This review is of the version for the Wii, in case this has been released for any other console, or the PC; I haven't heard of it being out for any of them, I'm covering my bases. You have to wonder why it took them three(I haven't tried the new arcade one, can't comment on it) games that were practically the same before they made this. You see, this one fixes everything that one could possibly complain about with the others, and alters the things that had grown stale. This is still short, and thus doesn't overstay its welcome(no matter the quality, a 1st person rail shooter that moves on its own, and where you can merely aim and fire is going to get old if it keeps going), but now you can take the 7 chapters(this has a bad-ass trailer voice narration between them, making each of them feel like one picture, like in those theaters) of Story Mode one at a time, as it will save after each, in its profile system, allowing for 3 separate ones. In that way, each of them can be tougher, with literally tons of zombies(and there's a "more" function, if you don't find the amount to be satisfactory; I'd say they either move slowly, like in the classics, or swiftly, like in the recent movies), and extraordinarily intense(in-game, there are longer breaks between attacks than in the others, and this serves to increase the effect when they rush you again, and there isn't a dull moment in this), as you can rest your hands(...you'll need it) in-between them. Also, for replayability value, there is the feature of purchasing(with the cash you earn by playing, extra for doing well) additions to your arsenal(as well as upgrading it), like an automatic shotgun(!), a SMG, and an assault rifle, for a total of six different weapons, for all your trigger-happy needs. Upon completing the entire thing, you will get the Director's Cut option: The same thing, only with harder enemies and limited continues(normally in this, if you lose all life, you either proceed and lose half of your score or give up and keep it). There are unlockables, such as images and videos. The seldom brief cut-scenes are all in-engine, with no CGI, and with how articulate, free and detailed the animation and graphics(the corpses come apart beautifully, and while the Wii is supposed to be the least powerful of the Next Gen machines in that regard, I think someone forgot to tell that to this game) are, not to mention how excellent the cinematography and editing are, you don't miss it. This has the following mini-games: Money Shot II(a shooting gallery), Stayin' Alive(...self-explanatory, "they just keep coming...!)) and Victim Support(rescue civilians by taking out the walking dead near them), all of them gradually growing in difficulty and you can play Co-Op, like in the rest of this(a first for the franchise; you can even play four at any time). Challenging without being frustrating, this is immensely entertaining and addictive. The boss fights, countless types of cadavers and the levels(a speeding train, a swamp, and a... carnival... uh, yeah, when was the script for this written compared to Zombieland?) are all well-designed, nicely varied and memorable. This takes a stylish approach, and emulates the tone of an exploitation flick(makes sense for this series when you think about it), complete with film grain, an opening similar to the one of Planet Terror and material that would get it an R or an NC-17... at *least*(and before you criticize that, do keep in mind that these were *never* for young audiences). The plot holds twists and is about revenge(of course), starring two mismatched law officials(a detective and an AMS agent) who push each others buttons, a stripper(!) and, what else, a mad doctor. This thing revels in clichés(and there is quite a bit of disgusting stuff in it), and is both an entry in its genre, and an homage to it. The music is fitting and cool, and not being an expert on the subject, all I can for sure say is that there's Country & Western, sombre electric guitar, and what I think is disco, among it. All of the sound is incredible, and the acting is great. The characters are well-written. There are no fortune cookie lines in this one, thankfully. The Danger Cam lets you peek to any of the 4 sides by pointing to it, and you reload by pressing A in this one, instead. Some places you can fend off foes by waving the Wii-mote side to side fast enough; it is not as great of an advantage as the thing in Extreme Mode of III(if less awkwardly implemented, since there, it felt like an afterthought), where you can swipe at any time and in fact use it to fend off(though not always hurt) anything that comes at you if you time it right. I'd say that they decided that was unfair, or figured that they'd already done it. There are hardly any bugs or glitches, and I ran into none that were severe. I would suggest getting the Shoot Active Gun(yeah, I think the effort on that one went into everything except the title) and the official Hand Cannon, made by Big Ben Interactive. The only downside is that the latter can get heavy when you play for extended periods of time, other than that, they are well worth it. There is constant, over the top strong language, gore, disturbing content(trust me, it gets pretty sick) and sexual references, all of them gratuitous, in this. I recommend this warmly to any and all fans of grindhouse cinema(Wiki it if you have no concept of what that is) and this kind of VG. Hilarious, bizarre, fun, and does not have the term "politically correct" anywhere to be found in its vocabulary. I give this a perfect rating, and once my wrists stop hurting, I will raise my thumbs up in its honor. 10/10
