Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review

Who would have thought that Dead Rising would come back from the dead, following a rather cold reception for the fourth installment, and especially after an extended delay? Certainly not the author of this article, who explained last year why it seemed complicated to resurrect such a license. Yet here we are, and Capcom has not failed to surprise everyone with the announcement of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, a version halfway between a remaster and a remake of the franchise’s first installment.

The new version features many improvements of all kinds, a definitively more beautiful visual experience thanks to an overhaul under the RE Engine, and a few things that, even before the title was available, didn’t appeal as much. Like the disappearance of the “erotic” category among the photographic awards. For some, this was a minor detail, but for others, it was a sign of censorship. So what’s really going on? And has Dead Rising managed to retain its substance, its humor, and its cool violence? Let’s find out.

Back From the Dead

No, Dead Rising hasn’t changed its appearance for this Deluxe Remaster. Capcom didn’t choose to go down the road of censoring this masterpiece, which isn’t exactly easy to maintain in 2024. And that’s great news! Because it’s been a long time since we’ve been treated to something so outrageous on our consoles and PCs. Yes, the photographic category of “erotica” has disappeared, and yes, this can be seen as a damaging form of censorship. But don’t imagine that Capcom has gone any further than that. The rest of the game returns as it was, even its dirtiest moments.

In fact, this was the first thing we wanted to check out, by meeting several optional psychopaths. The result is clear: nothing has changed. This is excellent news for those hoping to rediscover the game they knew in 2006, but not so good news for others, who will discover an experience that has aged a little in terms of progression and even staging in some cases. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster makes a few efforts in this aspect, adding blurred effects during cinematics, arming itself with automatic saves, and allowing time to pass quickly. A great idea, by the way.

Let’s face it, the game hasn’t aged badly either, and is far more enjoyable than many other games of the same era. This is due to a rather singular proposition in the videogame landscape, not to mention a very successful gallery of characters. It’s worth noting that the dubbing has been completely redone for this version. Frank West is no longer dubbed by the original actor, nor by the one who played him in Dead Rising 4, and that’s a bit of a shame. Nevertheless, in English, the performance is impressive. Only the veterans who know the original game inside out will find something to complain about, out of habit.

Naturally, the first thing that strikes you when you launch this new version is its visual appearance. Dead Rising has been completely overhauled with the help of the solid RE Engine, and the result, though not perfect, is quite compelling. First and foremost, facial expressions have been enhanced. But it’s of course the mall, which could almost be described as the main character of this opus, that benefits most. The scenery is more detailed, with small objects on the floor, new tapestries, and more realistic lighting effects, and the overall result is excellent. Except for some technical problems, of course.

Because this Deluxe Remaster is a faithful recreation of the original adventure, some of its bugs and other technical problems have been removed. The park, for example, has been redesigned and has never looked so alive. But we quickly notice that clipping is also present, and blurring effects, not always in good taste, are a bit of a hindrance sometimes, especially in deep environments. The way zombies pop up hasn’t changed, making sequences in basements, where their concentration is greater, a little annoying. Just like the old days.

Enhanced Gameplay, Familiar Content

At first sight, you might think that the visual aspect is the only thing that has changed, and that the game is nothing more than a revamped RE Engine version of the remastered edition released in 2016. This is only half true. Yes, the content of the basic game is the same, and no, there are no major additions. No new survivors, no new psychopaths, no additional story segments, no new weapons, etc. But this doesn’t stop the title from being convincing in terms of content, with a rather thin linear lifespan, certainly, but several endings to discover, and three different game modes, two of which are unlockable (although the infinite mode is rather disappointing, even today). This version also adds several unlockable costumes.

The strength of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster doesn’t lie in new content, but in what it adds in terms of comfort. And we won’t keep you in suspense any longer: this edition is undoubtedly the best ever released of the 2006 title, thanks to its relevant additions. Personally, we were a little worried about getting back into the game, whose original problems we’re well aware of, especially its sluggish controls. But Capcom has done things right, even offering the original gameplay, as an option, to those who would like to discover the experience as close as possible to what it was in 2006.

Many things have been improved, and we’re not going to have fun listing them all. It wouldn’t make sense anyway. But there are plenty of things to talk about, starting with the experience system which may not seem any different at first, but it’s actually a little more flexible. Rolling is unlocked from the start, and is much more practical than before, mainly because it’s now done with the circle key (on PlayStation). Levels are quickly gained up to a certain stage, allowing us to regularly discover new abilities unlocked by our good friend Frank West.

Not everything is quite interesting, but it has to be said that the title goes to great lengths to make it easy for us to use Frank’s various special attacks, detailing everything as soon as we get them. In the same vein, the game now clearly displays the keys to smash when you’re caught by the undead, so you can use this or that to get rid of them. We prefer the good old judo hold, but you can also push your attacker away with a kick that will stagger the nearest zombies. As for the aiming system, it’s much more pleasant to use, as you can now move around while keeping your enemies in your sights.

The camera is also positioned a little differently, which significantly improves in-game visibility. Environments seem instantly larger, even by a small margin, the result is pleasant enough, particularly for rediscovering them. Items are still destructible, but they are a little more resistant, and a gauge now displays their condition. Survivors are a little less stupid and don’t throw themselves into the zombie’s arms so easily, and they tend to follow us a little more efficiently. But it’s still not perfect.

Staircases have also been installed in front of the entrance to the safe zone, preventing survivors from getting stuck when there are too many of them, or facilitating rescue of slow-moving survivors who can be carried. The walkie-talkie can now be answered with a touch of the joystick, and communication is no longer interrupted at every turn, making exploration much smoother. Finally, snipers (and rocket launcher users) clearly indicate where they’re aiming with a red laser that can’t be missed ( very useful in the last segment of the game).

Worth a Revisit, But Not a Must-Play

Great ideas and great additions, making the title much more playable and much more enjoyable to handle. Especially as the sensations it provides are as thrilling as always, with its extremely varied arsenal, its amusing possibilities for tearing zombies apart, and some of its completely crazy items. It’s almost easy to forget that the physics haven’t really changed, and that they’re not always up to scratch, or that there’s a serious lack of precision, whether in combat or simply when retrieving objects from the ground. Although it is now possible to distinguish between these objects with a simple pull of the trigger.

Battles against psychopaths are always stressful moments, mainly because of the lack of precision, or the fact that Frank remains less sharp than his opponents. But they’ve become a little easier, although the attack patterns remain exactly the same. Life bars seem to drop more quickly, and Frank’s mobility has been improved, making combat less time-consuming and more enjoyable. This doesn’t prevent the title from experiencing some destabilizing and frustrating difficulty peaks, particulary in its very last segment, to reach the true ending, which turns out to be quite nasty. As usual, skateboarding will be overused…

At this point, we’re well aware that this review isn’t necessarily very clear about the quality of this Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. As we said earlier, this is the best version of the game ever released. Nothing less. And while it does have a few weaknesses, both technical and gameplay-wise, it’s still highly recommendable. Assuming, you haven’t recently completed the original game or its remastered version, which is often on sale in the various online stores selling it.

Because, while the changes are certainly well felt, and greatly enhance an experience that has grown a little old, they don’t justify playing the game all over again. It’s the same experience. With notable improvements, of course, but we never get the impression of playing another game. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a decent remake, but not a complete one, like last year’s Resident Evil 4. And that’s not a criticism, by any means, but it’s something to be aware of before buying, even if the game’s price is quite reasonable.

Conclusion

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is definitely the best version of Capcom’s first installment in the franchise. It features several improvements for a much more comfortable gameplay experience, and its visual overhaul is quite convincing. However, the overall Dead Rising experience remains the same, and this edition suffers from the same problems, mainly in terms of pacing and timed progression. While we highly recommend this Deluxe Remaster to those who have never had the opportunity to try out the original title, others – and especially those who know it by heart – are well advised to skip it.