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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDead Rising 4 drew positive-to-mixed reviews at launch. GameSpot’s Scott Butterworth scored it 7/10, praising its mystery, Frank West’s humor, combination weapons, and open-world discovery, while finding its combat shallow and its separate co-op mode limited. Other outlets scored it higher. For players deciding whether its accessible zombie action and exploration compensate for less challenge and no campaign co-op, the answer depends on what they want from the series.
What is Dead Rising 4?
Dead Rising 4 is an action-adventure game that brings photojournalist Frank West back to Willamette, Colorado, amid a new zombie outbreak. The story follows Frank and Vick Chu as they investigate what is happening. GameSpot’s review found the mystery and the relationship between the two characters more engaging than expected, with Frank’s irreverent commentary providing much of the comedy. GameSpot’s review discusses the story and play in detail.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Dead Rising 4 Franks Big Package (PS4) | $18.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dead Rising 2 - PlayStation 4, Standard Edition | $21.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dead Rising | $21.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dead Rising 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What did reviewers think?
Launch reviews were not unanimous, but the scores captured by GameSpot’s contemporaneous roundup were generally positive. They are individual outlet judgments, not a complete current aggregate.
| Publication | Launch review score |
|---|---|
| GameSpot — Scott Butterworth | 7/10 |
| IGN | 8.1/10 |
| GamesRadar | 4/5 |
| Game Informer | 8.75/10 |
GameSpot’s roundup records the scores and varied reactions. Butterworth’s overall take was that the story, weapons, and open world made the game enjoyable entertainment, even though its fighting lacked depth. Read GameSpot’s review roundup.
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- BIG in features. BIG in content
- Frank West returns!
- Open World Sandbox
- Anything and everything is a weapon
- Engaging multiplayer
How does the combat hold up?
The appeal is chaotic variety rather than demanding combat. Butterworth found the basic fighting satisfying, but repetitive and rudimentary, with little challenge and no higher difficulty setting. Players who want a combat system that keeps adding tactical complexity may find it thin.
Experimentation is the counterweight: GameSpot’s review reports more than 50 combination weapons. Frank can craft them after finding the relevant blueprints and materials, giving exploration a practical payoff and encouraging players to try different ways of clearing crowds. The weapons can make encounters entertaining, but they do not erase the reviewer’s concern about limited combat depth.
Rank #2
- Upgraded graphics - taking advantage of the current hardware systems, an new version of Dead Rising 2 can be enjoyed in gory-ous 1080p at 60 fps.
- Dress for success - each new version of the game includes all additional DLC costumes.
- The sequel to the smash hit features new protagonist, motorcycle racer Chuck Greene, as he visits a seedy casino town called Fortune City.
- 10 years of zombie slaying action - 2016 is the year of Dead Rising, and what better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the series
Does exploration make up for the lack of a timer?
Willamette offers collectibles, secrets, weapon blueprints, and optional activities to discover. The campaign has no timer, so players can explore without the clock pressure associated with earlier entries. That makes the game more relaxed and gives optional content room to breathe; it also removes a source of urgency and tension.
If you enjoy roaming a large environment and finding tools that feed back into combat, this is one of the game’s stronger attractions. If time pressure is central to what you want from Dead Rising, the open-ended campaign may feel less tense.
Rank #3
- Upgraded graphics - taking advantage of the current hardware systems, an all new version of Dead Rising can be enjoyed in gory-ous 1080p at 60 fps.
- Dress for success - each new version of the game includes all additional DLC costumes.
- The original that started it all! Explore expansive indoor and outdoor areas of the Willamette Mall
- 10 years of zombie slaying action - 2016 is the year of Dead Rising, and what better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the series
Can you play the campaign in co-op?
No. In the reviewed version, the story campaign is single-player; cooperative play is in a separate mode rather than campaign co-op. GameSpot’s reviewer considered that multiplayer mode underdeveloped, and the lack of a co-op story was also a criticism noted in its roundup.
This differs from Capcom’s June 14, 2016 announcement, which promoted four-player online cooperative play as a feature. That announcement described the game before release; the final structure puts co-op outside the campaign. Capcom’s announcement also uses promotional language about the game’s weapons and open-world sandbox, so it should not be read as a detailed description of the final mode structure.
Rank #4
- A Hero Returns: Frank West returns in the next chapter of the Dead Rising franchise
- Two all-new classes of zombies: Explore and scavenge the open world sandbox of Willamette, Colorado while facing off against newly zombified enemies and agile zombies that can attack you from above
- Anything and everything is a weapon: An all-new collection of weapons and vehicles allow players to craft their own tools of zombie destruction
- EXO Suits: give players a super-powered weapon with incredible fire power to take on the zombie horde
- Multiplayer: Team up with friends to complete missions in seamless four-player co-op or quick match and join a game in progress with players around the world
How does it run?
Butterworth reported no noticeable frame-rate slowdown during his play, but did encounter occasional zombies trapped in objects. He said he played for roughly 20 hours across the campaign and multiplayer, and that Capcom supplied his review copy. These are observations from one reviewer’s experience, not a performance guarantee for every platform or setup.
Which platforms and release dates apply?
Capcom’s June 2016 announcement planned a holiday 2016 launch for Xbox One and Windows 10. GameSpot lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One, while Steam gives the PC release date as March 14, 2017. The announcement’s launch plans and the later platform listings describe different points in the release timeline; check that the edition you choose matches your platform.
Is Dead Rising 4 worth playing?
It is a stronger fit for players who want accessible, comic zombie action, a mystery to follow, and an open world to rummage through than for players seeking demanding combat or a cooperative story campaign. The combination weapons and unhurried exploration provide variety, while the repetitive fighting and split-off co-op limit its appeal. The spread in launch scores reflects those different priorities: GameSpot was more reserved, while IGN, GamesRadar, and Game Informer scored it higher.
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