When Dead Rising was first published as an Xbox 360 exclusive back in 2006, it took a different approach to zombie-slaying action than its Capcom brother Resident Evil. Instead, it favored sandbox-style gameplay that could get pretty silly if you so wanted. You can therefore imagine my amazement when Capcom chose, seemingly out of the blue, to not only bring the series back but also to completely reconstruct the original game. I am convinced that Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is going to be everything I could have hoped for in the eagerly anticipated return of one of my favorite games after spending some time playing the first two days of 72-Hour mode.
Indeed, I did use the word “rebuild,” but let me be clear: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a remaster rather than a remake. Frank West, the protagonist, continues to tell his story in this way. Yes, you are still Frank, the fearless freelance photojournalist out to find the real source of the outbreak while traveling to a small Colorado town and having to spend three days in a zombie-infested mall.
However, the Deluxe Remaster has been redesigned utilizing the RE Engine, offering more realistic lighting, better face animations and expressions, and a great deal more detail throughout the mall than the Dead Rising HD re-release from 2016. The original two games in the Dead Rising series, in particular, were renowned for their Ying-Yang contrasts, placing players in colorful, expansive playgrounds overrun by legions of undead. I could not help but stop myself occasionally and truly take a closer look at all the new changes to familiar places that were made to warrant this remaster. These contemporary adjustments of adding detail to environments and especially the implementation of realistic lighting breathe new life into Willamette Parkview Mall.
A Higher Standard of Living
Thankfully, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster offers a significant quality-of-life upgrade to almost every aspect of gameplay, hidden behind a gleaming new coat of paint and realistic lighting. The ability to move while aiming is one of the many changes made to combat to make it feel more natural. This comes in particularly handy if you are utilizing one of the few available guns in the game.
Naturally, it is not always possible to attack the undead. They will occasionally grab you. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has made it simpler to remove zombies from Frank as they appear. In a typical grasp, you release the zombie by pressing a button rather than rotating the thumbstick. Certain combat skills require you to punch a separate button when you unlock them, such as Kick Back, which Frank can unlock to let you counterattack a zombie grasp. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s talents have also been updated, making it simpler to use them.
I was pleased to learn that Flying Dodge, which enables Frank to avoid being struck by a huge gathering of zombies, was one of the skill adjustments. Compared to the original, which involved quickly pushing the left thumbstick, it is much simpler to execute by just pressing the designated button while moving.
Even so, it still takes some getting used to the new control method. Even now, I still find myself trying to accomplish tasks like picking up an object by clicking the button on the outdated controller. Thankfully, you can go back to the 2006 original “Classic Controls” by selecting an option in the options menu if you truly miss the previous control scheme. Nevertheless, it has all of the same limitations as the original edition, including the inability to move while aiming.
Being a Zombie Slayer Is Free
Players’ freedom has always been a hallmark of Dead Rising. You were not always required to go that particular route; you might proceed and complete the primary tale mission. That could be done in addition to attempting to complete every side quest and save as many survivors as you can. Alternatively, you can just run about the mall killing zombies and maybe completing the side tasks, skipping the story entirely.
Otis is still the source of most side quests; you can reach him via the transceiver. Those who have played the first game will remember how aggravating it was. Frank would be exposed if he answered an Otis call. If you were attacked, the call would stop quickly, making Otis angry and likely calling you back. Even though you still have to answer Otis’ calls in DRDR, you may now hit a button to skip the dialogue and let the call play continuously. This faster dialogue option extends to conversations with non-player characters as well, particularly to those survivors who engage in protracted discussions with Frank before choosing to accompany him back to the Security Room.
And last, a lot of changes have been made to the Photography minigame. There are a few other tweaks, such as an auto-focus button and the option to tilt the camera, but you can still move while aiming your camera. Frank’s camera can be upgraded, which is more significant. You can find new parts all across the mall that open up additional features, like a flash.
An Open Evaluation
I was limited to playing the first two days of the 72-hour mode, as I previously said. However, the availability of the other two moves—Overtime and Infinity mode—seems almost guaranteed. It remains to be seen what adjustments Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster takes to those, but in light of that, the 72-Hour mode has altered the passage of time. The in-game clock remains the same, but gamers can now fast-forward thanks to a new function. You can do this by going to a save location and following the instructions. You will have to select whether to fast-forward. This looks like a wonderful touch for people who are more interested in finishing the main tale than in the other side tasks.
Although I was not happy that I could not play the whole 72-hour mode, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster provided me with all the information I needed to be confident that Capcom may have exceeded my expectations with this more-than-remaster, not-quite-remake game. When Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster hits digital stores on September 19, I can not wait to play the final build and discover what modifications, if any, have been made to Overtime and Infinity Mode. It will not be available until November 8 if you want a hard copy.
