So it looks like you guys are fond of our little zombie smash-em up epic for the Xbox 360, so much so that weve had fans tell us that Dead Rising is the reason why they went out and plunked down their hard-earned sheckles for that screamin game system! Well shucks, we do have to admit that Dead Rising is quite an amazing game, especially for horror fans who have always dreamt of being able to run a zombie clean through with a caf umbrella while sporting a pink muumuu. I mean, lets face it, who hasnt ever imagined what it would be like to be set loose in a mall? Sure theres the whole raging zombie hoard downside, but as the courageous Frank West has proven, zombies can be dealt with for the chance at free reign in a mall sporting goods store.
 

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Remarkably, Dead Rising made videogame history by shipping more than 500,000 units within the first two weeks of its release on August 8, 2006. Immediately on the heels of that news came the announcement that it had also earned the esteemed statistic Fastest Selling Next Generation Title from a Japanese Publisher.

 
 
Response to Dead Rising from the trade, press and consumers has been tremendous, said Charles Bellfield, vice president, marketing, Capcom Entertainment. The success of the game is a result of Capcoms recognition of Xbox 360 systems possibilities and starting development early on in order to deliver such a high-quality game.

In other words, we saw the possibilities of the Xbox 360 early on, and lo, it was good. Apparently lots of game players agreed having downloaded the heck out of the Dead Rising demo on Xbox Live for weeks on end.

 
 
 

Reviewers seem pretty pleased with Dead Rising as well. Check out the scores and what they had to say.

 

GameSpy, Score: 4.5 out of 5, Reviewer: Will Tuttle
Tons of weapons scattered about the mall; adeptly combines horror and humor elements; engaging storyline; nice variety of missions; excellent sound effects.
one of the most uniquely imaginative horror games ever created.
While, surprisingly, straight-up zombie-killing isn’t the true focus of the game, it’s bound to be what you’ll spend most of your time doing, as it’s just plain fun.
Dead Rising is a straight-up blast from start to finish.

TeamXbox, Score: 8.7 out of 10, Reviewer: Nate Ahearn
The astounding level of variety that is packed into the game is wonderful to see.
Truly a next-gen gaming experience simply for the diversity that the game offers.
Dead Rising takes a classic game premise and turns it completely on its head. Oh, and its hellishly fun too.

1up.com, Score: 8 out of 10, Reviewer: James Mielke
One of the best things Dead Rising has going for it is its sense of humor.
Dead Rising nevertheless provides a wealth of secrets and mysteries for both eager gamers and the adventuresome. With each repeated play through a stage, Frank becomes stronger, better able to uncover the mysteries behind this allegorical horror adventure (we’ll let you discover what really makes zombies zombies), and the experience becomes richer for it.
no hardcore gamer should miss the wholly unique experience provided in Dead Rising’s debut.

GameSpot, Score: 8.4 out of 10, Reviewer: Alex Navarro
Thousands and thousands of zombies to kill in a myriad of ridiculous ways; tons of things to see and try throughout the mall; great sense of style; a plot that manages to be intriguing without intruding too much on the action; fantastic sound effects.
Dead Rising is a great success, wonderfully blending campy undertones and visceral, zombie-killing action into something highly playable.
one of the more unique and enjoyable games on the Xbox 360. There aren’t many games that give you the level of pure, bizarre variety that this game does, and its splendidly brutal yet entirely silly brand of action is too much fun to ignore.

UGO.com, Score: A-, Reviewer: Russell Frushtick
In terms of creating a realistic game world, Dead Rising has no equal. This feels every bit like a real mall, right down to the fully stocked supermarket
the game is smooth and gorgeous, bursting with fine high definition gore.
If you’re a fan of zombie movies, or you’ve been waiting for a decent action adventure game during the sleepy summer months, Dead Rising is a godsend.

GamesRadar.com, Score: 8 out of 10, Reviewer: Francesca ReyesYoull love: Free-roaming zombie bludgeoning. Shoot zombie cleavage, play dress up. Good blend of humor and gravity.

IGN 360, Score: 8.3, Reviewer: Charles Onyett
It’s got a great sense of humor, and fits snugly into the grand scheme of ever-growing zombie lore. It’s something any self-respecting horror fan can’t afford to miss, since it’s basically the video game equivalent of a B-movie. It looks great too.
The game provides an incentive for every aspect, making each worth pursuing. It’s a game that somehow remains cohesive despite having so many seemingly unrelated elements.
As it stands, Dead Rising is one of the more unique and entertaining titles on the Xbox 360.

GameDaily, Score: 3.5 out of 5, Reviewer: Chris Buffa
when it comes to exploring the mall, disemboweling hordes of freaks, and testing out what appears to be an innumerable amount of weapons, the developers not only passed the test, but graduated valedictorian of their senior class.
The zombie smashing is gruesome, terrifying, and hilarious at the same time
Mowing over bodies with a lawnmower, decapitating them with hedge clippers, and knocking them over with bowling balls is immensely entertaining and worth the price of admission