Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review: Classic Zombie Bashing, But Make It Beautiful

It’s been 18 years since Capcom introduced us to the zombie-infested sandbox of Dead Rising. With unique gameplay and an entertaining setting, Dead Rising became an instant classic for the Xbox 360 era. Its mechanics and visuals, however, struggled against the test of time, only becoming more of a chore to play with each subsequent generation of console. No doubt knowing it would be a shame for such a game to fall into obscurity, Capcom have developed Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster using the wonderful power of the RE Engine. 

We return to where it all started. Photojournalist Frank West arrives in the town of Willamette to secure his next big scoop, a quest that leads him to a shopping mall overrun with what he quickly discovers are zombies. With just 72-hours to play with, Frank must rescue as many survivors as he can, and uncover the mystery surrounding the outbreak — or not, as Dead Rising gives players the freedom to spend those 72 in-game hours however they want. The core story remains unchanged from the 2006 original, but its presentation, mechanics and gameplay have been given one hell of an overhaul. 

I’m Just Looking, Thanks

It can’t be overstated just how much legwork the RE Engine has done here. In Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, everything has (ironically) been brought to life. Characters have improved facial expressions, the environments look more lived in, and the lighting feels far more naturalistic. It almost doesn’t quite look like the same game. Whether that’s a boon or not depends on personal preference. 

Where we used to have the bright, fluorescent lights flatten the environments of Parkview Mall, this remaster brings out the shadows and the textures for a far more dynamic look. Areas like the under-construction North Plaza are noticeably dimmer, looking more in line with an area undergoing renovation. What that loses, however, is that slight comic undercurrent that comes with brighter and flatter lighting. Dead Rising has always been an amusing game, and the remaster still keeps in the novelty masks, laser swords, and over-the-top villains. But it just feels moodier, despite it being nearly the exact same game. 

Now, I’m not complaining. I remember trying to play the original during the standard-definition TV era, having been developed with only HDTV in mind. Could I read a single sentence on the screen because of the tiny, tiny text? No. Did I miss scoops and submit 80% of survivors to their doom because of said tiny, tiny text? Yes — but that’s not a problem anymore. It’s 2024! Aside from being far easier on the eyes, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster adds in a slew of gameplay improvements that make the whole experience far less frustrating to play.  

I Only Want the Latest Model

The Deluxe Remaster appears to have been a way for Capcom to write the wrongs of the original. One of its biggest criticisms back in 2006, aside from the SDTV ordeal, was Otis’ transceiver calls. They were ceaseless, and would leave Frank vulnerable to attack when he answered. If Frank was attacked during the call, it would cut out and you’d have to wait for Otis to call back only for him to berate you for daring to hang up on him. ‘Sorry, Otis. I can’t hear you over the sound of this zombie chomping my limbs off. Can I call you back?’

In this remaster Otis’ calls are no longer a burden. Frank is now fully able to move and defend himself while on the call with Otis, and players are prompted with a button to speed through the dialogue, which is particularly useful on your subsequent playthroughs. 

Speaking of speeding through, the game now offers an option to fast forward time which is great if you’re waiting for certain events to trigger. Frank only needs to head back to the save point in the Security Room to choose to pass some time. It’s an element that feels like it’s been added with replayability in mind. Dead Rising notably has a number of ways for you to spend the 72 in-game hours. One way might be focusing on the main story, whereas another might be rescuing all the survivors or defeating every Psychopath. The latter of the two involve Frank being in certain places at certain times, so being able to fast forward makes this a far less tedious task. 

A new item durability bar has also been added, allowing players to see exactly when their items are about to break. Now, I’m in two minds about this. From a mechanics perspective, this is great. It takes the guesswork out of which weapons are going to fail on you in the thick of battle, and makes for a more streamlined experience. You’ll see just how much longevity each baseball bat or 2x4 has, and whether you need to pick up anymore for the road. For most players, this will only be a good thing. 

However, the survival horror fan in me enjoys the jeopardy. Having to improvise in the unfortunate circumstance where your last weapon breaks in the middle of a horde; you didn’t know how many swings your small chainsaw had left. You scramble to find anything you can launch at a zombie. A chair? A shovel? A TV? Leah Stein is trapped in the jewelry store, but you can only reach her by plowing through the masses with an opened parasol. How will either of you make it out?

Granted, you can still experience all this knowing each item’s durability, but it’s unlikely to be as impromptu. But in terms of ease, the durability bar is a life saver, and will likely result in more players making it out of zombie encounters unscathed. 

Also making it out of more zombie encounters are the survivors themselves, thanks to a slight improvement to the AI. It’s in no way perfect—some survivors will still end up being left behind in a previous screen—but they will now at least attempt to catch up to you rather than resign themselves to being zombie chow the second you move out of sight. 

Like the original, there are different types of survivors Frank will encounter: normal survivors who can be equipped with weapons and have a better chance of making it through crowds, injured survivors who Frank will need to carry, and women — for some reason, all of the survivors that have no injuries while also being unable to equip weapons are women. Sure, that’s how it was in the original release but come on, let a girl swing a sword once in a while. These specific survivors aren’t completely defenseless, and can shove zombies out of the way somewhat, but Frank is encouraged to lead them by hand back to the Security Room. What a nice guy. 

Does This Come With Warranty?

A lot has changed in the 18 years since the 2006 original Dead Rising and this 2024 Deluxe Remaster release. Huge graphical advancements, multiple console generations, and a whole lot of societal change. But the Deluxe Remaster ensures that, in both concept and execution, Dead Rising still holds up as a game. 

There are very few arcade smash-em-ups that can compete with the AAA RPG offerings of the modern era, but with an optional storyline, multiple endings, combat freedom, and a runtime of under 12 hours, Dead Rising continues to give the big hitters a run for their money. A shorter game than what some of us might gravitate to, but engaging enough to bring you back for more playthroughs without it feeling like a chore. 

On the flip side, revisiting this classic did bring to light the over-simplicity of the story. Sure, Frank only has 72-hours to solve the main case, with the investigation being split across the three days in timed segments. But for modern video game storytelling, the expectations seem much higher, especially for a topic as interesting as the origin of a zombie outbreak. We speed through plot points and there’s very little characterisation to Frank outside of being a quippy man who takes pictures, but we were more forgiving back in the early 2000s. 

There are a few changes from the original that had some fans up in arms, but they serve to bring the game in-line with modern notions. I’m talking, obviously, about the removal of the ‘Erotica’ photo bonuses. Yes, you’re no longer rewarded for taking creepy pictures of female survivors simply existing, because why are you doing that when the apocalypse is brewing?  That’s not very “I've covered wars, ya know” of you, Frank. Jokes aside, the ‘Erotica’ bonuses were such a minor part of the original game that you hardly notice they’re gone in the remaster. Certain side quests have been adjusted to accommodate this change, and it feels pretty seamless. 

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Dead Rising has always been fun, but playing the original in recent years has felt like a visual chore. The 2006 version, and even its 2016 remaster, were showing their age and felt clunky for the modern day. But, thankfully, that’s all a thing of the past. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is the optimal way to replay this Capcom classic. The RE Engine has done wonders to its graphics, and an array of quality of life improvements have taken away nearly all of the frustrations we felt in the past. While it’s not an exact copy of the original game, it comes as close as it can to align with a modern audience. And, despite a few clipping issues and the odd bug, Capcom continues to prove they know how to handle a solid remaster.