GAMEPLAY

Once you've gone through the standard tutorials, you're free to explore the zombie-infested city. Your character can carry a variety of melee weapons, projectiles, or health items. Almost anything can be used as a weapon in "Dead Rising", from a cash register, and park bench, to even a dirty great sledgehammer.. The weapon variety is unrivaled in gaming, and you can also combine certain items if you learn the right blueprint. This leads to some of the most ridiculous and satisfying moments in zombie gaming history. Whether you're using a pair of electrified Freddy Krueger scissors, an exploding zombie flesh grenade, or a dragon suit that breathes fire, the variety is incredible and joyful.





In terms of story, it's broken down into chapters that have to be completed in order. But it's a race against time to level up, get the right gear, and pass those challenging boss fights to make sure you don't miss the story deadline. Sadly, the main protagonist is pretty bland and lifeless, as are his NPC allies, with maybe one or two exceptions. But fear not, the villains are absolutely legendary, and they completely steal the show. From a psychotic surgeon trying to drag you into submission to a fast food addict who runs you down in her mobility scooter, or a curvy police officer with murderous tendencies, some of these bosses are core story-focused, but there are others that are optional. Each one offers a challenging set piece accompanied by some ridiculous cutscenes.





As you progress, you will accumulate experience, whether it be from killing zombies, bosses, or activities. It's then up to you to use these actual points on things like life, melee, or range skills. On the whole, "Dead Rising 3" is one of the most entertaining zombie apocalypse games ever played. From the endless zombie bashing, and insane boss fights, to just random things like collecting lots of cool outfits, crafting memorable weapons, or just mowing down zombies in a Ferrari, seriously.





Finally, on gameplay there are two main modes. The story is the base game, but there is Nightmare mode too, which offers a harder take on the story. The Apocalypse Edition features all of the DLCs, including Operation Broken Eagle, Chaos Rising, The Last Agent, and Fallen Angel. Each one offers a stand-alone adventure that adds a decent amount of gameplay. You also get the Nick Ramos Survivor pack, so there's plenty here to sink your teeth into.

Graphics & Sound

Visually, it's a pretty satisfying experience with a huge amount of on-screen action and no noticeable slowdown. The characters look good and the city is vast. The menus are well-constructed, easy to read, and clear to follow.

In terms of Sound, the effects and music are good, but the voice acting is a bit up and down. Generally, the sound is okay.

Good and Bad

What's good: The freedom of setting Dead Rising in a large city is a step up from the first two games. The weapon variety is incredible, as is the fabulous crafting. The boss fights are wonderful, and there's a huge amount of content in this edition. It never gets old killing endless hordes of zombies; it's fun and creative.

What's bad: With so many icons on the map, it can be a little bit confusing as to what the core story really is. The HUD is a bit over the top and gets in the way, particularly during tutorials and tips. Also, there's no Frank West, which means we're left with a pretty bland protagonist.

Final Thoughts

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is a quality zombie adventure game with crazy combat, silly characters, and more zombies than you can shake a stick at. Sadly, there's no Frank West, which felt like a bit of an odd call considering the whole franchise is essentially about him. Despite this, Dead Rising 3 is an improvement on the first two games in terms of location, weapons, better progression, and more in-depth skill adjustment. Also, it's one of those games that just gets better with each playthrough as you run amok in this wonderful and playful zombie apocalypse sandbox. For me, it's the best Dead Rising even without Frank West. I've played them all, but this one, so far, is the best out of the first three.