Halloween is this weekend and Rockstar has a treat for you! In yet another stunning example of how zombies do indeed make everything better, Undead Nightmare is the fourth DLC for the open world western juggernaut, Red Dead Redemption, and it is the biggest and best one to date. While the previous three DLCs focused on competitive and co-operative multiplayer aspects of the game, Undead Nightmare is a sizeable addition to an already substantial single player experience. In addition to the new single player missions, there are some new co-op modes that gamers can sink their teeth into.
The first thing players will notice after downloading Undead Nightmare is a new choice from the menu screen. After selecting a single player game you are given the option of playing either normal Red Dead Redemption or Undead Nightmare. The new content takes place near the end of the single player story mode of RDR, so be warned, very minor spoilers ahead.
Undead Nightmare opens on a dark and stormy night at John Marston's family ranch. Due to circumstances beyond his (or your) control, he soon needs to seek out a doctor. Welcome to the zombie apocalypse! Rockstar San Diego has crafted an incredible game experience within the RDR world. The entire map, yes, the entire world, has been transformed into a land of the dead. The change in mood is everywhere. The sickly green tinge of the map and menu screens, the inclement weather, and mood setting music change the entire feel of the game.
"Things are different now," is scrawled on a wall in the ravaged town of Blackwater. They certainly are. John Marston reacts with horror at the changes around him. Towns have been overrun, and undead creatures roam the countryside. The sense of sickness and decay permeate through the entire campaign so much that the rare sunny day feels out of place. The mood for the game is just as you think an undead uprising in the old west should be. Many characters from the original game make an appearance, some a little worse for wear.
This is more than just a few undead encounters. This is a fully realized campaign. There is a main storyline, side quests, and challenges. The wilderness not only has undead animals, human zombies roam the countryside in packs and are eager to throw you from your horse. Like most zombies, you need to shoot them in the head to put them down permanently. Ammo is scarce in the beginning, making it the new currency in the west. Tasks are paid for in shotgun shells or repeater rounds as opposed to cash or gold. You have to clear towns of the walking dead so that you can bunk there to save your game. Camping and wilderness fast travel have been eliminated, but you can fast travel between towns once you have initially removed the undead menace.
