18 cert, Rockstar, Xbox (also PS3) ****

There's zombies in them thar hills! It's not surprising that Red Dead Redemption, a huge hit, has resulted in a gold-digging sequel that throws John Marsden into a horror/western setting. Despite our hero's wife and son being turned into zombies, Undead Nightmarelacks the complexity and emotion of the original, favouring instead zombie madness (which is exciting, don't get me wrong). Gone are the themes of the dying old west, the historical research and the ambiguity of a reformed outlaw. Indeed, this lively genre mash-up is more frantic and violent than its predecessor. Along with the single-player zombie campaign, the game has The Liars Cheats and Legends Killers pack, each containing new weapons (hello, tomahawk!), characters and multiplayer locations. Without surpassing the original, Undead Nightmareis a stirring game for RDR's many fans.