To be honest, I didn’t “get” Dead Rising when I originally played it on the Xbox 360. It wasn’t until Dead Rising 2 released where things clicked for me, and I ultimately ended up revisiting the first game to finally finish it. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a healthy dose of nostalgia mixed with lots of new additions like new voicework for survivors, auto-saves to smooth over progression, and a modern control scheme to be more than just a face lift. While remastering Dead Rising wasn’t the most necessary, it has been 18 years since the original release and Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is now a modern classic, made timeless.
After an introductory cutscene of a pregnant mom and her child experiencing a car crash and a zombies shambling towards them, we meet our protagonist, photojournalist Frank West. Frank sports a new look this time around, and a lot less Dan Aykroyd-like and more original in design – his voice also is by a different actor. He’s being transported by helicopter and gets dropped off to investigate what’s happening in Willamette, Colorado. In the 18 years since this game originally released, shopping malls are essentially dead, but the Willamette Parkview Mall is very much undead – in fact, this is the most filled a mall has been in over a decade.
Upon starting the game, you’ll only have the option to select the “72-Hour Mode”, this is the default game mode for the game. Others will unlock upon completion, but this should set things up for how it should be played. In this, time is always ticking, and is always against you. You have 72 hours to follow the case of what’s happening to uncover the truth, as the helicopter that set you down there will return in that time. Miss the helicopter, and you’ll be stranded forever. In a lot of ways, Dead Rising was a roguelite before we really knew what that was. It actually is one because you’ll gain new skills, unlock new moves, level up, and even have the option to start the game over with all your permanence in-tact. I remember replaying the early parts over and over to level up, and then play the game completely with an over-leveled Frank West – the same can be done in this deluxe remaster. So the time pressure mechanic adds a layer of stress and forces you to prioritize your actions. Do you focus on the main story and risk missing out on saving survivors? Or do you spend your time rescuing survivors, risking failing the main story thread? It’s a constant balancing act that keeps the gameplay engaging throughout.
The combat system has also seen some tweaks. While it remains rooted in the original’s slightly clunky style, there’s a newfound fluidity to Frank’s movements. He can now aim and shoot while moving, a vast improvement over the original’s stop-and-pop approach. Dodging and maneuvering through crowds of zombies feels a touch more responsive as well. These changes don’t turn Dead Rising into a character action game like Resident Evil or something, but they do make the core gameplay loop (bashing zombie skulls with increasingly ridiculous weapons) feel a bit more polished. There’s weapons everywhere, even unconventional things like flat-screen TVs and cacti. Frank can also hold food items to restore health, but each one takes up an inventory slot. Guns exist here, but in limited quantities, with more found near military checkpoints of the quarantined zones. Weapons have durability, so you do have to be cognizant of if you’re needing to stock up on new items. Aside from the time component, weapon durability is yet another stressor that ensures you keep moving. There’s no shortage of anything to be used as a weapon if it means surviving.
While there’s no mention of this, I found that in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster you level up faster than in the original. I even reinstalled the Steam version of Dead Rising and was able to confirm that doing the same actions side by side netted faster experience in the remaster. This is definitely a quality of life improvement, but jarring even after all these years since I played it. I think the inclusion of autosaves are necessary. It does dilute the original experience ever so slightly, but it was all too frustrating to traverse large sections of the mall to accidentally end up in a boss fight you weren’t prepared for, and then have to load a save from 30 minutes prior. I do still like that saving can only happen in the mall’s bathrooms, it’s not something any other game can replicate so earnestly and amusing at the same time. All NPCs in the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster are now fully voiced, and their situations feel more impactful as you talk with them, and either lead or carry them to safety.
Of course, the heart of Dead Rising has always been its unique blend of open-world exploration, sandbox mayhem, and time management. Remembering that Frank West is a photojournalist, taking photos is a worthwhile endeavor. Taking pictures of the carnage or something funny will earn you Prestige Points (which is unfortunately abbreviated to “PP” in-game). These points add to your experience to level up and unlock new skills. With this remaster, you may notice that the ‘erotic’ category has been removed, which is totally fine by me as the others remain unchanged. Before photo modes, we had Dead Rising for taking photos, and got ranked on their quality – and we liked it.
This whole game is a mood and a vibe, from the excellent mall music to the stores you’ll come across. From toys to gyms to clothing to electronics, this place has it all. Frank will have the option to change his hair color at salons, and even try out new clothing options of any gender for some zaniness. And Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster does not forget how zany it can be. There is a DLC costume set that let you look and play as Chuck Greene, which makes me long for weapon crafting of Dead Rising 2 – which I hope receives this same treatment in due time.
While the remaster brings numerous improvements, it’s a very detailed remaster, not a remake. The original Dead Rising‘s quirks and occasional jank are still present. Enemy AI can be downright silly at times, with zombies often getting stuck on scenery or exhibiting bizarre pathfinding behavior. That said, this can be explained away with “because zombies”, alongside the general humorous tone of the game. The inventory management system, while slightly improved, can still feel cumbersome at times, especially when you’re juggling a variety of weapons and food items during a boss battle or intense horde of zombies.
These quirks might be frustrating to some players, but for me, they’re part of Dead Rising‘s charm. The game never takes itself too seriously, and the occasional bit of jank only adds to the overall sense of ridiculous fun. Especially when you equip Mega Man’s blaster, it’s just too much fun sending them flying with a single button press.
The most immediately noticeable change in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is the graphical overhaul. For better and worse, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster utilizes the RE Engine, the same one that powers the recent Resident Evil remakes. The original game, while charming in its own way, hasn’t aged particularly well visually. The outdoor environments look the worst, often seeming that the larger scope of these areas is too much for the RE Engine. Indoor areas fare far better, and offer a lot more detail and atmosphere, matching the game engine’s namesake. I found that this game absolutely excels with HDR turned on, as it otherwise seems bland color-wise. The original Dead Rising does allow for ultrawide (when CAPCOM updated the Steam version in 2016), and so it would be criminal if Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster didn’t as well, but thankfully it does. The game performs well, reaching 170fps without the need for DLSS, XeSS, or FSR – all of which are included. There are a lot of options as has been the case with prior RE Engine games, and you’ll be able to tailor the graphics to nearly any machine.
My PC Specs:
– Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
– Intel Core i9 13900K @ 5.8GHz
– ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360 ARGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
– G.SKILL TRIDENT Z5 6000MHZ 64GB (32×2) DDR5 RAM
– ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X
– WD_BLACK SN850X M.2 (4 TB)
– LG UltraGear 34GP950B-G (21:9 Ultrawide @ 3440×1440)
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster does a lot of heavy lifting thanks to the RE Engine. It’s a gorgeous engine, and a very fitting one for the zombie carnage that unfolds in the course of three in-game days. CAPCOM doesn’t reinvent Dead Rising with this deluxe remaster, but it does reintroduce it to those who’ve never played it. Returning players will find enough here to satisfy nostalgia while enjoying a whole new experience. The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster shows how ahead of its time it was, and still is – it’s a charming and gruesome adventure worth revisiting.
A Steam code was provided by the publisher for review purposes
