The Dead Rising series has had problems when it comes to delivering protagonists that aren't Frank West. When that character kicked off the series in the f

Engrossing open-world setting; Fantastic weapon variety; Great protagonist; Fun multiplayer

Some annoying glitches

The original Dead Rising polarised critics and gamers in 2006, its dedication to cathartic, slapstick violence either marrying well, or clashing with (depending on your stance), its insistence on stri

Unpretentious; cathartic fun; Detailed; busy environments; Genuinely funny

Technically iffy; Far too easy; Dumbed down mechanics

It's interesting how a game series can fall right off the rails. Sometimes developers decide to try something new and fumble. That's admirable in its own way even if it ends poorly. Other times developers just rehash the same game time and again in the hopes of not alienating their fans.

Fantastic graphics; tight controls

Bad writing; iffy game design; not a Dead Rising game

Capcom's Dead Rising 4 didn't deliver quite the holiday cheer as promised when it released this Xmas. I have always been a super fan of the Dead Rising series and have greatly enjoyed each new release in the series over the last few years.

Capcom Vancouver is taking players back to the beginning with the fourth entry of Dead Rising . The series' original protagonist Frank West once again finds himself in the zombie-infested town of Willamette. However, this time, he's prepared.

'Dead Rising 4' has deviated too much from its own traditions for me to give it a wholehearted recommendation. It now resembles a typical modern day third-person sandbox game, for what that's worth.

On Christmas Eve, photojournalist Frank West-formerly a John McClane-style everyman, now a goofball resembling Ash Williams by way of Peter Venkman-is stranded in the town of Willamette, where military experimentation has led to a mass zombie outbreak.

A solid game that definitely has an audience. Might lack replay value, could be too short or there are some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Dead Rising is an action and adventure series that challenges players to find the truth behind zombie outbreaks while battling hordes of the undead in new and exciting ways.

The allure of the original Dead Rising's goofy and gratuitous zombie slaughter was the reason I bought an Xbox 360 back in 2006. Dead Rising 4 ratchets that arcadey, hack-and-slash power fantasy and self-aware satire up to new heights.