- "What happened to the zombies out there? They went... berserk."
- —Stacey
Gas zombies are a type of zombie appearing in Dead Rising 2, Dead Rising 2: Case West, and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record. They are much quicker and more powerful than regular zombies, and can spew blood on their targets, stunning them for a short time. Their escape commands are also a bit longer and more unforgiving than normal zombies.
Gas zombies are zombies that have mutated from the gas unleashed upon Fortune City by Phenotrans, granting them increased speed and strength over regular zombies, and the ability to project blood at their enemies.
It is unknown how the gas strengthens the zombies, but it most likely causes some kind of chemical reaction with the queens inside a zombie's body, causing mutation. It was invented to mature queens at a faster rate for harvest, due to the large quantity required to make Zombrex.
It is currently impossible for zombies to become gas zombies on their own, and the gas required is not natural, thus the only way gas zombies can be created at this time is through human intervention.
They are first seen when Sergeant Dwight Boykin arrives with his unit. A vent is emitting green gas, and one of the zombies happens to stand over it. The AZU soldier is at first not intimidated by the zombie, but then it mutates and becomes much more powerful, able to withstand several gunshots. The zombies surrounding the vent quickly turn into gas zombies, and then proceed to kill the surrounding soldiers, except for Dwight.
Overview[]
Once spotted, gas zombies will pursue Chuck faster than normal zombies, and will only break pursuit when he leaves the area. This results in Chuck being pursued by a dozen or more gas zombies as he moves through an area. Often, they will spew blood at Chuck before attacking him, which will cause him to pause and violently cough for several seconds - more than enough time for him to be surrounded. Their swipe attack is also somewhat faster and stronger compared to normal zombies, typically dealing about a block of health. Their escape commands are much more demanding and can be easy to fail at first, leaving unfamiliar players to suffer.
Gas zombies also have a better chance to be housing a queen than normal zombies. However, one that does and one that doesn't have no difference until death. After death, one's body will typically shake violently similar to a seizure until its head explodes, releasing a queen. Unlike regular queens, the ones rewarded for killing gas zombies will quickly move towards the nearest floor vent. If they reach this spot, they will disappear in a puff of smoke. If you need the queen, be sure to catch it in time.
Tactics[]
- Gas zombies blend into groups of normal zombies extremely well, and move through them quickly. Assume that any tightly-packed group of more than a dozen zombies has at least one hiding among them.
- Their attacks have enough range to strike from beyond the rear camera angle, and stun Chuck long enough for him to be surrounded on all sides. When in areas frequented by gas zombies, change the angle often and listen carefully for their battle roars.
- They are drawn to the battle roars of other gas zombies. Any attack by a gas zombie in a populated area will quickly attract more gas zombies.
- They are significantly faster and more maneuverable than normal zombies, and will not break pursuit unless Chuck leaves the area, meaning any attack is merely the precursor to a swarm.
- They have a longer grapple range and can initiate a grapple even if they are not facing Chuck - under no circumstances should Chuck attempt to shove past them.
- They can attack repeatedly once they grapple Chuck - expect to lose at least two squares of health to each grapple. Chuck should maintain a high level of health at all times once gas zombies are introduced.
- They are as resilient as looters and mercenaries. Do not engage them in combat unless Chuck is wielding a relatively undamaged and powerful weapon with a horizontal sweep such as the Defiler, the Laser Sword, or the Knife Gloves.
- The Snowball Cannon, the Freezer Bomb, and fire extinguishers will freeze them solid, permitting them to be shattered by unarmed attacks.
- During Case 7-3: What Lies Beneath, blast frequency guns become available, which can kill multiple gas zombies with each shot, although they will only stun normal zombies.
- Blast frequency guns can be combined with amplifiers to create Super B.F.G.s, which have only fifteen shots to a conventional B.F.G.'s fifty but are effective against both types of zombies. Chuck should carry at least one of either at all times once they become available, as Queens only stun gas zombies for about five seconds. Use this opportunity to run or attack - do not attempt to eat food or check the time.
- During Case 7-2: The Only Lead, there is a point where a large number of gas zombies will congregate around a large steel security door in the underground tunnels. Before activating this door, the player will have the opportunity to kill up to 400 gas zombies without retaliation, so intent will they be on getting through the door. This tactic makes a sizeable contribution to the "Having a Gas" achievement, and is also a good opportunity to level up quickly and gather a large number of Queens.
Trivia[]
- Gas zombies behave similarly to the mad zombies from Dead Rising Mobile.
- You cannot escape their grapples by using skill moves (you can't escape the front grapple by using a DDT in Dead Rising 2 or by a Suplex in OTR).
- Wearing the Ninja Skills Pack clothing will not deter gas zombies from following you. Its stealth ability is effective strictly on normal zombies.
Gallery[]
