Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO is an interesting case (no pun intended) in video game marketing. Case Zero is, essentially, the full version of Dead Rising 2 condensed into a bite-sized package, with all the features of the game therein except with actual content stripped to what is needed to show off the full game’s features – in other words, a demo. But Case Zero is actually more than a demo, because even though it’s limited in the same way other demos are, the actual content of Case Zero is unique, in that it’s content you won’t find in the full version of Dead Rising 2. This sort of justifies the price point at which Case Zero is being sold, 400 MS points, making it both a rip-off and a fantastic deal at the same time. While you’re essentially paying for an elaborate demo of Dead Rising 2, it’s a demo that expands the boundaries of what a demo can be, thanks to unique content that you won’t find anywhere else, that will be cool for fans of the series to experience. With Case Zero being what it is, it therefore has all the cool stuff you’ve come to expect from the Dead Rising series, as well as its flaws.
The game’s premise remains essentially the same as in the first Dead Rising – kill zombies, and lots of them, while trying to accomplish various tasks in the process, such as rescuing survivors, dealing with the psychopaths that inevitably show up, and of course figuring out what the hell happened. The structure for doing so is still the same as in the first game, in that while you’re free to roam about the area killing whatever zombies get in your way, earning Prestige Points (PP) to boost your character’s stats while doing so, your objectives are governed by the clock. In other words, there’s a time limit on what you have to do. This core game mechanic both keeps things interesting and can be a source of frustration. It keeps things interesting because it keeps you focused, and prevents you from wandering aimlessly just killing zombies for the fun of it. But it’s also frustrating because sometimes you do just want to kill zombies for the fun of it, and also because depending on how skilled (or lucky) you are, you just can’t get all of what you want to get done within the time limit. This is especially true with the one objective that allows you to complete the game – finding parts to repair a motorcycle and escape – as the parts aren’t marked on your map, meaning the tight time limit might make this objective infuriating for some. Despite the clock frustration factor, Case Zero does have some cool things going for it, which will mainly be appreciated by fans of the Dead Rising series.
For one thing, Case Zero has a unique story that isn’t in the main game of Dead Rising 2, in this case about how the main protagonist of Dead Rising 2 arrives in Fortune City, where the main game takes place. With Case Zero being a prologue comes some original content that ultimately makes Case Zero more than just a demo. For one thing, the location of Case Zero is the sleepy, and tiny, little town of Still Creek, and the whole town, while very small, is available for you to explore. Of course, it’s not nearly as big as the area in which the main Dead Rising 2 game takes place, but it has a unique ambiance all its own. The next thing going for Case Zero is the ability to combine items and weapons you find, and create entirely new, lethal, and downright hilarious combinations, MacGyver style. However, with Case Zero not being nearly as big as Dead Rising 2, the weapon combinations are more constraining and limited. Still, there’s enough there to tantalize fans for the expanded possibilities in Dead Rising 2. That brings us to probably the most compelling reason for fans to buy this game before Dead Rising 2: the PP you earn to boost your stats, the combinations weapons you discover, and whatever levels you earn can all be carried over to your character in Dead Rising 2. The content that’s in Case Zero that both makes it unique and links it to Dead Rising 2 really highlights who this game is targeted for: fans of the series.
If you really liked the original Dead Rising and are planning to give the sequel a spin in your Xbox 360 anyway, then there’s no reason not to pick up Case Zero, as it’s got enough unique content to really benefit fans, such as further back story on the main character, and the ability to carry over whatever you earn in the game. If you’re on the fence about purchasing Dead Rising 2, or you never really liked the series in the first place, then the idea of paying $5 for what amounts to be an appetizer for a retail game (it’s hard to call it anything else, really, since as I mentioned before it’s similar to a demo but doesn’t fit neatly into that category because of the unique content) may be off-putting. All in all, though, even though Case Zero may seem like a cheap cash-grab by Capcom by some, it’s really an original way to market content, and entice fans of the series to stick with it. Non-fans can complain about it all they want, but the fans are what really matter with Case Zero, and one can be certain they’ll appreciate the fan service.
