Episode 3 of the Untold Stories DLC is out and was surprisingly really good. A bit of recap, we’ve already played a spec ops commander and an alcoholic feisty resistance member within the zombie-ridden city of Los Perdidos. These two protagonists aren’t as interesting in comparison to the renegade biker Hunter Thibodeux in the Chaos Rising DLC but what makes this additional pack a definite must have?
Hunter, if you haven’t played through the games main campaign, is the first boss you stumble across within your first hour of play. Knowing this you’ll find this prologue leading up to the cross over a nice touch to the story telling aspect of the Dead Rising 3 experience. This tattooed Redneck isn’t a hero with no redeeming features. You are playing a straight up villain and this is what makes Chaos Rising different and unforgettable. Starting of in prison for wrongly taking the wrap for your crew you’re tasked with escaping with no prior weapons in your inventory. I honestly played through this DLC like it was to be a survival horror game which is what the Dead Rising games are but fused with dark humour through over the top characters and the ridiculous weapon combos usually thrown in making the series less scary. This prison break section was pretty much as scary as this game gets. Having to find weapons whilst only having yourself to answer to Hunter is as lonely as he’ll get.
With revenge in his blood, Hunter’s goal is to track down and find his gang who put him in prison. Amongst the zombie hordes you’ll be hunted down by that said gang who have groups throwing molotov cocktails at you and will beat you with bats. The streets of Los Perdidos has never been so dangerous and with Hunter’s quest being more melee weapon based you’ll find you’re getting up close and personal in more fights. There’s an interesting selection of new weapons to have fun with which includes a petrol canister strapped with flares to draw the zombie’s attention before burning all in the vicinity. But the main focus is centred on a motorcycle with moving sawblades at the front that can also shoot blade projectiles, serious crazy fun and easily the best selling point.
What Chaos Rising has which the other 2 didn’t include was actual boss fights. Yes, actual bosses with health bars just like the ones in the campaign. This makes a huge difference and gives me faith that the next instalment could be the best of all 3 combined in one final outing. The side missions in this are fun to do, collecting custom bikes and bringing them back to the bike shop, exactly how Grand Theft Auto does it but with the undead in the way. The collectables include finding top self rare alcohol as well as destroying emergency telephone posts across the city, the generic stuff.
Chaos Rising felt shorter than the other 2 available but has a longer lasting impression with scenarios and characters that are less forgettable than in the others. Hunting down bikers is so far the highlight to the Untold Stories episodes and fits right at home as an alternative perspective from a villainous protagonist.
