Overall Rating: 8/10
Graphics: 7/10
Textures: 10/10
Models: 10/10
Particles/Effects: 10/10
Optimization: 6/10
Graphic Tearing: 5/10
Conclusion: The graphics are just splendid but it's unstable as stuff. To begin with, it's horribly optimized for all consoles. I can usually keep a constant framerate above 30 which is pretty low and even consoles like the PS3 and XBox 360 strain to keep it above 30 fps. There are some noticeable frame rate drops in certain areas and cutscenes. There's also a stuff load of graphic tearing even on the PS3/XBox! Random stuff likes to turn white if you don't have V-Sync on, reflectivity is very high on some objects for some reason like the baseball bat, and shadows like to flicker or blend in weird ways. Overall, it looks nice but I would rather have them sacrifice some visuals to knock the game up to a constant of 60 fps.
Gameplay: 9/10
Single-Player: 9/10
Multi-Player: ?/10
Conclusion: To begin with, I didn't get a chance to review the multiplayer because... Well I guess they didn't sync PC and XBox even if the PC port has windows live compatibility, I can't seem to find a match. I just wind up getting stuck on the connecting screen and none of my friends play Dead Rising 2 so I'm stuck with single player. Anyways moving on to single player, it is quite enjoyable so far. I'm still pissed off that you need to complete story mode so you can play unlimited mode and I just want to free roam and beat the stuff out of zombies. The game is more stressful than ever because now you have to get Zombrex for Katie and other NPCS, there's looters, there's mercenaries (they have assault rifles), and a stuff load of new psychopaths. I've only bothered fighting two psychopaths so far and I've only been able to beat one of them. They made them so hard I don't see how I'll ever be able to beat them but the soundtrack for the psychopaths is pretty dam cool. The vast array of weapons especially with the new combo weapons is amazing. Paddle chainsaws, spiked bats, knife gloves, blambows, and other crazy weapons allow you to put a hurt on the zombies a lot more. I like how they made guns less rare in the game but they don't do crap against bosses now so they're almost useless. Their new engine is pretty dam impressive I'll have to say since there's literary thousands of zombies being drawn at once. The side missions are decent I would have to say although I really don't bother completing them half the time. I usually just free roam when all the main missions are done like I would prefer to be doing in the first place.
Story: 9/10
Character Development: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Missions: 9/10
Conclusion: The characters were developed well in the sequel compared to the first game. They're stylish and have a lot of personality, even the psychopaths have a lot of personality. The plot overall is all over the place especially if you compare the alternative endings. It seems like they were writing five different story lines and they just smashed into one. The missions are pretty generic but they manage to spice it up so you're not doing the same crap over and over.
AI/NPCS: 8/10
Zombies: 10/10
Conclusion: The zombie category gets a perfect score not because they improved the AI but because they improved the amount of zombies that the game can render.
Civilians: 9/10
Conclusion: No huge improvements but at least most of them will actually fight for themselves so you don't have to baby sit them.
Psychopaths: 8/10
Conclusion: Each Psychopath only has about 2-3 attacks and they say the same exact lines over and over and not to mention that they're harder than stuff to kill.
Mercenaries: 5/10
Conclusion: I can honestly say that they were very poorly coded. Mercenaries usually just stand still, only sometimes they'll roll to the side. They're very clumsy and they kill themselves with their own grenades.
Looters: 7/10
Conclusion: Their AI was sloppily programmed as well. They just blindly charge at you and attempt to hit you with whatever they're holding. If you knock em down they just get back up and charge at you again.
Final Notes: The game is pretty dam good but you'll need a dam good computer to run this game or one of those new overclocked XBox 360s if you want to keep a constant frame rate. If you have an old XBox 360, I would honestly suggest getting it for the PS3 if you have one since it has slightly better specs. If you do have a good computer though, I recommend getting it for the PC since it's only 40 dollars on steam. The frame rate drops may drive you crazy at times but it's awesome gameplay makes up for it.
