Review: Dead Rising 2: Off The Record

*Editor's Note: We always have readers asking us about upcoming horror games, but there are a number of titles that have already been released and you may have missed. Here are Kyle's impressions of the budget title Dead Rising 2: Off The Record.*

It was only natural for Capcom to release yet another Dead Rising title to capitalize on the zombie craze. With Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, we're given an overhauled version of Dead Rising 2 that sees the return of Frank West, along with a variety of new features and improvements.

The story mode takes an interesting twist, with Frank West being placed in the middle of the Fortune City outbreak.  It only seems right to have Frank back in the series, as he oozes charisma. Whether it be smashing zombies heads in or his clever one liners, he can do it all. This alternate story also results in a number of gameplay changes from the previous version.

Fans of the first game will be happy to see that the photography system has been brought back. That little photography feature alone made things a lot more interesting, with the ability to snap pictures nearly anywhere. You will also be able to share those moments with friends, as Capcom allows you to upload them from the game. Other changes from the original Dead Rising 2 come in the form of Frank’s fighting style, which stays true to the first game. Survivors and magazines have been relocated and there have been new bosses added to keep the game fresh.

The one notable difference from this game is that the elevator in the Yucatan Casino no longer functions. I was a little disappointed finding this out, as the elevator now serves no purpose whatsoever. Previously, the elevator allowed you to access the Yucatan Casino rooftop and finish a vital mission.

Dead Rising 2: Off The Record certainly caters to the more action oriented horror gamers out there. During my play time, I wasn't convinced (despite the number of enemies) that I couldn't beat the game. I felt that, regardless of how many zombies were put in front of me, I could handle them all swiftly with a large variety of weapons at my disposal. This is a doubled edged sword, because the ability to use nearly anything as a weapon makes for some fun and creative kills, but then it takes the challenge away from the overall game.

There isn't much you can't use as a weapon while running around Fortune City trying to survive. You can create outrageous weapons from combo cards that give you more prestige points (character experience points) per kill. As you gain more experience, you learn new combos that will greatly increase your chance of survival. There are combo cards such as a “Parablower” which is a leaf blower and an umbrella combined. As if that wasn’t quirky enough, there is also a “Laser Sword” which is a combination of gems and a flashlight; it essentially turns out to be a lightsaber.

Graphically, the game turned out rather well. However, there are some instances with clunky animations, particularly in the cut scenes. There were also a number of issues with player movement and camera angles, where I sometimes found the camera to be more of a concern then the zombies. I had a number of experiences where I was fighting with the camera to get in the right spot so I could see what I was doing. During that process I was relentlessly being attacked, giving me very little time to tinker with it. It made for some stressful times to say the least.

For those looking to take this game online, there is a co-op mode that has Frank and Chuck Greene running around to complete quick missions before the clock runs out. However, I found that the lack of depth in this mode will eventually catch up to you. The one positive addition outside of the main game is the sandbox mode, where you aren't handicapped by timers and can essentially do whatever you want. All prestige points and money you earn from this transfers to the main story mode, so if you enjoy slaughtering zombies with little to no restrictions, this is for you.

For fans of the Dead Rising series, this game is an upgrade from past iterations, which should keep you around for a little while longer. This game has its bright spots and it demands creativity with the use of combo cards. The addition of the photography system and the combo cards are great for the veteran players of this series, but it still lacked the depth I was looking for in a game like this. Survival purists aren't going to get much of a challenge, but a fan of sandbox-style games that wants to kill thousands of zombies as creatively as possible will find this to be time well spent.

Platform reviewed on: Xbox 360

Developer: Capcom & Blue Castle

Publisher: Capcom