Why I’m Pumped To Be Playing Dead Rising 2
It’s a little late to be talking about a game that was released in 2010, but I’ve just returned to Dead Rising 2 after completing Absolution and whoring it of all its Achievements, and I forgot how much I love this game.
I put countless hours into Dead Rising. With its quirky save system and RPG influence, I must have restarted the story 20+ times. I did a decent job of levelling up and unlocking Achievements. I even chased – and won – the Zombie Genocider Achievement. Yes, I had too much time on my hands.
Fast forward to 2010 and due to being terribly distracted by someone, Dead Rising 2 barely got a look in from me. I enjoyed the little I played of it, and was immediately grateful Capcom had retained many of the elements I had loved about the original (yet other gamers appear to hate). So, what is it I love about Dead Rising so much?
Levelling Up
It’s no secret that I am fond of RPGs. I enjoy chasing XP and the endless quest of levelling up and unlocking whatever powers come with rising in rank. Dead Rising employs a similar game mechanic; you earn Prestige Points and level up, giving you more health, inventory space and other benefits. But instead of overly camp, Japanese characters there are zombies. Lots of them. In a game that is notoriously difficult, it becomes addictive and a necessity to chase the next level.
The psychopaths in Dead Rising 2 are particularly difficult to beat, which is why it can be tempting to restart the story upon dying, giving you a better chance of beating those blasted bosses.
The Tomb Raider series means a lot to me, and while I admit it has lost its footing in recent years, I’ve always stuck by Lara. The latest Tomb Raider, however, has been completely re-imagined and – at some points – doesn’t even feel like a TR game. It’s a welcome change, though, and has me well and truly hooked.