Dead Rising 2: Off the Record

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record
Developer(s)	Capcom, Blue Castle
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Producer(s)	Keiji Inafune
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	JP October 13, 2011 NA October 11, 2011 EU October 14, 2011
Genre(s)	Action adventure, survival horror
Rating(s)	ACB: MA15+ BBFC: 18 CERO: Z ESRB: M PEGI: 18
Media/distribution	Blu-ray Disc, DVD, digital download

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record is an action-adventure horror-comedy video game, developed by Capcom in partnership with Blue Castle Games, and was distributed by Capcom. The game is a reimagining of Dead Rising 2, with that game's protagonist, Chuck Greene, replaced by Frank West of the first Dead Rising.

Development and release

At Captivate 2011, Capcom's annual press show, the company announced that it was releasing Dead Rising 2: Off the Record, as a reinterpretation of the game, with Frank West from the original Dead Rising as the main character. The game was released for the same consoles on October 11 in North America, October 13 in Japan, and October 14 in Europe^[1][2][3] for a discount retail price.^[4]

Off the Record is intended as a complete reimagining of Dead Rising 2, with new missions, cutscenes, environments, enemies, and weapons. The photography mechanic from the first Dead Rising is also included. There are technical and system upgrades, such as optimization of loading times and improved network performance.^[5][6] Off the Record also features a new sandbox mode. This allows players to explore Fortune City without the obstacle of time.^[7]

Differences from the original

As a reimaigning of Dead Rising 2, there are several changes from the original game. These include:

• Frank as the player character instead of Chuck. Consequently, the photography system from Dead Rising has been reimplemented.
• While Frank is the player character, Chuck replaces Leon Bell, the slicecycle-riding psychopath.
• Katey Greene does not appear alive in the game. The need to find Zombrex still exists, as Frank requires the anti-zombification medicine for his own survival.
• Additional content includes "Uranus Zone", a new theme park area in Fortune City, a bonus Case File, and voice messages to accompany the radio calls from the saferoom observer.
• Stacey has a new face design in this game.
• Sullivan is no longer the Phenotrans mole, Stacey is.
• Rebecca is TK's captive in during Overtime Mode, while in the original it was Katey and Stacey.
• Chuck the Role Model is now a case file and Brandon Whittaker has a bigger role than just being a psychopath as he is the one to start the outbreak.
• Some survivors and magazines have been relocated.
• One of the survivors Jack no longer wears the Arthur helmet as he now wears the Protoman helmet instead.
• The Elevator in Yucatan Casino no longer fuctions and serves no purpose.
• New survivors and bosses has been added.
• Phenotrans soliders are now added to the game after The Facts case file.
• The Arthur costume in Dead Rising 2 is replaced by the Protoman costume.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	76 (PC) 73 (Xbox 360) 72 (PS3)
Review scores
Publication	Score
Game Informer	9.5/10
GameSpot	7/10
GameTrailers	8.2/10
IGN	7/10

Off The Record received mostly positive reviews, with a score of 73 and 72 on Metacritic for the Xbox 360^[8] and PlayStation 3 respectively.^[9] Gametrailers gave the game an overall rating of 8.2 out of 10.^[10] IGN gave it a 7 out of 10.^[11] GameSpot gave the title a 7 out of 10 rating, praising the core game but criticizing the lack of improvements and the sandbox mode's perceived lack of depth.^[12] Game Informer, by contrast, gave the game a 9.5/10 (the same score as the original) saying that "Frank's photography adds another layer to the already deep gameplay," and that "by itself, the sandbox mode is an incentive to buy Dead Rising 2."^[13]

References

1. ^ "Captivate 2011: Dead Rising 2: Off the Record". Capcom-Unity. 2011-04-12. http://www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2011/04/12/captivate_2011:_dead_rising_2:_off_the_record. Retrieved 2011-04-12. 
2. ^ http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/117/1179929p1.html
3. ^ http://www.capcom.co.jp/deadrising/2otr/
4. ^ Hinkle, David (2011-06-13). "Dead Rising 2: Off the Record will cost $40 in North America". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/dead-rising-2-off-the-record-will-cost-40-in-north-america/. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
5. ^ "Captivate 2011: Dead Rising 2: Off the Record". Capcom-Unity. 2011-04-12. http://www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2011/04/12/captivate_2011:_dead_rising_2:_off_the_record. Retrieved 2011-04-12. 
6. ^ "Dead Rising 2: Off the Record announced". Eurogamer. 2011-04-12. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-12-dead-rising-2-off-the-record-announced. Retrieved 2011-04-12. 
7. ^ "Sandbox Mode comes to Dead Rising 2 Off The Record!". Capcom-Unity. 2011-08-26. http://www.capcom-unity.com/megamike/blog/2011/08/26/sandbox_mode_comes_to_dead_rising_2_off_the_record!. Retrieved 2011-08-26. 
8. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/dead-rising-2-off-the-record
9. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/dead-rising-2-off-the-record
10. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-pod-dead-rising/722089
11. ^ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1199515p2.html
12. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/dead-rising-2-off-the-record/review.html
13. ^ Cork, Jeff (November 2011). "Dead Rising 2: Off the Record Review". Game Informer (223).