Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review

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Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review

As a die-hard fan of the original Dead Rising who spent countless hours exploring the chaotic halls of Willamette Mall, I must admit that I’ve had a rollercoaster of emotions with this Deluxe Remaster. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see the game’s accessibility improved for modern audiences – the streamlined controls and smarter survivors are a welcome touch. However, on the other hand, some decisions, like the shift towards realism in visual style, feel like they’ve sucked the life out of this vibrant zombie apocalypse.

Back in 2006, I found myself at a crossroads as Christmas approached. Three new gaming systems were available: Sony’s high-priced PS3, the elusive Nintendo Wii, and the Xbox 360, which had been released the year before and boasted an impressive collection of quality games. Despite my history of owning only PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, I wasn’t swayed by the Xbox 360. However, an article about a game called Dead Rising in a gaming magazine caught my attention. Though there had been numerous zombie video games before, none offered the massive scale of this one, with potential for hundreds of zombies on-screen simultaneously and all the action taking place within a shopping mall reminiscent of “Dawn of the Dead.” Dead Rising convinced me to ask for an Xbox 360 for Christmas that year, and I’ve never regretted my choice. Fast forward to today, 18 years later, Capcom has revived Dead Rising as the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Enhanced for modern consoles, this remaster is in many ways superior to the original Xbox 360 version, although it falls short in certain aspects.

Upon launching the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, one thing that immediately caught my eye was its noticeable graphical pop-in. The game’s initial cutscenes and helicopter photography sequence were marred by bothersome pop-in issues where characters, zombies, distant trees, and parts of buildings suddenly materialized out of thin air. These early areas also featured some unusual texture flickering, which didn’t exactly set a positive tone.

In the shopping mall, the graphical problems largely lessened (except for Leisure Park), and I was swept away by a flood of nostalgia. Recalling the moments when I saved Jeff and Natalie on the rooftop and wandered through various stores in Paradise Plaza, the early days of “Dead Rising” have left an indelible mark on me for almost two decades. Reliving the game on contemporary equipment is truly delightful.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Has Major New Quality-of-Life Features

As a fan, I ventured with the revamped control scheme of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, but for those yearning for a touch of the past, they can opt for the classic controls. In the original version, the Y button was used to pick up objects, while in the remastered edition, it’s now the B button. Adapting to this change might take some time, but the shift that places survivor commands and radio calls on the sticks is a major upgrade. This modification allows players to respond to calls without moving their fingers from the sticks, which may seem minor, but it’s a significant convenience while exploring the mall.

In the game Dead Rising, players are given freedom to roam around the mall from an early stage, but there’s always a clock ticking. The reason Dead Rising stands out is due to this time limit, which gives players just 72 hours to save as many survivors as possible, fight off Psychopaths, and unravel the game’s main story mysteries. This time constraint increases tension and keeps the stakes high. It’s a debated mechanic, but I enjoy it both originally and now. It gives Dead Rising a unique edge and encourages strategic thinking in Willamette Mall.

In the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, navigation has received a notable upgrade compared to the original game. Instead of relying on a large, unattractive arrow at the top of the screen to guide players towards their next goal, this updated version uses a more practical compass that allows players to select multiple objectives simultaneously. These objective indicators provide players with precise distance information for each task, facilitating easier decision-making regarding where to proceed next. By being able to identify nearby survivors in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, players can choose whether to rescue them before returning to the safety of a secure room, whereas in the original game they might have missed their location and unintentionally left them behind.

For diehard fans of the classic Dead Rising, the compass feature will be highly valued, while those who disliked the time limit in the original game will find solace knowing they can speed up time in the remastered version. The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster provides players with save points to fast-forward through gameplay, allowing them to concentrate solely on the main storyline without wasting time in the mall. Players can also skip ahead to specific side quests if they wish to complete tasks like eliminating all Psychopaths or rescuing certain survivors. However, I wouldn’t recommend using the fast-forward feature during a first playthrough as it may disrupt the game’s rhythm and cause players to miss out on numerous intriguing elements. While it is beneficial for achievement hunting and significantly reduces tedium in subsequent playthroughs compared to the original game, it’s best to experience the game at its intended pace during the initial run.

Skipping through the remastered version of Dead Rising Deluxe might result in missing out on iconic Psychopath battles if you’re not cautious, as well as finding yourself underprepared for later missions where zombies are stronger. The game is designed so that players often die and start over from the beginning, keeping their newly acquired abilities and improved stats. Although it’s possible to revert to the most recent save point, the game is more enjoyable when played as intended. As Frank West, the protagonist of Dead Rising, becomes stronger with each playthrough, allowing you to progress further in the story and accomplish more within the mall.

I really enjoy the way Dead Rising progresses, as it offers a great sense of reward when leveling up the character, Frank. Gaining stat boosts and acquiring new skills can significantly alter gameplay strategies and allow for more thorough exploration of the mall. Early abilities like Zombie Ride are incredibly useful for navigating congested areas, while later skills make quick work of hoards of the undead. Players advance by finishing missions, defeating enemies, and capturing photographs. Photographs are organized into various categories, with extra points awarded for taking high-quality shots featuring specific characters, locations, or in-game events.

Using the quick-advance function, you can swiftly complete the primary storylines of the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster within just a few hours, yet this method is far from the optimal way to savor the game.

In the updated version of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, Capcom has chosen to eliminate one category related to photography. Initially, players could earn bonus points by capturing sexually suggestive images, like taking a picture under Jessie’s skirt. Although these erotic photos were questionable to begin with, I’m not upset about their removal. However, I find some of the modifications aimed at making the game more appealing for contemporary audiences slightly disheartening. For instance, the backstory of Cliff has been simplified by omitting references to Communists and the Vietnam War, which diminishes his depth as a character.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s Endgame is a Big Step Up

There are certainly controversial changes made to Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, but some tweaks will be universally loved. I don’t want to go into details because that would be venturing into spoiler territory for those who haven’t played the original, but a particularly annoying mission in Dead Rising‘s Overtime mode has been made a lot easier in the Deluxe Remaster. Players will also greatly appreciate how Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster survivors are way smarter than their 2006 counterparts. They still sometimes get stuck behind when loading from one area to the next, which is annoying, but their survivability has been greatly improved, and they also call out helpful items and points of interest while traveling through the mall with Frank.

In the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, while some enhancements have been made, not all the problems from the original game have been addressed completely. For instance, in the Leisure Park boss fight, players may remember the chaotic scene involving a trio of convicts driving around in a jeep equipped with machine guns. In the original version, players could eliminate the convicts, but their jeep and gun might vanish unexpectedly. To add to the frustration, these convicts would resurface later without any apparent explanation. I had hoped that such issues would be resolved in the remastered edition, but it appears they haven’t been. It’s conceivable that the repeated respawn of the convicts is intentional, but the reasoning behind this decision remains unclear, especially since none of the other Psychopaths exhibit this behavior.

In the enhanced version of Dead Rising Deluxe, known as Infinity Mode, psychopaths are still present. This mode has undergone significant improvements compared to its original form. The Infinity Mode in Dead Rising Deluxe allows players to pause their game and save progress at any point during a run, making it much more achievable to get the accolade for surviving for seven consecutive days. Additionally, this version eliminates the issue of limited resources. Players can amass weapons and healing items by slaughtering zombies, which incentivizes them to enjoy the game rather than hoard supplies and hide in fear.

Regarding the alterations in the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, I’d sum it up as most of them being improvements. However, there’s one significant shift that I believe negatively impacts the game: a move towards a more realistic visual style. Unlike the original Dead Rising, which had a vibrant and sometimes comical aesthetic, the remaster aims for realism in its zombies, settings, characters, and other elements. To be honest, I found the art direction of the original Dead Rising to be far more appealing than that of the Deluxe Remaster, which can at times feel devoid of soul compared to the original.

A significant part of the original appeal of Dead Rising might not fully carry over due to translation issues, but overall, the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a well-executed remake of the 2006 version. The enhanced features will be highly beneficial and revisiting Willamette Mall brings back fond memories for old-school Xbox 360 enthusiasts. Let’s cross our fingers for a new installment in the series soon!

The enhanced version of Dead Rising, titled “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster,” is set to debut on September 19 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X platforms. For this review, we received an Xbox Series X code from Game Rant.

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2024-09-17 18:04