What Happened to Frank West in Dead Rising 3?
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Frank West, the beloved protagonist of the original Dead Rising, is conspicuously absent as a playable character in Dead Rising 3. While he doesn’t physically appear in the game, his presence is still felt through subtle references and a brief acknowledgment of his current activities. Essentially, Frank is living his life away from the main stage of the Los Perdidos outbreak in Dead Rising 3, having transitioned into a somewhat quieter post-zombie-slaying career. He is no longer the front-line action hero he once was, opting instead for a life of consulting and public speaking. This decision was a notable change, leaving many fans curious about his whereabouts and the specific details of his post-Willamette life.
Frank West’s In-Game Mentions and Backstory
Although not a playable character, Frank West isn’t completely forgotten in Dead Rising 3. His legacy as a zombie-slaying photojournalist is acknowledged within the game’s world. A key piece of evidence of his existence lies within the Los Perdidos Museum, where players can discover a cardboard cutout of him, placed alongside other prominent figures from the series, such as Chuck Greene and Carlito Keyes. This physical reference confirms his place within the established universe of Dead Rising.
More significantly, the museum features a brief biography of Frank. This bio confirms that, following the events of previous games, he has transitioned into a zombie consultant and public speaker. This revelation helps to bridge the narrative gap between his active role in earlier games and his more behind-the-scenes existence in Dead Rising 3. Essentially, Frank is capitalizing on his experience with zombie outbreaks, moving from being a participant to an authority on the subject. This new role implies that he’s not directly involved in fighting zombies at this time, but rather offering expertise and guidance. This career change signifies an evolution of his character, shifting from an action hero to an expert commentator on the undead.
The Decision Not to Include Frank as Playable Character
The exclusion of Frank West as a playable character in Dead Rising 3 was a deliberate choice by the developers at Capcom. Instead of using Frank, they introduced Nick Ramos as the new protagonist. This shift was partially due to the lukewarm reception of Chuck Greene in Dead Rising 2. Many fans missed Frank’s unique personality and gameplay style, which led to Capcom creating the “Off The Record” and “Case West” spin-offs to placate them. By not featuring Frank in Dead Rising 3 initially, the developers gave the fanbase time to explore new characters while keeping Frank’s legacy as a special aspect of the series.
Ultimately, the narrative choices surrounding Frank in Dead Rising 3 emphasize his growth beyond a simple zombie-fighting protagonist. He’s no longer just the man with the camera, hacking through hordes, but rather a figure of authority and expertise. His presence is felt through the world, acting as a reminder of past events while setting the stage for new characters to shine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why wasn’t Frank West a playable character in Dead Rising 3?
Frank West was not a playable character in Dead Rising 3 to allow the developers to introduce new characters like Nick Ramos and explore different aspects of the zombie outbreak storyline. Also, the developers wanted to shift the narrative, giving Frank a role outside the immediate action, rather than being another frontline fighter, which allowed for his return in future games to feel more impactful.
2. Where is Frank West during the events of Dead Rising 3?
During the events of Dead Rising 3, Frank West is a zombie consultant and public speaker. He is presumably not directly involved in the Los Perdidos outbreak and is likely engaging with these roles elsewhere. He’s moved beyond directly battling hordes, to advising and teaching about the phenomena.
3. What is Frank West’s official occupation after the events of the original Dead Rising?
Following the events of the original Dead Rising, and possibly other events as well, Frank West became a zombie consultant and public speaker, utilizing his firsthand experience with zombie outbreaks. This shows a character evolution, from someone actively participating in outbreaks, to someone studying and advising on them.
4. Why was Frank West brought back in Dead Rising 4?
Frank West was brought back as the protagonist in Dead Rising 4 to reignite fan interest in the series, as his absence in Dead Rising 3 was a significant point of discussion. Capcom aimed to reintroduce a familiar and beloved character to boost enthusiasm for the franchise.
5. Does Frank West require Zombrex?
Yes, following his infection in previous games, Frank West needs Zombrex to prevent turning into a zombie. Unlike other characters, Frank can take the medication in any part of the city as needed.
6. How did Frank West initially get infected?
While the provided document doesn’t describe how Frank West initially got infected with the virus that turns people into zombies, his need for Zombrex indicates he became infected in a prior outbreak. This is typically shown through a bite or similar infection method in the series.
7. What is Frank Rising in Dead Rising 4?
Frank Rising is a DLC for Dead Rising 4 where Frank West becomes a zombie himself, forced to consume others to survive. It introduces a new storyline and gameplay mechanics within the Dead Rising 4 universe.
8. How does Frank West limp in the games?
Frank’s limp is due to an injury sustained during the events of the first game, when he landed on his leg to cushion a fall from a helicopter, to protect his camera. This injury led to his limping gait, which carries over through later games.
9. Is Frank West’s character based on any real-life person?
Frank West is a fictional character, however, he’s often viewed as a parody of certain action hero archetypes, coupled with elements of investigative journalism. His personality and quirks aren’t specifically based on one person, but rather are a mixture of pop culture tropes.
10. How many psychopaths are there in Dead Rising 3 and why that number?
There are seven psychopaths in Dead Rising 3, each representing one of the seven deadly sins. This thematic design is a distinct feature of Dead Rising 3, setting it apart from other games in the series.
11. Why is Nick Ramos immune to the zombie virus?
Nick Ramos is immune to the zombie virus because of experimentation that was done on him by Carlito Keyes when he was a child, making him a key figure in the attempt to find a cure.
12. Did Frank West always want to be a photographer?
Frank West is often portrayed as an ambitious and somewhat reckless freelance photojournalist. His primary motivation seems to be the thrill of the story and capturing dramatic events, suggesting his drive is for the story rather than a passion for photography itself.
13. What is Frank’s personality typically portrayed as in the Dead Rising Series?
Frank West is portrayed as a cocky, opportunistic, and somewhat arrogant character who’s also surprisingly resourceful and skilled at surviving in extreme circumstances. He has a cynical wit and a love for getting in over his head.
14. Do any characters mention Frank in Dead Rising 3?
Beyond his museum presence, Frank West is mentioned by other characters in dialogue. This helps to create a continuous narrative thread between the games and keeps his legacy present in the Dead Rising universe.
15. How does Frank West survive the ending of Dead Rising 4?
Frank West survives the ending of Dead Rising 4 after getting his body restored and escapes with Dr. Blackburne. However, the success of the escape can be dependent on completing certain in-game actions involving collecting all of the princess wasps. If these are not collected then Hammond and her team will die in the escape.