Nukezilla Review: Dead Rising 2: Case Zero

A little bird told me some time ago that it was possible to get free Microsoft Points just for using a certain search engine. At first I couldn’t believe it; can it really be that easy to get free stuff? I was in disbelief until, late last week, I received an email from Bing packed with four separate codes for 100 MS points each. Ecstatic with my newly-acquired wealth, I took to Xbox Live to see if there were any good titles. That’s when I stumbled upon Dead Rising 2: Case Zero.

Case Zero is a demo/DLC/prequel of DR2 proper: taking place three years before the events of DR2. Chuck Greene, on his way out of Las Vegas, decides to stop in the sleepy hollow of Still Creek to find supplies and give a does of Zombrex (anti-zombie medicine) to daughter Katey. While doing so, his truck (and the rest of his supply of Zombrex) is taken by some unknown figure. On top of that the zombie outbreak has spread to Still Creek, which is scheduled to be carpet-bombed out of existence in 13 hours. To get out of the town alive Chuck has to reassemble a broken motorbike, stop a crazed hillbilly from killing Katey, and find one last dose of Zombrex. Another day in the life of a motocross superstar, I guess.

It’s hard to pin down how exactly to classify this title. On the one hand it’s a demo. Everything you can experience in Dead Rising 2 is presented here, albeit in a much smaller fashion. Various survivors can be saved around the city, from some girls trying to enjoy a game of bowling to a gunslinger picking off zombies from the roof of his store. You can also create eight different weapons, from the paddle saw to the I.E.D. The controls are also exactly the same. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on the player; I find that at times Chuck moves a little too slowly, but that’s just a personal preference.

I’d also consider this DLC, as it nets you rewards in the main title. In Case Zero you can get Chuck up to level five and create the eight different combo weapons. When you pop in DR2, those experience points and combo weapons carry over. What better demo is there than one that can actually improve your game when you eventually get it?

Finally this could also be classified as a prequel game in and of itself. The story in the game, while small, hints at the main game very loosely. Also the caveat of this game is that you have to get a dose of Zombrex for Katey every 12 hours. This is because, at this point in the DR universe, Zombrex wasn’t as well made as it is in the main title, so the effects only last 12 hours, as opposed to the 24 in DR2.

For any fan of Dead Rising or Dead Rising 2, Case Zero is a great companion piece. Not only does it give you more time with the badass Chuck, it does things differently from other demos/prequels/DLC. The narrative connection to the main game, plus the ability to unlock things in DR2, is brilliant. It’s a great idea, one I hope more game devs will introduce. Sure the title comes in at 400 MS points, which is pricey for a demo/4 hour long title. But if you’ve never played a Dead Rising title, or want to know if Dead Rising 2 is worth buying, Case Zero is a great jumping-off point. Plus, with different endings and a short run-time, Case Zero is worth repeating a few times.

Be sure to check Nukezilla‘s Dead Rising 2 review!