Developer / Publisher:  CapcomPlatform: XBOX 360Players: 2-16 (Multiplayer)Rating: 8 out of 10When it comes to zombie themed games it seems Capcom holds the undisputed belt with their indelible Resident Evil series. In 2006 Dead Rising took things to another level with its insane amounts of zombie genocide. Even with some noticeable faults, Dead Rising went on to garner a serious cult following. Now four years later, Capcom ups the ante on the mayhem with Dead Rising 2 (Capcom). While this sequel isn’t perfect, it does makes for a good time while plowing down the undead.Five years after the events of the original, former motocross star Chuck Greene takes part in the “Terror Is Reality”. This gruesome reality game show dares contestants to survive amongst zombies. While his time there, there is a zombie outbreak and must fight off the undead for the next three days while trying to save his little daughter from zombification.As far presentation, Dead Rising 2 is an improvement from its predecessor but isn’t perfect. The graphics are good but not great. The animation is smooth but wsome of the cut scenes leave more to be desired. Additionally the frame rate is sometimes choppy; but for the ridiculous amount of bodies this games shoves into play at any given moment, that’s pretty much an afterthought.Where this title really shines is in the game play. Your character has seventy-two hours to survive in a mall full of zombies before the military can reach your location. In that time you have to keep your daughter and other civilians alive.The missions are pretty straightforward and some are timed depending on what needs to be done or who you have to save. You can run through the game just completing the main story goals and avoiding the side jobs and mini games. One thing that will most likely keep players distracted is the option to dress Chuck in whatever you find in the mall. From funny hats to foul looking swimwear, the fashion scheming is priceless.Fighting your way through the game will gain you experience points that will power your player up subsequently making him faster, stronger and earn him new attack combos. As before you can pick up any item throughout the mall to bash anyone in your way, the difference this time is the new kick-ass ability to combine two weapons into one. Ever wanted to wreak havoc using kayak paddle with matching chainsaws attached to ends? Duct tape a grenade to a football and throw it into a crowd? Then this is the game for you.While spilling zombie blood is great, there are some nuances that come with it. The layout of the mall is huge and it makes it painful to run back and forth manually with no teleporting options. The new multiplayer feature doesn’t really add any depth either. The co-op feature lets you team up with another player to go at it on the story mode but your helper is just a Chuck clone. Additionally the online multiplayer mode of mowing down zombies for points gets tired quickly.Nuances aside Dead Rising 2 is still pretty fun. The mayhem you can cause overrides the average presentation and will demand multiple replays. Happy bludgeoning.

The industry and street buzz surrounding Meridian, Mississippi native Big K.R.I.T. is louder than an angry killer bee swarm these days. AllHipHop.com caught up with the newest member of Def Jam’s rap roster at his tour stop in New York City to find out who his biggest Hip-Hop influences are: AllHipHop.com: We do a regular feature called “Top 5 Dead or Alive” – can you name yours? Big K.R.I.T.: Andre 3000, Cee-lo Green, Pimp C, Scarface, and Bun B AllHipHop.com: Can you tell us why they’re your Top 5? ANDRE 3000 & CEE-LO Big K.R.I.T.: Being able to watch Andre 3000 and Cee-lo Green transform into the artists that they’ve become now and not really have no barriers at all, as far as like “this is Hip-Hop…I’ma sing…I’ma play the guitar on my s**t…I’ma do me.” That really drove me to be like alright, I can transform and transcend from that box they put you in as far as Hip-Hop. PIMP C Big K.R.I.T.: Pimp C for saying whatever the f**k he felt. You know? I’m saying like it was from this man’s heart everytime you seen him. That was him…it wasn’t a façade, it wasn’t because somebody told him. You know what I’m saying? SCARFACE Big K.R.I.T.: Scarface for the storytelling – the soul he puts into it, the amount of honesty he puts into his music. BUN B Big K.R.I.T.: Bun B is probably one of the most consistent muthaf*ckas EVER. He’s always gonna kill a record. Don’t EVER sleep on him. You know what I’m saying, he’s been doing it for years and years consistently, and I don’t know another muthaf**ka that gets in the studio and do that type of s**t. THE SIDEBAR Big K.R.I.T. – “Children of the World” Big K.R.I.T. – “Hometown Hero”