Chapter 0: Dead End

 

Objective: Eat food to restore health

 

Well it seems the zombie apocalypse has been tough on Nick as he starts on nearly no health. Grab the snack off the crate and the bagel off the ground (yuck!).

 

Objective: Find a weapon

 

Immediately after picking up and eating the bagel, there is a large wrench lying on the ground just begging to be taken for a swing.

 

Objective: Get through the blockade

 

Take out Nick's frustration on the gate until it shatters.

 

Objective: Find supplies

 

Start making your way down the dark tunnel. Along the way are several stockpiles of food items, blunt weapons and general debris. Arm yourself and grab at least one healing item as you go deeper into the darkened tube.

 

Objective: Get through the blockade

 

A second gate will block your progress so use whatever is on hand to bash it down (the game will introduce heavy attacks here). You need to use heavy attacks to damage it, light ones won't work.

 

Objective: Explore the tunnel

 

Grab any supplies you need and keep moving along.

 

Objective: Find a way out

 

After the cut scene Nick will be on the lookout for an exit (I would be too). Head through the narrow path between the two hordes of zombies and keep moving until you reach a very suspicious gap you can pass through. A zombie will instantly latch onto you as you pass through. Press B to throw it off you and show it some sledgehammer justice (or 2×4, or flashlight or whatever). There are a few bladed weapons (machete and fire axe) near the medical tent so be sure to upgrade your armoury as bladed weapons are a lot more effective than what you probably have right now.

 

Keep exploring and it seems zombies are just wandering around. Use your new-found weaponry to clear the path as you go. If you are a new player to Dead Rising this is a great time to get used to the controls (attacking and item management especially). Practice swapping, dropping and picking up items as well as just swinging them. This practice could save Nick's life later. Also a good habit to get into during this game is to pick up everything new you encounter. This adds it to your locker storage meaning you can access it at anytime in any safehouse and will save you masses of time during missions and sidequests. You can drop the item immediately afterwards as it will auto register. Keep pushing deeper and deeper, climbing over crashed semis and up ramps until a cut scene takes over.

 

 

Objective: Get to the Diner

 

After regaining control of Nick you will be back in the light outside the tunnel. Unfortunately, between you and the Diner is an almost physical wall of zombies and you are ill equipped to deal with those numbers. Use the cars like stepping stones when you can to avoid the press of undead and only engage them when you have no choice. The wide arc attacks with the fire axe or sledgehammer should keep you out of trouble as you hop your way forward. Something to note here is that you can adjust how you break out of attacks in the settings. You can use the kinect control shake or the normal button presses to break out of a zombie's grasp. Keep traveling along the linear path until you reach the Diner.

 

 

Objective: Combine two weapons

 

Welcome to your first combining class. Nick can (just like Chuck before him) combine weapons into more powerful combo weapons that increase PP (prestige points – also known as experience points to all gamers) earned in combat. Grab the sledgehammer and cement saw and combine them by holding down RB to bring up the weapon wheel and press A to bring up the schematic. Tap A to begin crafting the new weapon. Notice during the process that if you have the materials to make a combo weapon the A button with the word "combo" will be in the center of the weapon wheel. Finish crafting the weapon to obtain Nick's signature weapon (at least on the cover art).

 

 

Objective: Get everyone to Rhonda's garage

 

The rest of the survivors will automatically follow you as you exit the Diner and thanks to the improved A.I implemented in Dead Rising 2 they will not run open armed at the nearest zombie (most of the time anyway). You can give survivors weapons (not combo weapons) and health items if they need it. The path to the garage is quite short however so Rhonda and Dick will probably be fine unless you are playing on nightmare mode (if you are get them weapons as quickly as possible if only for the knock-back it grants. When you reach the switch below the overpass press it and hop into the SUV (Rhonda and Dick should get in too). Time to splatter some zombies by putting the pedal to the metal.

 

You may notice that the mass of undead can actually reduce your momentum but not slow you down to a stop so keep revving forward along the winding road. Roll into town and try to get as close to the garage as you can in the vehicle (as on foot the trip is slower and more dangerous. Due to the low starting durability of most vehicles at lower levels you may not reach it with the car. If you don't, hop out and make a beeline for the objective. Only swatting zombies who block your path. Once you reach the garage, jump out of the car and / or sprint for the door to trigger another cut scene.

 

 

Objective: Explore while Rhonda's busy

 

Now is when things open up a bit and you get the chance to take in some of the sights. All of the Ingleton area is now open so you can grab any blueprints or collectibles that can be found. Some buildings will have locked doors which may be accessed later or bypassed by clever entrance in other ways so be inventive in how you approach them to get the most out of your exploration.

 

During these "explore" objectives Nick will often receive side missions. These include survivor missions and psychopath take-downs. Before attempting these missions make sure you are always well prepared. Look at the entry for the mission and note any required items or weapons as well as having a good supply of strong weapons and healing items. Take control of at least one safehouse in the area first and stock up. To take control of a safehouse you normally need to clear the infected out of it so bring a weapon or two to deal with them. These safehouses are excellent spots to save your game as well (especially if you are in nightmare mode).

 

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Available side missions:

 

Psychopath (Zhi – Ingleton): Investigate the Zen Gardens

 

 

Reward: 20,000 PP + Happy Good Mart Key (next to body) + Guan Dao (next to body)

 

Attacks:

 

Smoke bomb – Zhi throws down a smoke bomb blanketing the area in white mist. Stuns Nick temporarily if he is within range.

Charge – Zhi charges in a straight line towards you. Dodge roll or move out of his attack path if you have time to avoid damage.

Stealth – Zhi will throw down a smoke bomb and disappear for several seconds and then reappear in a random location. Wait him out and be ready to dodge when he reappears.

Swing attack – Zhi will slash his pole-arm about damaging you if you are within the area of the swing. Stay back while he performs this attack or flank him while he is locked in place.

 

General strategy – The paddlesaw worked really well if you have access to it. Use weapons that move you while you swing to avoid his attacks, preferably with a decent swing arc. If you have some automatic ranged weapons these can prove useful as well. As most of his attacks hit directly in front of him or in a straight line any weapon that allows you to keep moving while attacking will work well. Healing items are a requirement for any psychopath fight as they are not always available in the fight area. Keep swinging or shooting and healing up when needed and he will eventually fall.

 

* Note: Next to the Zen Gardens gate on a table is a PDA upgrade *

 

 

Survivor mission (Anna – Ingleton): Investigate the Motel

 

Reward: 12,500 PP + Follower (Anna) + Safehouse

 

Objective: Talk to Anna

 

After reaching Anna at the hotel, she will tell you that illegals mark safehouses with graffiti symbols to make them easy to spot. She also happens to have run out of spray paint so she wants you to get some to enter both her good graces and the safehouse she is marking.

 

Objective: Find spray paint (3)

 

Three spray-paint markers will appear spread out over Ingleton. They aren't hidden and just require some legwork (and zombie killing) to reach. Head to all the markers and retrieve the cans.

 

Objective: Return to Anna

 

Head back to the hotel and give her the cans for her to join you and unlock the safehouse for your use.

 

 

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Objective: Talk to Rhonda

 

Return to the Diner when you are ready to end the chapter. You also receive a free attribute point for completing Chapter 0.

 

Chapter reward: Attribute points + Schematic (Tactical Handgun)

 

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