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(More customer reviews)This does NOT CONTAIN Red Dead Redemption's single player campaign. Undead Nightmare is its own single player campaign (along with the multiplayer bits outlined below when you buy the disc version of Undead Nightmare)
For those wondering, if you already have any or all of the Red Dead Redemption DLC, this probably isn't the most cost effective way to collect the rest (assuming you pay MSRP; currently Amazon is running it for $20 (Nov 29, 2010)).
Here's what you receive in this set, including current price on Xbox Live:
Undead Nightmare $10 (800 points)
Liars and Cheats $10 (800 points)
Legends and Killers $10 (800 points)
Outlaws to the End FREE and NOT INCLUDED in this set; I'm not sure if you can download this and use it w/ UN, though I don't believe you can
Xbox Live Total price: $30 (2400 points)
One option that is ALSO available on Xbox Live is the Undead Nightmare Pack for $20 (1600 points). The only reason this isn't the best option is under 2 circumstances: you've already bought ANY of the DLC ($10 each) OR if the MSRP of this stand alone edition is $20 (which, as of Nov 29, 2010, it is on the 360). Except for those circumstances, $20 is always cheaper than $30.
Another reason to buy this set is if you don't own the original RDR and JUST want to play multiplayer RDR, as this game contains the same multiplayer community as the original RDR and can be played with those that have just UN OR those that have RDR only. DLC restrictions not withstanding of course. This being said, however, I don't feel the multiplayer tight enough to justify buying this just to play multiplayer. And given the UN piece is single player (with exception to the horde style mode), and you won't necessarily know the characters (there is little to no character development as Rockstar assumes you already know the RDR cast), buying UN as anything but DLC doesn't make a ton of sense to me personally; this review is for those that decide to go this route anyway.
The final reason you should pick this up as a standalone release is if you don't have the hard drive space for the DLC. That makes perfect sense. Of course, the other option is to buy the DLC and buy a USB hard drive or USB memory device fast enough to install content to, which would allow you to use UN AND other DLC you may wish to own and your hard drive is full.Now for the review of the content proper.
Undead Nightmare. In an interview with a Rockstar employee, the statement was made that Undead Nightmare (UN) should be taken like this:
The cast of Red Dead Redemption (RDR) has evenings off but has access to the set, makeup and cameras. Being bored and having nothing else to do, they get together in the evenings and create a new production with the same characters and a twist on the RDR story and that is what UN is all about.
This description seems to make you think it isn't RDR canon then. It is. And that's the cool part. It plays right into the whole RDR game perfectly; well almost. RDR, for the most part, is believable. UN, well, we know zombies or the walking dead don't exist (plausible deniability here on my part!), but with the way it starts, and ends, it fits in the world almost seamlessly. If you take out the fact that zombies don't exist (plausible deniability again).
You take over John Marston's character once again. Without giving away too much of the plot, John feels tasked to finding a cure for the undead walking because of an issue that, once again, hits VERY close to home.
They've almost nailed this DLC to perfection. They bring back many of the characters you know and love from RDR and give you extra quests with them. Some "return" if you know what I mean, which is cool too. The music takes the RDR music and turns it on its head. Given the sickness present in the world, which infects people and animal alike, it is only right that the music is also infected!
What I don't like is the repetitive nature of the DLC. The quests are all well and good, but having to save towns constantly from zombie hordes is a bit tiring. Ammo is supposed to be kind of scarce, but given killing zombies isn't all that difficult, ammo tends to be quite plentiful, especially if you free all the towns whenever they are being over run. The other part I despise is the challenges. You think some of the challenges on the RDR are repetitive, mindless and don't fit well within the world? These are about the same. Sure, one can argue that the challenges help you and fit in the world by granting you more ammo and weapons, but really, it just feels like something added to be able to put the "20-30 hours more content!" bullet point on the box. If you ignore the challenges and only do the quests, you're probably looking at about 10-15 hours total, max, for UN.Legends and Killers Pack- adds areas to the multiplayer map, characters and the tomahawk weapon. The tomahawk adds challenges to the single player game, but nothing more for single player. My comment above on the challenges not really adding much stands for this content. IMO this one isn't worth $10 on its own.Liars and Cheats Pack- Adds new multiplayer mode (stronghold) where you defend a place or attack it on teams/posses, horse races in multiplayer, multiplayer Liars Dice and Poker (no Blackjack loving here), more characters, new map locations in multiplayer (plus hunting grounds) and the Explosive Rifle weapon (along with corresponding multiplayer and single player challenges; My comment above on the challenges not really adding much stands for this content.) Of all of the multiplayer focused DLC, this is the best of the set IMO given how much it adds.Over all UN is a fun game that continues in the spirit of RDR. I'm just not sure it's worth the price of standalone admission given how much you miss out on having not played RDR.Why 4 stars? The single player and multiplayer games are FUN. Even without playing RDR you can have fun w/ either, though I believe having played RDR gives you a better appreciation of the UN game, which is why I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5. As far as buying UN on its own, it really only makes sense if you meet any of the criteria outlined above. If you own RDR and have the drive space for DLC, buy the UN collection pack and get all of this without needing to wait for the disc. For those that own RDR, this is probably a 3 star release.
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Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare The Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Collection is a collection of three downloadable content (DLC) releases for the open world third-party shooter, Red Dead Redemption on a single Xbox 360 disc. A stand-alone release, meaning that the original Red Dead Redemption game is not necessary for play, the three DLC bundled here include: the Undead Nightmare Pack, the Liars and Cheats Pack and the Legends and Killers Pack. Together these three contain a new single player adventure featuring John Marston in a zombie-stomping storyline, hours of new gameplay, new multiplayer maps and play modes, new characters, mounts, hunting opportunities and weapons.
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