Joystiq impressions: Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop
by Zack Stern 
{ Oct 6th 2008 at 12:00PM }
click to enlarge
But after playing at the Nintendo Media Summit, we're apprehensive about what's being lost. There's no photojournalism, many weapons have been cut, and we're just not sure if the Wii can push enough zombies-per-second to create the ambling masses of the first. The Wii version seems suited to gamers who never tried the original; it'll hold up better without any direct comparison to the 360 game.
In the Wii game, Capcom follows parts of the Resident Evil 4 style on WIi, and a similar point-and-shoot mechanic felt good. We popped off zombies with a few guns by swinging the IR cross-hair through the mall.
We were told that many game weapons have been consolidated, plus Capcom is including more frequent guns because of the Wii controls. While our demo was limited and the full game could give a different aesthetic, we were disappointed to keep coming across the same weapon items in the mall. Most often, we stuck with a bat, which we swung by waving the Remote. Our motion didn't matter, but we had more fun than tapping an attack button.
We're also apprehensive about the graphics and zombie counts. Visuals looked sufficient by Wii standards, with blocky edges and textures. And we're hopeful that the enemy density will increase; our demo area was well short of the 360's zombie jamboree.
As mentioned, gamers who skipped the 360 original should have a better time with Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop than those playing again. The new version overlaps with the Wii audience, with the motion-controlled weapons, for example. Capcom plans to ship Dead Rising sometime this Winter.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 12:07PM
Capcom and Nintendo both know that Wii owners will buy anything. Even if it is a half-ass port that severly gimps the gameplay with low quantities of zombies, less weapons, and even less features.
Wow, what a great time to be a Nintendo follower.
Marty @ Oct 6th 2008 12:19PM
If you look at the hardware differences between the Wii and the Xbox 360, maybe you'd realize that it would have been impossible to run the original game, in all its glory, on the Wii.
Killjebus @ Oct 6th 2008 12:25PM
"If you look at the hardware differences between the Wii and the Xbox 360, maybe you'd realize that it would have been impossible to run the original game, in all its glory, on the Wii."
Which is why I have said, and will keep saying that the Wii is NOT a part of this generation.
Envoy @ Oct 6th 2008 12:28PM
Not all ports are bad. I got Okami and RE4, I doubt anyone would say those two suck.
apples and badgers @ Oct 6th 2008 12:38PM
marty love tendo... m-m-marty love tendo.
tendo....friend.
duh wii = $hi# compared to everyone else right now. what jackoNTrdes said is true Nintendo's consumers will buy ANYTHING. just put the words super and or mario in the title and your pretty much guaranteed a hit.
samfish @ Oct 6th 2008 12:46PM
"If you look at the hardware differences between the Wii and the Xbox 360, maybe you'd realize that it would have been impossible to run the original game, in all its glory, on the Wii."
Not really. This is just a rushed effort on Capcom's part to have a game out on store shelves for Christmas.
With some clever programing (and probably a dedicated/more appropriate engine), they could have had a product that is remarkably close to the 360 version with some effort.
I mean, if the PS2 can do this:
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2008/08/26/video-comparison-shows-dead-rising-taken-down-by-hitman/
Then there's no reason the Wii couldn't.
naxe @ Oct 6th 2008 12:57PM
yea ENVOY..
They didnt suck before they were ported.. so that kinda a moot point.
If RE4 was killer and you enhance it of course it's still gonna be killer.
But with dead rising your dumbing down the game to reach the masses.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:24PM
Sam
"Not really. This is just a rushed effort on Capcom's part to have a game out on store shelves for Christmas.
With some clever programing (and probably a dedicated/more appropriate engine), they could have had a product that is remarkably close to the 360 version with some effort."
How long are you going to believe that crap? Maybe the Wii isn't as powerful as you think it is.
samfish @ Oct 6th 2008 1:35PM
Yes, Jack. The Wii is significantly weaker than the PS2, you're right. Gosh howdy, do I wish I was as smrt as you!
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:46PM
sam
Your a funny guy.
I highly doubt any game on the Wii will look like anything on the 360.
Plus, it seems you forgot about the "ram issue" on the Wii. Maybe this why there are not that many low polygon zombies aon the screen.
arrrgh @ Oct 6th 2008 2:20PM
jack, youre a wad. We all know it. So don't worry about trying to save face.
As for the Wii being able or unable to pull off a certain level of graphical prowess, sam is right. Besides that, the GC was SUBSTANTIALLY easier to code for than the PS2. You could piss and moan about ram issues, or you could look at any game made late in the ps2 lifecycle, or any of the great looking games already on the Wii and tell that capcom rushed this.
It's a money grab. So what? Are you trying to pretend that they couldn't have made the game better if it were more than just that?
Even the ps3 fanboys at n4g could tell you that this could have looked better even by Wii standards. Companies just don't want to shell out for one-off game engines tailored specifically to a console's strength.
Devs are only building dedicated engines for AAA titles on their lead developing platform. Then being ported. Don't make this out to be a "nintendo sucks" thing again...it's tiring
Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 2:39PM
Am I late to burn the Heretic?
(Super Mario Galaxy looks kinda like a X360 game)
Evan @ Oct 6th 2008 2:39PM
@Marty, killjebus
The PS2 managed to put a decent number of enemies on the screen at one time, and Dead Rising doesn't do anything that wasn't done on the PS2 in terms of AI. Gameplay takes up only a small fraction of a game's processing power, and as a programmer I can say that there are few 360 or PS3 games whose gameplay could not be done on the PS2, Wii, or even PSP! Albeit, the graphics might have to be toned down to PS1-quality, but everything except the graphics in Dead Rising is well within the capabilities of last-gen hardware.
Coldbrand @ Oct 6th 2008 12:08PM
So basically they made the game easy as fuck and graphically shit?
Ordeith @ Oct 6th 2008 12:23PM
Welcome to the world of the Wii.
arrrgh @ Oct 6th 2008 2:26PM
damn target audience
Marty @ Oct 6th 2008 12:13PM
"The Wii remake addresses both issues, running players thorough a condensed, linear story..."
I assume you meant 'through' there.
Zack Stern @ Oct 6th 2008 12:35PM
Yes. Thanks, Marty.
Red Leader @ Oct 6th 2008 12:13PM
I actually loved the original Dead Rising for the very reasons everyone seemed to be frustrated by it. Honestly, the save system wasn't really all that "unforgiving" as Joystiq puts it. Plus I think it's a little more fun to make quick decisions and cut your losses during the course of the game.
arrrgh @ Oct 6th 2008 2:27PM
good points dude!
though, I do think it was unforgiving.
but that's part of the hopeless feel you often get in the game. The whole point is to be OVERWHELMED with zombies in this situation... I think they did a great job :)
meist3r @ Oct 6th 2008 12:21PM
I'll still buy this. Given the lack of mature titles on the platform this will be a nice game to fill the release gap.
knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Oct 6th 2008 12:22PM
The only issue with Dead Rising was the stupidly hard and unforgiving bosses which just made you pissed off.
Red Leader @ Oct 6th 2008 12:25PM
Seriously. Even with super powered weapons and a ton of orange juice, it was still hard taking out half the bosses in the game.
wiredknight @ Oct 6th 2008 12:28PM
Thank you!
I knew I wasn't the only one who raised an eyebrow after shooting that girl on the motorcycle 20 times in the face, only to have her fall off, relatively unharmed, and then decide to help me.
Honestly. WTF.
Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 1:54PM
Pro tip:Megabuster FTW.
The only hard bosses are Cletus when you are starting and Kent if you screw up.
Most of the game you can’t ignore those fights, I finished the game with A ranking the first time with just fighting a handful of bosses.
If you need help with Dead Rising just ask.
arrrgh @ Oct 6th 2008 2:31PM
i thought so too (hard bosses)
until I actually started to look for good weapons, including downing the inmates in the humvee. Once you have a few uzis, and those mini chainsaws from the clown (a bladed weapon bonus book helps a lot) You have more than enough firepower to spank these bosses.
but again, i thought the same way as you until I started settling down to focus on power and strategy
Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 2:43PM
Arrrgh is correct.
Mini Chainsaw + Mag = Best Melee Weapon in the game.
Megabuster = best ranged weapon.
I say that Uzis and Katanas are the best starting weapons and are very easy to get.
ZippyDSMlee @ Oct 6th 2008 1:17PM
Yes its rushed...but.... so was the 360 itself....and Halo 3.....
*hides*
LOL
Superstar90 @ Oct 6th 2008 2:12PM
*hides from your stupidity*
LOL
ZippyDSMlee @ Oct 6th 2008 2:30PM
Oh come on the 360 hardware was badly tested leading to insane fail rates and halo ep 3 only offers 8-10 hours of SP time for 60 fcking bucks I am sorry but thats rushed where I come from.
And to be fair the WII is under preforming game wise and the PS3 costs to much and dosen't have enough games to make it worth more than the 360.
Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 2:36PM
Well to be honest at the end of the game some textures in Halo 3 looked bad.
For example at the end of the "Covenant" some textures look reused from Halo 2 and somewhat stretched.
But then again some textures look very pixilated in many games of this gen. For example in B:BC when you look at the ground you can start counting pixels.
ZippyDSMlee @ Oct 6th 2008 2:44PM
Mr ESC,Lives Again.
Halo 1 was good alil rough here and there but good non the less, H2 and H3 are rushed, why are they rushing a flagship title that will sale regardless of time released(I can say the same for Bioshock the PC version is broken out of the box!(b.o.o.b))?
I just hate the way the industry is dumping games down and rushing them in order to get more crap out, its like they are rushing to keep the profit bubble filled.....
Red Leader @ Oct 6th 2008 3:10PM
@ Zippy
It's all about the money. At the end of the day, that's what it all really amounts to in the gaming industry. User enjoyment is secondary if they know the product will sell like hot cakes.
ZippyDSMlee @ Oct 6th 2008 3:25PM
Red Leader
Ture, this is why gaming is getting worse, hell look at hollywood its the same setup dumb it down "simplify" it and the process making it = PROFIT!
I refuse to put up with lowering standards and hate the way 7 is now the new average.
I might talk sht I might be a hack but I am given good reason to dismiss the supposed greatness of current gaming if not current media...
----------
Looky I is a hackz :P
http://www.zippydsmlee.net/ut04mods.htm
Enjoy what you can... You learn to hate it sooner or later. =0-o=
Dirty @ Oct 6th 2008 1:14PM
Wish they were spending their money and development time on making a sequel instead of a port.
ScottG13 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:36PM
MY EYES!!!!!
carg0 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:43PM
give us dead rising 2 already, dammit!
Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 1:55PM
The only thing I want is a way to save my progress in Infinity mode.
I can't play more than 2 hours so Day 5 and 7 achievements are impossible for me.
Rocketboy @ Oct 6th 2008 2:10PM
Throwing a Sawblade, UR Doing it Wrong.
Chris Miller @ Oct 6th 2008 2:12PM
They said it themselves. The wii can't possibly handle the same number of zombies the 360 kicked out. Btw if you want actual numbers -
360 - 800 zombies onscreen
Wii - 100 zombies >.>
bm @ Oct 6th 2008 4:04PM
If you skimmed the thread you'd have come across this:
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2008/08/26/video-comparison-shows-dead-rising-taken-down-by-hitman/
This DR conversion is just bullshit.
Chris Miller @ Oct 6th 2008 4:09PM
Yeah, I saw it. To be honest I think it's a limitation of the engine they're using. Probably why we didn't see hoards of hundreds in Resident Evil 4. I plan to skip this one, I'm more than happy with DR for 360.
Dante G @ Oct 6th 2008 2:25PM
I don't get it. Why do people who aren't interested at all about the game take the time to post their irrelevant comments about the wii not being as powerful as the 360?
Don't we all know that? In other words: GTFO Killjebus and Jack.
tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 6th 2008 2:34PM
Because it's just further proof of the problems the wii has and what it does to the industry. Why make a sequel when you can churn out a half assed port and make more money on the moronic masses that have wii's?
What's even more pathetic is that most of them probably don't even realize that there's a faaaaar superior version out there already for a lot cheaper than what the wii version will be.
Evan @ Oct 6th 2008 2:52PM
The only "problem" the Wii has is that Nintendo is not kissing the ass of hardcore gamers. And why should Nintendo care about hardcore gamers - hardcore gamers shunned the GameCube even when Nintendo made a system equally as powerful as the competition! Everyone needs to stop pretending that being more powerful would have made a difference, because most of you wouldn't have bought the system even if it was as powerful as the 360 or PS3.
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:08PM
And knowing Nintendo even if they had made it more powerful, they still wouldn't have made it as appealing to the people clamoring for the kinds of "mature" games that we're seeing
But that's the nature of the Nintendo paradox, one they've been stuck in with public perception (especially in America) for some time, whatever they do, someone's going to bitch about it and declare their inferiority
samfish @ Oct 6th 2008 3:41PM
"Casual" is the new "Kiddy".
JeffyP00 @ Oct 6th 2008 3:08PM
Whatever.. The save system was fine. There were save points all over the freaking mall which you could run to and save at any-freaking-time!! You regularly are running right by the things! I think the complainers just expected to waltz through the game, and blamed the save system instead of their lack of skill when they repeatedly failed to meet deadlines...
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:12PM
The thing is, this game is more "arcadey" in the sense that its less "realistic" you can re-play missions, alter difficulty, etc.
In all the cases of these demos, you were low level (i saw Lv 2 in the screenshots) and probably playing a mission on the low difficulty end. This opens up the possibility for higher zombie counts at higher difficulties and levels, or maybe Capcom was just lying when they promised the higher counts
We shall see
Courtney @ Oct 7th 2008 1:14AM
I'm surprised no one has commented on the photojournalism aspect being removed. I happened to really dig taking photos and trying to rack up some big point photos, particularly in my second play through. While photography in most games (I'm looking at you Solid) seems rather like a pointless afterthought, in DR it was so well integrated as a mechanic and part of the story/character that the game seems much emptier without it.
That and the entire beginning sequence gets ruined. The voyeuristic aspect of watching society devolve below you, and gleefully taking pictures of it, was perfect for the game.
Ug.