Get Down and Dirty With Dead Rising 2

Meet Chuck Greene. A former national motocross champion, turned professional chainsaw wielder when he is forced to protect himself and his young daughter from hordes of the undead. Set five years after the events in Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2 promises to be just as action-packed and gore-filled as its predecessor.

When a zombie outbreak spreads across the United States, it comes down to the survival of the fittest. In America’s new capital of entertainment, Fortune City, Chuck has to do whatever it takes to survive. Facing an exhausting number of zombies, surviving psychopaths and choosing whether or not to save the few other survivors is only part what he must endure. As if things weren’t bad enough, Chuck’s own daughter, Katey, was infected in the attack that killed her mother. He must earn enough money to keep her on the infection suppression “Zombrex”. Want some icing on that cake? The poor guy is also accused of causing the outbreak in Fortune City. The military will capture him in three days, which is exactly how long players have to complete the story line.

In general, the gameplay remains similar to the first Dead Rising, with the player controlling the main character Chuck Greene, as he lays waste to the zombie masses while attempting to accomplish specific missions. “Dead Rising 2” will include several new objects that can be used as weapons, adding to the ample amount already existing. Just about anything can be picked up and thrown, or used in self defense. The number of zombies, however, went from dramatic to straight up fierce as it has apparently been increased from 800 to over 7000. Zombie-killing spree? My thoughts exactly.

There will be a greater variety of missions to complete, and in place of the photography mechanic from the first game, players will be able to manufacture their own custom weapons at various points in the game. In addition to that, cards that reveal brutal item combos will be available for players to purchase. Some of these include the “Hail Mary,” a hand grenade duct taped to a football, “Dynameat,” a stick of dynamite taped to a piece of meat, the “Paddlesaw,” two (yes, two) chainsaws duct taped to a kayak paddle (remind me to store duct tape in my zombie survival kit), and “Freedom Bear,” which is a giant stuffed bear with a Rambo-style headband and a turret machine gun. Awesome... want to cuddle?

In addition to Single player, “Dead Rising 2” will feature online co-op, as well as an online multiplayer mode, a first for this game. Also featured in the game are exclusive Playboy ads and billboards, displaying specially selected issues from the magazine’s 57-year history. The new magazine system, which includes Playboy issues, replaces the old book system from game one. Players have the opportunity to pick up a variety of different themed magazines and receive helpful bonuses to aid in their mission. Wonder what kind of UPgrades Playboy will offer? I’m sure Chuck will enjoy... reading. Heh.

Happy hunting!