Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Review: A Fresh Take on the Classic
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster revives the classic with modern improvements, keeping the addictive charm of Willamette Mall alive.
Capcom’s Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster brings the classic zombie game back with some well-deserved improvements. The remaster not only updates visuals but also introduces smart gameplay tweaks making surviving the zombie-filled mall less frustrating than the original version from 20 years ago. Despite some outdated combat mechanics, the game retains its challenging, time-limited feel while offering the best way to experience the Dead Rising series.
Unlike simple remasters that offer just a resolution boost like Ghostbusters: The Video Game in 2019, this remaster feels more substantial. It doesn’t just look better but plays better too, justifying its existence as more than a minor update.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster isn’t a complete remake like the Resident Evil games, but it does use the same RE Engine that powers those titles. The game mostly feels like the 2006 classic, but with much better visuals. The improved graphics really stand out, especially in facial animations, which were minimal in the original.
Frank West, the main character, looks older and stockier but it doesn’t make much difference. The real highlight remains Willamette Parkview Mall, with its unique stores and a range of items you can turn into weapons. Exploring these detailed spaces is nostalgic, especially for those who miss old CD and DVD shops.
The real star of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is still the iconic Willamette Parkview Mall. Exploring the mall, with its variety of stores filled with items you can turn into weapons, brings back a wave of nostalgia for anyone who played the original. The mall’s detailed environments really stand out, making it a fun and memorable setting to revisit. Still, not everything is flawless. It can be disheartening to experience pop-ins, where items emerge out of nowhere in the outdoor Leisure Park area. It appears that some graphics have not been given enough attention to detail, since some textures take longer to load completely & some AI-upscaled signage have strange looks.
Improvements to the game’s feel are more significant than those to its appearance. The new controls are a significant improvement even though the original control scheme is still available. The ability to move while aiming is one of the biggest improvements which makes combat more fluid and less frustrating. This new control system also makes fighting bosses easier, though it still feels balanced.
Special moves have been simplified with button presses instead of relying on tricky right-stick maneuvers. You can also now give commands to survivors without interrupting your movement, which is a big improvement. This makes it much easier to manage survivors, who are also smarter and better at following you, though there are still some pathfinding issues when controlling larger groups.
Weapon durability is now shown clearly on-screen, and the navigation system has been overhauled. The confusing arrow from the original has been replaced with a compass and distance indicators, making it easier to find your objectives and figure out whether they’re on different floors. This feature helps you decide whether rescuing a newly found survivor is worth your time and it pairs well with the new auto-save system, which saves time by removing some of the frustrations of the original game.
Although the game still has constant loading screens between areas, the new auto-save system is a big improvement. It keeps the game challenging without being unnecessarily tedious. In the original game, players had to make tough decisions and compromises due to its time-sensitive nature.
This is still the case, but the auto-save feature finds a happy medium between ease of use and complexity, keeping game’s basic appeal. Although using manual save points is still an option, auto-saving is a convenient feature that is difficult to avoid. All things considered, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preserves the essence of the original game while adding contemporary enhancements that greatly increase player enjoyment.
Wrecking Mall
The remastered Dead Rising Deluxe brings many updates but not all of them hit the mark. One noticeable change is the re-recorded voice acting. While it’s great that the survivor and radio dialogue is now fully voiced, some of the central characters’ voices feel a bit off. At times, the new voice acting feels awkward, highlighting the script’s clumsy moments even more.
There are also some puzzling script changes. A notable one is the removal of Cliff’s backstory as a Vietnam War veteran. Cliff, the “psychopath” from Crislip’s Home Saloon, loses part of his identity, even though he is still portrayed as a military man. Change seems unnecessary, especially since the game hasn’t censored other controversial content like inappropriate behavior of certain characters.
Nostalgic Gameplay
Despite its flaws, the core of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster still holds up. The game is packed with extras, from power-ups to special drink mixes, different clothing options, and the fun of rescuing NPCs. Game’s many components work together to provide a seamless and satisfying experience. Players are encouraged to keep going even though 72-hour & overtime modes demand repeated plays in order to unlock greater achievements and higher scores.
However, there are a few areas where the game could have been improved. For example, the prisoner psychopaths in the Humvee still respawn after a few hours, which feels like a cheap trick to frustrate players. The elevator to the roof is always full of zombies, making it tiresome when all you need to do is rush to the elevator and spam the interact button to escape.
Old Jank Remains
There are still certain awkward gameplay elements from the original game. For example, the peculiar mandate to fire a sniper rifle at a character until they quiet down, or the weird shootouts where an adversary escapes uninjured but an ally is rendered crippled by a single well-placed bullet. These peculiarities serve as reminder to players that game is still very much product of its era even with remaster.
Conclusion: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster adds useful modern upgrades like auto-saving, improved navigation, and more intelligent NPCs while maintaining the essence of the original gameplay. The remaster manages to preserve enchantment of the original even though there are still some problems and not all updates are flawless. Even with its outdated features, Willamette Parkview Mall exploration remains enjoyable & captivating, demonstrating game’s enduring appeal. This was evident in 2006.
