Go to Windows 7 Insider Guide
GameSpot editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 03/11/2009
- Released on: 02/24/2009
- Originally published on GameSpot: Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii) Review
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop is like a film adaptation of a classic book. It resembles the original in the most important ways, but a few drastic changes have made it something of its own. Fans of the Xbox 360 original may balk at the changes and downgraded visuals, but those unfamiliar with Dead Rising will find a pleasingly action-packed game here. The free-roaming zombie-slaying of Dead Rising is unique on the Wii, and even though Chop Till You Drop has its fare shair of flaws, it's a welcome addition to the console's increasingly mature library.
Guns and ammo are more plentiful on the Wii than they were in the original game.
The story follows freelance photojournalist Frank West as he investigates the zombie invasion at the Willamette mall. Within minutes of arriving, Frank leverages his returning helicopter ride to get information out of some secretive DHS agents. By his second day in the zombie-infested complex, Frank is knee-deep in conspiracy theories, needy survivors, and of course, brain-hungry zombies. The story tries to take itself seriously--there's a commentary on America's war on terror in there somewhere--but the hammy voice acting and poor writing give it a campy vibe.
The campy silliness doesn't end with the story; the gameplay provides hours of laughs. Ever wonder what kind of sound it would make if you hit a zombie with a parking cone? Ever have the desire to dress in children's clothing while slaying undead? With hundreds of items to use as improvised weapons, and several dozen bizarre clothing selections, Dead Rising: CTYD has plenty of options to make your ridiculous horror fantasies come true as you bash your way through hordes of undead.
As a scaled-down port, CTYD seems like it has a one-step-forward, two-steps-back design. The developers fixed a number of issues from the 360 version, but created some more in the process. One of the most common complaints leveled at the original game was that its single-save system caused unnecessary frustration. With only one save slot, rescuing every person and completing every mission took some considerable time-management skills, and consequently multiple play-throughs were almost a must. The Wii version gives you multiple save slots, but it also ditches the hectic seat-of-your-pants flow for a more manageable, linear structure. The option to have multiple saves is still welcome, but it's not really necessary, given that you'll tackle each mission one at time. It also highlights the repetitive nature of the original missions. The fetch quests didn't seem as tedious on the 360 because you could juggle more than one at a time. Chop Till You Drop requires constant trips to and from the security room to pick up new missions.
In addition to multiple save slots, the Wii version of Dead Rising comes packed with new zombie enemies that are slowly introduced throughout your time in the mall. New foes, including giant stun-gun wielding zombies and deadly accurate gun-toting zombies, spice up the action and keep you on your toes. Unfortunately, the most common of the additions--zombie poodles and grenade-dropping parrots--could be in the running for the most annoying enemies in game history.
Ever wondered what you should do if a clown comes at you with a chainsaw?
Where to buy
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii):
$19.99 - $39.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$38.99 | No |
|
|
RadioShack.com
|
$39.99 | Yes |
|
|
$19.99 | Yes |
|
%20Wii%20Game%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/wii-games/dead-rising-chop-till/4505-9993_7-33175479.html){kind=small}