Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package
Developer: Capcom Vancouver
Publisher: Capcom
Price: $49.99
Genre: Action
To those unfamiliar with the Dead Rising series, Dead Rising 4 may prove jarring to the senses. This action-adventure title by Capcom Vancouver manages to mix its zombie-infested carnage with heavy-handed tongue-in-cheek narrative humor, and the combination can be off-putting. For teeming fans of the 12-year-old franchise, however, its latest release melds these paradoxical qualities into an enjoyable, if unfocused, mix of exploration and combat.
In DR4, players follow Frank West in his return to Willamette, under siege yet again by a new horde of living dead. Hot on the trail of his former student, Frank must use his wit and what he can scrounge together to face off against swarms of zombies, military personnel, and even other deranged survivors as he seeks to uncover the truth behind the source of the zombie outbreak.
Indeed, DR4 is a nod to its roots, right down to the setting, the protagonist, and the predicament he’s in. Armed with nothing but a camera at the start, Frank must survive the zombie apocalypse and expose the masterminds behind the latest outbreak. He is free to explore Willamette at his leisure, and, 16 years older but still as bad-ass as ever, he's the same zombie-killing, survivor-rescuing journalist he once was.
Nonetheless, it would be folly to typecast DR4 as the same old, same old, and exactly like its predecessors. True, little has changed with the series formula in terms of combat, and combo weapons and vehicles are still ridiculous, over the top, and extremely effective in inducing pain. On the other hand, certain changes in the game's design help it stand out, albeit to mixed results. For one thing, it features a more streamlined inventory management, with the three main weapon types (throwing, ranged, and melee) having their own inventory slots available for use. For another, it has no game timer, facilitating a more open-world but less stressful experience.
In this regard, might longtime followers of the franchise consider DR4 a step back? Perhaps. The game does suffer from a glaring lack of difficulty. Psychopaths, now called Maniacs, are much easier to deal with in general, and zombies are hardly a threat given the myriad ways to overcome them. And while there are plenty of mini-games to do, places to explore, and secrets to find, the absence of pacing is glaring. There is little to no urgency to the story, with players able to completely explore each and every place without feeling unduly threatened, pressured, or stressed. Needless to say, this leads to long downtimes between memorable chunks of gameplay.
DR4 isn’t all bad, though. Its plot may be generic, ham-fisted, and linear, but its comedic focus is outstanding. Frank‘s humor and character have evolved from his original, determined and cheesy self into a quipping jokester who never takes anything too seriously. He provides a steady stream of punch-lines and sarcastic repartees throughout the game, keeping it interesting. While his comments can kill the mood during story segments, they’re mostly a welcome touch to the rather mundane atmosphere.
Combined, these aspects leave DR4 in a peculiar spot. It's an enjoyable zombie game, with plenty of side activities to do and secrets to explore, but never at any point is it ever truly challenging. Enemies aren't particularly threatening due to the abundance of weapons, ammunition and healing items And with no timer to worry about, players are never forced into any particularly challenging confrontations. Its lack of an interesting story leaves little motivation to continue on with the main plot, and were areas of the game not locked behind story progression, it's simply much more fun for players to lose themselves in a frenzy of zombie-killing and secret-hunting. It certainly doesn't feel like any of its predecessors even though it embodies enough of them to be counted as part of the series.
Fortunately, Capcom Vancouver has tried to remedy the problem through downloadable content. Included in Frank’s Big Package for the PS4 is Frank Rising, which provides DR4 with timer-based gameplay. Moreover, the harder modes reduce the number of supplies players can scrounge up. Also on hand is Capcom Heroes, which adds a ton of bonuses in the form of costumes, weapons, and abilities.
All told, DR4: Frank’s Big Package is a nice recommend. It’s relaxing, fun, and filled with diversions, exactly the type of title befitting those powering up the PS4 to unwind and just have a good time. Packed with all the DLCs released for DR4, it's a solid buy for gamers who don’t want to feel pressured, with heavy doses of mayhem served up at their leisure.
THE GOOD:
- Fluid, effortless controls and smooth gameplay
- As violent and entertaining as ever, with combo weapons being over the top but fun to use
- Utterly ridiculous but knows not to take itself too seriously
THE BAD:
- Game design departs from the familiar
- Story is rote
- Far from challenging, even on the supposedly harder difficulties
RATING: 8/10
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