Of all the series that will always have a special place in my heart, it’s Dead Rising. From the first instance, I laid my eyes on the original cover art of Dead Rising, and I was hooked. So, when Capcom announced Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, I was genuinely at a loss – a total of excitement and caution. After all, the Dead Rising series hasn’t always received the love it deserves in recent years. But, finally, diving into Deluxe Remaster, this remake does the original justice while making it far more approachable for newcomers. Let’s understand why this remaster might be the best way to experience the mayhem of Willamette Mall. Check out this Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review for more!
A Gorgeous (and Grisly) Overhaul
The first thing you’ll notice when booting up Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is how much attention to detail has been given to the visuals. We’re not just talking about a slight bump in resolution either — this is a full-on graphical remake.
From the Wild West-inspired Food Court to Wonderland Plaza’s space-themed children’s party vibe, the environments feel alive despite the hordes of undead shuffling about.
Some changes are disappointing fans. Yes, it adds to the atmosphere, but sometimes one gets the feeling they took their shadows a bit too far. It isn’t really for fun anymore to grab that Toy Sword for its neon pink glow; in some of these pitch-black areas, it is borderline necessary.
Frank West: Older and Grizzled, but Still Iconic
It is a mixed bag for the characters: Frank West is no longer voiced by TJ Rotolo. Yet, at first, I thought that might’ve been a deal-breaker, but hearing Jas Patrick’s grizzled take on Frank, I was sold. He brings a little bit of an older, grizzled, world-weary edge to the character and honestly feels like a natural evolution.
The others aren’t as lucky. In particular, Brad’s voice acting is weaker than that of the original game. It’s not enough to be an issue, though fans who have the original game seared into their brains might find it jarring. The story’s emotional heft remains intact, even delivering that hard-hitting commentary on consumerism and capitalism that made the original so memorable.
Same Classic Gameplay, But Modern Tweaks
You’ve got 72 in-game hours (about six to seven real-time hours) to explore the mall, kill zombies, defeat psychopaths, and rescue survivors. All of that is present and accounted for in the Deluxe Remaster but with minor quality-of-life improvements that make the game more accessible.
For example, time skips can now forward those tedious waits between missions, and you can finally skip dialogue! Hallelujah. The game also adds autosaves, item durability indicators, and an updated control scheme that makes pulling off Frank’s special moves easier on your thumbs.
The most significant addition, though? If you want to take a zombie beating to an absolute, thoroughly chaotic mess, the Rocket Launcher is the weapon for you.
A Bit Easier, but Still a Blast
Now, let’s get into the elephant in the room: the challenge. The original Dead Rising was notoriously complex, with frustratingly obtuse mechanics and a punishing time limit. Where the Deluxe Remaster goes is decidedly not that place, retaining much of the core gameplay but making it feel much more accessible than the original.
For fans of longtime standing, this will feel a little bit of a step down in challenge, but honestly? I did not mind. Yes, the challenge was part of what made the original appealing. Still, the quality-of-life improvements make this game much more enjoyable, especially for those who are revisiting the series or trying it out for the first time.
I died only once during my 50-hour playthrough, and part of that is because I know the mall like the back of my hand. Still, it’s much more forgiving this time around.
But I wish there were an option for a more challenging difficulty mode to give it more like the brutal challenge in that game of which I first fell in love. But even without one, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a blast to play from start to finish.
Summary
As somebody who instantly fell in love with Dead Rising, I cautiously approached this remaster. And while it’s not perfect, those voice changes and the easier difficulty will grind some purists’ gears-it’s the only way to play the game in 2024.
If you haven’t played Dead Riding, there’s no better place to start than this. But if you want to live in the truly authentic, challenging game that came out in 2006, you can still try to find fresh possibilities. Dead Rising proves that the dead can rise again and sometimes for the better.
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