Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review: Navigating the Zombie Horde with Impatience

2024/10/01

After a seven-year pause, the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster brings back Capcom’s “other”iconic zombie franchise. This newly enhanced version of the original 2006 title invites fans to experience the game that popularized the concept of overwhelming zombie hordes on screen, all while utilizing everyday objects as weapons.

This remaster stays true to its roots, although some adjustments have sparked debate within the gaming community. The big question remains: should long-time fans of the series grab this remaster? And what about newcomers? Stay tuned as we delve into our complete review of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster: A Classic Comedic Horror for Today’s Gamers

Welcome to Willamette Mall (Image via Capcom)

While I’ve enjoyed later titles like Dead Rising 3, I never had the chance to play the original, which previously saw an HD port on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Thus, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster marks my first encounter with photojournalist Frank West‘s frantic three-day adventure inside Willamette Mall.

The game follows Frank as he races against time to uncover the biggest scoop of his career before the helicopter that dropped him off returns in three days. Throughout his journey, he finds himself trapped in the mall, fighting off waves of shambling undead.

However, Frank isn’t alone; several other survivors are scattered across the expansive mall, needing rescue. With the help of various NPCs—like Otis, Brad, and Jessie—Frank must uncover the source of the zombie outbreak while attempting to bring everyone back to the mall’s Security Room for safety.

Achieving this, however, turns out to be more challenging than anticipated. While the mall is teeming with zombies, it also features dangerous bosses known as Psychopaths, who have taken control of critical areas. These are people who have lost their sanity amidst the chaos, attacking anyone they see or taking hostages.

This aspect is a prime example of how Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster leans into its comedic roots, portraying these bosses as exaggerated caricatures of American capitalism and culture. But before diving deeper into the narrative, let’s examine the gameplay.

A Race Against Time

Who doesn't like some freebies? (Image via Capcom) — Who doesn’t like some freebies? (Image via Capcom)

The expansive Willamette Mall in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster features various floors filled with stores, attractions, and other points of interest. Whether it’s a theme park, a movie theater, or a massive outdoor area, players can find almost anything amid the hordes of zombies. Exploration unveils new clothing, unique weapons, and more, although I won’t spoil the surprises.

One significant element that may deter some players is the ticking timer that counts down the entire 72-hour in-game duration. The story unfolds through “Cases,”while side missions are dubbed “Scoops,”and players must complete these objectives within a limited timeframe. Failure to do so results in continuing the story but leaves players to wonder what they missed, as the Cases will remain unresolved, and Scoops will disappear.

Meet odd and bizarre NPCs as you explore the mall (Image via Capcom)

This could involve rescuing a trapped survivor or defeating an optional Psycho boss. Given how vast the mall is and the relentless swarm of the undead, beginners may struggle to experience everything Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has to offer. Fortunately, the game ensures replayability by allowing different endings based on player decisions and progress.

If Frank meets an untimely demise during his quests (which is likely on a first playthrough), players can restart the game while retaining Frank’s character progression, offering a roguelite-like experience. Now, let’s talk about progression.

Make Use of Your Surroundings

Photograph zombies, survivors, and objects of interest to earn PP (Image via Capcom)

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster includes light RPG mechanics, allowing Frank West to level up through the PP (Prestige Points) system. Activities like saving survivors, defeating zombies, eliminating Psychopaths, and taking photographs earn players PP.

As the PP gauge fills, Frank levels up, improving his health, speed, inventory capacity, and unlocking new abilities essential for combating zombies. The cap is Level 50, and a stronger Frank can handle challenges more effectively.

Although Capcom has strived to make Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster more user-friendly, it remains a challenging experience. Players may encounter scenarios where a survivor they were unaware of perishes, which is reported through a notification.

Some items are more useful than others (Image via Capcom)

Frank must stay prepared, as the mall doesn’t offer an abundance of lethal weapons (minus a few key areas). Instead, he can use nearly anything as a weapon, ranging from golf clubs and soccer balls to teddy bears and shopping carts.

In essence, anything pick-up-able can serve as a weapon, although the effectiveness varies. This feature is a standout selling point of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. However, it’s prudent to stockpile items, as they can break with use, and gather food supplies to ward off zombie attacks that may sap Frank’s health.

Overall, gameplay progression in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is fairly open-ended, allowing players to tackle quests in their preferred order. They can rush the story or explore comprehensively to level up before taking on the endgame.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Hobbling survivors need to be carried or lent a hand to make them move faster (Image via Capcom)

Now, let’s address the changes in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and the elements that have stayed the same. With nearly two decades between the original release and this remaster, some aspects feel outdated. Capcom has improved many frustrating features from the original, introducing quality-of-life enhancements.

The most prominent addition is auto-saving and the option for multiple save slots, a great time-saver if Frank finds himself struggling or dies. The inclusion of item durability meters also alleviates much of the previous guesswork. The revamped control scheme allows for smoother gameplay, enabling Frank to shoot while on the move.

Nonetheless, some of the 2006 game’s quirks remain, affecting the overall experience. Combat can still feel stiff, and the tedious nature of battling Psychopaths detracts from the fun. Many of these foes are caricatures based on American stereotypes, such as a large police officer abusing her power or a former soldier wielding a machete, presenting unique but frustrating challenges.

Hiding behind a stand to avoid fast-firing, lock-on shotgun pellets is one of the least fun things in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (Image via Capcom)

For instance, the boss fight with Cletus in the gun shop requires players to defeat a fast-moving foe that can dodge attacks while Frank can’t, resulting in a rather tedious experience. Compounding this frustration are the respawning Convict Psychopaths and zombies in certain areas, further complicating navigation.

While NPC survivors have seen some AI improvements, they still lag behind, and escorting them back to safety can be a tedious task—especially when faced with hordes of zombies.

Additionally, Capcom has “censored”some elements of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster by removing the ability to photograph certain categorically suggestive content, eliminating rewards for capturing risqué images. Character designs have also been altered, particularly for some Psychopaths to avoid racially insensitive portrayals.

Graphics, Performance, and Sound

The visuals are denser and more detailed than ever before (Image via Capcom)

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster utilizes Capcom’s in-house RE Engine, which revolutionizes graphics, boasting rich details in both character models and environments. The performance remains robust, even during intense scenes with a multitude of zombies on screen, although cinematic quality may fluctuate based on specific scenarios.

Some changes to voice acting have sparked controversy within the Dead Rising community, but newcomers might not mind this alteration as much. Nevertheless, the licensed music from the original game, including tracks like Lifeseeker’s “Gone Guru”and Lockjaw’s “Bored Again,”remains intact.

Conclusion

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is largely a success, skillfully updating a classic while enhancing numerous aspects. With improved visuals, controls, and quality-of-life adjustments, this is undeniably the best way to re-experience Frank West’s original journey for dedicated fans. The vast Willamette Mall is a joy to explore, ensuring that slaying zombies remains entertaining hours into gameplay.

However, Capcom hasn’t addressed every issue. Elements like the timer mechanic and persistent AI quirks may frustrate new players. Yet for those willing to navigate through the chaos of the undead and environmental wreckage, a truly unique gaming experience awaits.