Even though Resident Evil has made a successful comeback, Capcom’s other zombie series, Dead Rising, has been on the decline since 2016. However, a new version of the original Dead Rising is set to inject new life into the franchise, indicating that Capcom may be ready to give its more lighthearted zombie brand the attention it deserves.
The new iteration, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, offers sharper visuals in some areas and a more refined experience overall, based on early previews. While the original game’s quirky foundation remains intact, Capcom and developer NeoBards Entertainment have addressed numerous criticisms of Dead Rising, such as its limited save system, stark presentation, and incompetent AI-controlled survivors.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster follows the story of bumbling photojournalist Frank West as he investigates a military quarantine in Willamette, Colorado. The game unfolds in the open-world setting of the Willamette Parkview Mall, where survivors, zombies, and a plethora of weapons and tools await Frank’s exploration. With a 72-hour time limit, Frank must uncover the town’s mystery and survive the zombie outbreak.
The key to Frank’s survival lies in the abundance of items scattered throughout the mall: food, weapons, vehicles, clothing, and more. Players can use almost anything they find as a weapon, ranging from store signs to chainsaws to motorcycles. Experimenting with these weapons, along with the game’s visual humor, adds to Dead Rising’s unique charm and survival horror comedy.
One of the most significant changes in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is its visual update. Running on Capcom’s RE Engine, the remaster boasts 4K resolution and up to 60 frames per second, approaching the graphical quality of recent Resident Evil titles. While not aiming for photorealism like the Resident Evil 2 remake, the game presents much more detailed characters, animations, and environments.
Thanks to various upgrades, the characters in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feel more vibrant and alive than those in the original 2006 release. Characters like Otis the janitor are fully voiced, and non-player characters behave more realistically during rescue missions. Overall, guiding survivors through zombie-infested areas feels less frustrating in this remaster.
While the improvements in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster make the game technically easier to play, it still poses a challenge, albeit a fair one. Gameplay changes allow for more flexibility, such as the ability to shoot while moving and using in-game objects as shields. Quality-of-life features like a streamlined user interface and dynamic directional indicators enhance the player’s experience without compromising the game’s distinctiveness.
Capcom has also made sensitive changes to address outdated or insensitive elements in the original game. These changes, like removing lecherous scoring systems and renaming offensive achievements, contribute to a more inclusive and enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster maintains the original game’s charm while integrating modern gameplay enhancements and improvements.
Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster is set to launch on Sept. 19 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game was previewed on Windows PC with pre-release code provided by Capcom.