Like the decaying reanimated flesh of the living dead, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster shares the same infected DNA that brought 2023’s Resident Evil 4 to life courtesy of the Re Engine.
Ironically, the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster isn’t the first time Resident Evil 4 was used as a base to extrapolate on the Dead Rising property, with the Chop till You Drop Wii variant of the game taking that distinction back in 2009. Thankfully, unlike that version, the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is an excellent update that largely outshines its 2006 original.
Not quite a remake nor a traditional remaster, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster sits comfortably somewhere in between. Capcom’s refresh of Dead Rising features brand new assets, from the environmental geometry to the cast of leading and supporting characters and, of course, the hordes of zombies that fill Willamette Parkview Mall. Every single asset in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster boasts a much higher polygon count compared to the original Xbox 360 exclusive.
“Every single asset in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster boasts a much higher polygon count compared to the original Xbox 360 exclusive.”
In fact, even by 2006 standards, the original Dead Rising compromised on graphic fidelity, with many characters resembling models from the sixth generation of video game consoles due to the need to render a large volume of characters on screen. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster addresses this by providing high-quality character models that fill the screen while maintaining an acceptable framerate.
One of the more contentious changes in the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is the completely redone voice acting. While the new version provides a voice for every character, it also features new voices for existing characters, which fans of the original may find unnecessary. A toggle option to switch between the original and updated voice tracks would have been a welcome addition for legacy players.
On the topic of new dialogue, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster ever so slightly loses its campy, B-movie edge due to the game feeling just a tad too serious compared to the original. Thankfully, the game largely still remains silly at heart and a far cry from the sterile look and feel of later entries into the series.
“While still not perfect, the survivors feel less like the loitering zombies and more like everyday people in need of rescue.”
Welcome quality-of-life (QoL) changes in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster include significantly improved AI for the survivors. While still not perfect, they feel less like the loitering zombies and more like everyday people in need of rescue. Survivors now also have an affinity meter with Frank, making them more capable in combat.
Additionally, instead of waiting for missions to start, players can now speed up the real-time clock to trigger missions faster, which is a nice touch. However, it would have been even better if players could fast-forward time once they reached mission locations rather than being limited to specific spots that allow the clock to speed up.
The photography aspect of Dead Rising has also been overhauled. The Erotica points modifier has been removed, and Frank can now snap up to 100 targets in a single shot, compared to the original cap of 30, granting more PP (Prestige Points). Speaking of PP, the PP sticker photo opportunities are now much clearer. Survivors will even call out to Frank when near a photo op, indicating there might be something worth capturing in the area.
“The photography aspect of Dead Rising has also been overhauled, allowing Frank to snap up to 100 targets in a single shot, compared to the original cap of 30.”
Other changes include the optional use of an overhauled controller scheme, allowing Frank to shoot while running, which helps alleviate some of the stiffness of the original title. Melee weapons now feature a gauge indicating how close they are to breaking, making it easier to quickly grab a new weapon from the environment before your current gear gives out. Frank’s fighting moves have also been improved, with on-screen prompts appearing when he’s attacked by a zombie, making it easier to perform specific moves and escape from sticky situations.
Additional bonus content included in the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster consists of a slew of costumes, which, like Dead Rising 3, can be equipped via the changing rooms and rooftop bunker of the mall. Most of the costumes are derived from legacy Capcom games, including Resident Evil, which blends in seamlessly with Dead Rising’s atmosphere. While other, more silly costumes further contribute to maintaining the series’ wackiness, particularly during tense cutscenes.
More subtle changes in Dead Rising’s latest iteration include an updated pathfinding system. The traditional arrow has been replaced with a compass that highlights both major story scoops and side missions at the top of the screen.
The strict time limit-based mission structure remains in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, but the game now creates an autosave whenever you make progress in a mission or move the day forward. This means players can reload to an earlier save without worrying about losing too much progress.
Ultimately, the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feels like a faithful upgrade over its 2006 counterpart, maintaining the core spirit of the original while adding a ton of flourish that elevates it over a simple remaster.
