Joystiq

Microsoft didn't have many surprises at their Xbox 360 CES booth, but we did get to demo Capcom's upcoming zombie hack n' slash n' blaster, Dead Rising. We were thrust into a zombie-infested shopping mall on the hunt for a "Woman With Secrets," and we only had 27 seconds, yikes! From our early impressions, the game certainly needs some work before its projected May release.

For one, the visuals weren't quite up to par with the screenshots that popped-up last fall. And the sheer terror of being surrounded by hundreds of zombies ended up feeling like utter annoyance. I suppose you can get away with brainless AI when you're dealing with hordes of zombies, but this felt like a step backwards... maybe RE4 just spoiled us (but those weren't zombies, right?). To make matters worse, the player-controlled camera is a hassle when you're in the mix, trying to fend off a dozen walking dead; it ends up being a huge obstacle, as do the slowdown issues.

Combat is as brain-dead as the AI. There's a jump button (A) and an attack button (X), and combining the two acts as a grab move, hoisting a zombie over your head. Oh, and if you're lucky, the weapon you're carrying will have a "special attack" if you hold X--and don't forget, if you hold the R-trigger you can aim over the shoulder, but you can't move. Yes folks, it's a step backwards indeed. There were 8-bit titles that had more depth than this.

On the positive side, there are plenty of items to pick up and bludgeon, blast, and blaze through zombies with, including bats, pipes, boards, knives, pistols, shotguns, and the almighty chainsaw.. Unfortunately, you'll also pick up a number of food and drink items that are carelessly tossed into your inventory, and if you're not careful, you'll end up with an orange in your hand and a bunch of zombies ripping your head off--but perhaps this is part of the challenge. If navigating a hazardous inventory sounds like your idea of a next-gen party then Capcom's got your invitation. But watch out, room-to-room load times might put a damper on your wild orgy.