Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Todd Vote on 11.14.2011
Frank West is back in the alternate take on the events of Fortune City. Can Frank make it worth a double take? Come inside for the full review.
Title: Dead Rising 2: Off the Record
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Blue Castle Games
Genre: Action Adventure
Players: 1-2
Rated: M for Mature
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record is a re-imagining of the events that Chuck Greene faced after his turn on Terror is Reality in Fortune City. This time around things are a bit different. This time you are in control of a down on his luck out of shape Frank West. Frank has come to Fortune City to participate in TIR and try to recapture some of the fame he had after the Willamette outbreak. If you've played any zombie game ever, you already know that when the undead are involved, things never go according to plan. Before I go any further, if you haven't played the original Dead Rising, this review could contain some potential spoilers for that game. Okay, moving on.
I can't be the only one who sees Dan Aykroyd, can I?
As I said, this is Frank coming into Fortune City, The last few years have not been good to Frank. This in turn makes Frank a bit slower than Chuck. Frank seems to be a bit stronger though, so I guess it kind of averages out. Plus you as you level up, you will regain some of that conditioning that Frank has lost over the years. In addition to the change from Chuck to Frank, Fortune City looks like it has been given a bit of a facelift. Not in the sense that there is anything out of place, but the city just looks more vibrant, as if it had been hit with a coat of touch up paint. It's an interesting dynamic to see all the zombie chaos play against a bright colorful backdrop.
When this game was first announced as an alternate take on the events of Fortune City, with Frank at the wheel, I was a bit excited, not going to lie. I was big fan of Dead Rising 2, and had no problem with playing a new story in a familiar setting. Unfortunately, what was delivered was essentially the same thing we saw in Dead Rising 2. I knew that some things would have to play the same, or they would change the whole cause for the original outbreak. So I get that. What I did not expect is for every one of the main missions to be lifted directly from Dead Rising 2.
The only differences that will arise will be from a few of the side missions where you rescue survivors, or fight off a psychopath here and there. It was a disappointment to say the least. Don't get me wrong, this is still a fun game, but I was disappointed with that. I guess I knew it was coming, but still bummed me out a bit. I have a lot of hours into the original Dead Rising 2, so coming back to the same game playing as someone different didn't hold quite the same luster to what I was hoping for.
Now playing the same story doesn't necessarily mean the game is not worth playing. Luckily, with Frank being back, so are his particular brand of skills. Most notable being the photography has returned. That is probably the one change to the campaign I liked the most. I'm sure everyone remembers that snapping the right picture can gain you some serious PP. Of course the more things that are going on in each picture you snap, the higher PP you will earn from each picture.
New to the photography is the addition of the PP sensor on your camera, as well as PP stickers on landmarks throughout Fortune City. The PP sensor appears at the top of your HUD when you are looking through the lens of the camera. The sensor bar moves up when you are looking in the direction of PP stickers. PP stickers will net you more PP than just having a shot with zombies or survivors.
Say Cheese!
Also returning this time around are some of Frank's exclusive moves. From the German Suplex, that I don't remember Chuck having to new attacks with his camera, Frank will play a bit different than Chuck in that respect. You will at least have some new toys to play with.
Speaking of new toys, all of the combo weapons available for you in Dead Rising 2 have returned. But it wouldn't really be a new game if you didn't have some new toys to play with, right? Frank gets some new combo weapons, and even a whole new area added to Fortune City for him to experiment with. Things like the Weed Tendonizer, the Molten Cannon, and the Laser Eyes. You will also have the ability to create all the combo weapons from the DLC only title, Dead Rising 2: Case West. I don't want to ruin all the new weapons for you, so I'll stop there.
There is a new area to explore in Fortune City, as I alluded to above, Uranus Zone. Unfortunately, with the same story as Dead Rising 2, you find very little reason to visit this place, other than to do some achievement hunting and create some Combo weapons specific to that area. If I recall, there might be one side mission that takes you into this area. So while a nice attempt to add something new, it ultimately falls flat because there is no reason for you to go there if you don't want to.
The online is changed a bit now. One of the things I liked the most about Dead Rising 2 was the TIR online game. It was a fun way to get cash and it would all transfer over to your single player game when you were done. Once I was done with the campaign, this is where I spent my time with the game. It was fast paced, short mini games. So out with the old in with the new, right?
Replacing the TIR online game is the awesome Sandbox mode. Sandbox mode opens with Frank familiarly flying in on a helicopter. The pilot asks if he is working a case, Frank's reply really sets the tone for what you are about to get into. Frank says “This isn't work, this is a vacation!” Then he dives out of the helicopter.
Terror IS Reality!!
Sandbox mode is just what it sounds like, Fortune City is literally your playground now. Jam packed with zombies, and crazy survivors all just waiting to take you down. But don't think that it is just endlessly maiming and killing, there are challenges set up all over the city. You unlock new challenges by killing zombies. Once you reach specified numbers, new challenges unlock. This is a cool addition, but unfortunately, you have to kill ridiculous numbers here to unlock anything. The final challenge unlocks after you kill your 10,000th zombie. I felt that was just a bit to high. The challenges range from fun to ridiculous. Some entail killing a set number of zombies, others require that you earn a certain amount of PP within a given time limit.
Sandbox mode is a blast to play through, and even better with a friend. When playing with a friend, you gain access to a set of co-op challenges to go through adding even more fun to the game. Sandbox mode replacing the TIR online game is not the worst thing in the world by far. It was at least an even trade. But I'll give the nod to Sandbox mode.
Multiplayer drop in drop out campaign is back. The difference this time is the host remains Frank, while the person joining the game will play as good old Chuck Greene. It was a nice little unexpected surprise, so I thought it was worth mentioning. Chuck has a cameo in the single player game too, but I won't ruin that for ya.
Catch!
Pros:
+ Glad the photography stuff is back
+ Sandbox Mode is Boss!
+ For $40, you can't beat it if you didn't play the original Dead Rising 2
Cons:
- No new story was a big letdown.
- Uranus Zone felt out of place
The 411:
While still a fun game, Off the Record just has to much of a been there done that feel. If you haven't played Dead Rising 2, this is a great buy at $40. That being said, the game is really just the same thing with a shiny new coat of paint. Sandbox mode is awesome, and I hope it returns in future games!
Graphics
8.0
Fortune City has never looked better. The graphics are a bit crisper than they were in Dead Rising 2.
Gameplay
8.0
The gameplay was tightened up a bit, you have new combo weapons and the camera to utilize.
Sound
7.0
The sound was all the same as it was in Dead Rising 2 save for Frank's Dialog.
Lasting Appeal
6.0
Everything was just a bit to much been there done that to really hold my attention. Sandbox mode was great, but not enough to bring the campaign up.
Fun Factor
7.0
If you missed Dead Rising 2 because it didn't star Frank West, this is the game for you!
