officially tied to Capcom's ''[[Resident Evil (series)|''Resident Evil'' series]]''. Inafune explained that the game is different in tone compared to the ''Resident Evil'' series. This is reflected by the main character himself, who is not a "cool" hero working for a special task force, but an average citizen with a common job.
*''Dead Rising'' alludes to the original ''Resident Evil'' game in the name of sandwich bar, "Jill's Sandwiches". This is based on Barry's line in ''Resident Evi''l, "You were almost a Jill Sandwich!"
*One of the "Accomplishments" in ''Dead Rising'', "Zombie [[Genocide]]r", is unlocked if the player kills 53,594 zombies. The unusual number is announced in the opening cutscene as the population of Willamette, Colorado, where the game takes place.
*A costume that resembles the famous Capcom character [[Megaman]] with a "Mega Buster" (which shoots tennis balls) is available in the costume store.
* Earning the "Zombie Genocider" achievement unlocks Capcom's character [[Megaman]]'s real Mega Buster, which is the most powerful weapon in the game. Even though it only holds 300 rounds to shoot, it kills bosses in just a few shots.
* A section of the mall called "Movieland" makes reference to Capcom's Team Viewtiful, ''[[Viewtiful Joe]]'' series.
*One of the movies listed in the cinema in the mall is "Megaman 2", a direct reference to Capcom's ''[[Megaman]]'' series of side-scrolling platformers. The player can also find ''Megaman 2'' merchandise in the cinema store, including a toy Megaman helmet, and a foam ball-launching Mega Buster.
*Another Megaman reference is themed around the [[Servbot]]s. You can take plastic Servbot heads and place them on yourself or the heads of Zombies.
*One of the articles of clothing the player can wear is red hearts underwear from the the Capcom game, ''[[Ghosts 'n Goblins]]''.
*Another Megaman reference is visible when the player views the scoop choosing menu which appears as Frank's watch. The name of the watch is main character of the [[Megaman]] franchise, Megaman himself with a "M" logo.


==Notes==
==References==
<div class="references-small">
<div class="references-small">
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
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| accessdate=2006-06-17
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Demo Lurches onto Marketplace
| work =Xbox Live Marketplace
| url =http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/deadrising/demo.htm
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Hands-On We check out a timed playable demo of Capcom's undead action game for the Xbox 360.
| work =www.gamespot.com
| url =http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadrising/news.html?sid=6153381
| accessdate=2006-07-14
}} Explains in detail the opening minutes of the game and "prestige points"
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
| title =GameSpot
| title =GameSpot
| work =www.gamespot.com
| work =www.gamespot.com
| url =http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadrising/
| url =http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadrising/
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Gameworld Network
| work =www.gwn.com
| url =http://www.gwn.com/reviews/gamereview.php/id/986/
| accessdate=2006-06-17
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
}}
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| url =http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/748/748396.html
| url =http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/748/748396.html
| accessdate=2006-06-17
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Metacritic: Dead Rising Reviews
| work =metacritic.com
| url =http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/deadrising
| accessdate=2006-08-10
}}
}}
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
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}}
}}
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising
| title =YouTube Dead Rising Videos
| work =xbox360.gamezone.com
| work =YouTube.com
| url =http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=dead%20rising&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0
| url =http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/p26746.htm
| accessdate=2006-06-17
| accessdate=2006-08-12
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising at Cheat Code Central
| work =www.cheatcc.com
| url =http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/97631.html
| accessdate=2006-07-26
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Still Rising
| work =www.xboxaddict.com
| url =http://www.xboxaddict.com/news/view.php?News_ID=6877
| accessdate=2006-06-17
}}
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Screenshots Gallery Xbox 360
| work =www.flashwar.ch
| url =http://www.flashwar.ch/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=230&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=14614
| accessdate=2006-07-24
}}
*{{cite web
| title =Dead Rising Extended TV Spot
| work =www.youtube.com
| url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQddAJ4V8Dk
| accessdate=2006-07-31
}}


[[Category:2006 computer and video games]]
[[Category:Capcom games]]
[[Category:Capcom games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]

Revision as of 00:26, 14 August 2006

Template:Current-GCOTW

Dead Rising
Game Cover
Developer(s)Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher(s)Capcom
Designer(s)Keiji Inafune (producer)
Platform(s)Xbox 360
ReleaseUnited States of America August 8, 2006
European Union September 8, 2006 [citation needed]
Australia/New Zealand September 15, 2006[1]
Japan: September 28, 2006 [citation needed]
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single player

Dead Rising is a single-player video game for the Xbox 360 produced by Keiji Inafune and development by Capcom. It was released in North America on August 8, 2006. [2] [3] A playable demo was released for download to the Xbox 360 from the Xbox Live Marketplace on August 4, 2006.[4][5]

Storyline

Template:Spoiler The game takes place from September 19th to 22nd, 2006. The player character, Frank West, is an "overly zealous freelance photojournalist"[6] who investigates a series of suspicious goings-on in Willamette, a small town in Colorado, by helicopter, as the town has been quarantined by the National Guard. Flying overhead, he notices a large crowd attacking, but isn't sure what is going on. He is forced to land on the mall roof to get the scoop. He tells the pilot to return to pick him up in 72 hours, the time in which he must get his story and stay alive. The player must rescue other survivors and get out of the mall alive with the best scoop possible.

Template:Spoilerend

Gameplay

Frank West wishes to win a Pulitzer Prize for his story. During the game the player must choose between taking pictures, fighting the living dead, or managing both, bringing a twist to the gameplay. If the player takes good enough pictures, he may later win a Pulitzer, but it may make surviving more difficult. The player can also help other people being attacked by zombies, or let them get eaten, taking pictures of their demise. Depending on the actions a player chooses, the ending will vary.

File:Dead rising.jpg
An early image of Dead Rising

The main character can use hundreds of everyday items as weapons to kill zombies. Trailers show the player using a lawnmower, baseball bats, swords, CDs, 2x4's, showerheads, chairs, plates, bowling balls, knives, tennis racquets, chainsaws, hockey sticks, plastic lightsabers, safety cones, pies, plasma screen TVs, potted plants, fully deployed beach umbrellas, a battle axe from an antique store[7] and the more conventional shotguns, machine guns and pistols. There are over 250 items that a player can use to attack zombies.[8][3] Electronic Gaming Monthly explained there can be up to 800 zombies on the screen at once.[9] During the day the zombies are more sluggish, but at night they become more active and deadly.[10][11]

Open ended

Previews for Dead Rising described an open game like Grand Theft Auto: "Designed to be totally open-ended, Dead Rising allows you to investigate whatever you want, kill whoever you want and finish the game by completing whatever objectives you saw fit."[8] While there is a giant mall to explore, and players can occupy themselves with zombie hunting and item collecting, the game itself runs on a fairly strict timer. If a player runs around the mall too long, it becomes impossible to finish the primary objectives and resolve the plot. However, if the player fails an objective early in the game he/she will be given the option to resume the game. This will allow them to freely explore the mall and do as he/she sees fit. There's also an "Infinite Mode" one can unlock by completing the game and fulfilling the objectives; this may be the kind of "totally open-ended" sandbox-style game that the previews were saluting. But, during "Infinite Mode" your life drains slowly.

Save system

Dead Rising has an unusual save system: only one game-in-progress can be saved per memory device. For Xbox 360 owners with hard drives, the only way to secure additional save slots is with Xbox 360 memory cards or by creating another Xbox Live Gamertag. With this single-save system, it is possible to save a game far away from a critical objective with little time remaining, making it impossible to reach the next objective in time, and thus, impossible to complete the plot.

In these cases, Dead Rising allows players to save their current level and status, and restart the game from the beginning as a more powerful player. The system is a deliberate game mechanic, borrowed from one of Capcom's RPGs Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter [12] - the two games share some development team members.

The save game system has adversely affected the critical reception of Dead Rising: reviews from publications including 1UP and Games Radar questioned the juxtaposition of an unforgiving save structure and an open world environment.

Reaction

Dead Rising has earned generally positive reviews. GWN.com has a five page spread along with a video review, awarding it a rating of 89%, claiming "Dead Rising is not the best game on the Xbox 360, but it may well be the most fun." 1UP.com, which rated it 8/10, states that the game "provides a wealth of secrets and mysteries for both eager gamers and the adventuresome." TeamXbox.com gave it a 8.7/10, also earning an Editor's Choice Award. IGN gave the game an 8.3/10 while Gamespot.com rated it 8.4/10. GameSpy awarded it an Editor's Choice Award with a 4.5 of 5 score [1] while Yahoo Video Games gave it the highest score of 5 out of 5 stars [2].

The reviews shared a general consensus. All the reviewers commended the game's "sandbox" style mall to explore and the sheer amount of ways to kill the hundreds of zombies. The complaints mostly surrounded the archaic save system described above. Other complaints concerned the weak artificial intelligence, lack of multiplayer, difficult-to-read text on SDTVs, and the overall repetitiveness of the gameplay itself.

Due to its graphic violence, the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle, Germany's equivalent to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, has refused to rate the game. Because of that, only adults are allowed to buy the game and advertisement is forbidden.[13]

Prior to its release, Dead Rising topped the video game sellers chart of Amazon.com. Some have said that this game is a rip-off of Dawn of the Dead.

Trivia

  • The game's shopping mall environment is very similar to George A. Romero's classic zombie movie Dawn of the Dead. Because of such a similarity, Capcom has issued a disclaimer in the beginning of the game which states that this game is not licensed by George Romero as a game based on the movie, but more or less is a tribute to it.
  • Despite the presence of zombies, the game is not officially tied to Capcom's Resident Evil series. Inafune explained that the game is different in tone compared to the Resident Evil series. This is reflected by the main character himself, who is not a "cool" hero working for a special task force, but an average citizen with a common job.
  • Dead Rising alludes to the original Resident Evil game in the name of sandwich bar, "Jill's Sandwiches". This is based on Barry's line in Resident Evil, "You were almost a Jill Sandwich!"
  • One of the "Accomplishments" in Dead Rising, "Zombie Genocider", is unlocked if the player kills 53,594 zombies. The unusual number is announced in the opening cutscene as the population of Willamette, Colorado, where the game takes place.
  • A costume that resembles the famous Capcom character Megaman with a "Mega Buster" (which shoots tennis balls) is available in the costume store.
  • Earning the "Zombie Genocider" achievement unlocks Capcom's character Megaman's real Mega Buster, which is the most powerful weapon in the game. Even though it only holds 300 rounds to shoot, it kills bosses in just a few shots.
  • A section of the mall called "Movieland" makes reference to Capcom's Team Viewtiful, Viewtiful Joe series.
  • One of the movies listed in the cinema in the mall is "Megaman 2", a direct reference to Capcom's Megaman series of side-scrolling platformers. The player can also find Megaman 2 merchandise in the cinema store, including a toy Megaman helmet, and a foam ball-launching Mega Buster.
  • Another Megaman reference is themed around the Servbots. You can take plastic Servbot heads and place them on yourself or the heads of Zombies.
  • One of the articles of clothing the player can wear is red hearts underwear from the the Capcom game, Ghosts 'n Goblins.
  • Another Megaman reference is visible when the player views the scoop choosing menu which appears as Frank's watch. The name of the watch is main character of the Megaman franchise, Megaman himself with a "M" logo.

References

  1. ^ "Dead Rising + Bonus! (Xbox 360)". www.gpstore.co.nz. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  2. ^ "Release Dates". www.capcom.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  3. ^ a b "Dead Rising". xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17. Release date August 8, 2006. Cite error: The named reference "ign" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Dead Rising Demo Lurches onto Marketplace". Xbox Live Marketplace. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
  5. ^ "Demo: Dead Rising". www.majornelson.com. Retrieved 2006-08-04. Xbox Live members can now download a demo for Dead Rising. This demo is not available in Mexico, Germany, Australia, New Zealand or Asia.
  6. ^ "Dead Rising (Xbox 360)". teamxbox.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  7. ^ "Dead Rising - Hands On Impressions". 360.advancedmn.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  8. ^ a b "Dead Rising Preview". www.myxbox360.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  9. ^ Boyer, Crispin (2006). "Dead Rising". Electronic Gaming Monthly. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. ^ "Xbox 360: Dead Rising Preview". www.halflifesource.com. 2006. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Dead Rising Preview for Xbox 360". www.xboxcore.com. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
  12. ^ "Dead Rising 360 Review". www.1up.com. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  13. ^ http://www.dreisechzig.net/wp/archives/566
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