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But gone too are a few other staples that fans may miss. This is a fantastic improvement, letting players devote more effort to exploration and making their own fun.
DEAD RISING 4 MAP OF ALL LOCATIONS SERIES
Instead, I started to memorize streets as the game bounced me back and forth across the same few locations.ĭead Rising 4 is the first in the series (aside from the Wii port of the original) to drop the timer system, which forced you to complete objectives within a constantly diminishing time limit. I often longed to return to the bright and colorful mall, but only rarely did the game direct me there.
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It's a strange and disappointing turn of pace to go from the mall - where there's an abundance of weapons and toys to play with, all within a few feet of each other - to the drab township of Willamette, where everything feels spread so far apart that I suspect the vast majority of my overall kills came simply from driving to and from objectives. The game takes place near Christmas, but I failed to notice any particularly festive decor on the streets other than the odd set of colorful lights. The overall map is divided into multiple sub-sections, but I honestly couldn't tell you any major differences between any of them other than one is slightly more residential, one is slightly more industrial. And while its depiction may be accurate to what a small town would be, it's not the most exciting setting for the zombie apocalypse. It's sleepy Colorado suburbia, with cottage houses and a small main street with mom-and-pop businesses. Unfortunately, like a conventionally attractive teen running from a zombie in a horror movie, this is where Dead Rising 4 trips and stumbles. The game's story, likewise, will soon push you out of the tourist trap that is the Megaplex and into the town proper.
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There are loads of them to try out, and seeking out blueprints becomes something of a treasure hunt, encouraging you to leave the mall and explore more of Willamette. Whether I was swinging a sledgehammer attached to propane tanks - creating mini-explosions with each hit - or shooting live swordfish into my enemies' chests, I was excited and giddy at trying each new weapon.
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Every combo weapon oozes personality in its design and feel.
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