Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Capcom’s Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has piqued my interest like a freshly sharpened katana slicing through a horde of undead. Having played the original back in 2006 and subsequent sequels, I can confidently say that this remaster is not just a coat of paint on an old game but a hearty meal for fans who yearn to revisit the mall-turned-zombie-apocalypse.


A big clearance sale is happening now at Williamette Parkview Mall, but due to an unexpected influx of thousands of zombies swarming the bustling shopping center, all items are being sold off immediately.

The straightforward pitch that astounded many was Capcom’s Dead Rising, initially released in 2006. Since then, we’ve seen four sequels, loads of additional content, and now, eighteen years later, the series is revisiting its origins by giving us a complete remaster tailored for today’s gaming systems.

As a tech-loving gamer, I just spent some thrilling hours diving into the revamped mall of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster on my PC. The opening moments offered a tantalizing glimpse at the life enhancements players will encounter upon starting anew. Frankly, it feels fantastic to revisit cherished territory with stunning graphics and long-awaited gameplay refinements. In essence, this remaster provides a captivating opportunity to delve back into familiar terrains while enjoying fresh visuals and essential quality-of-life upgrades.

Chopping spree

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

In Dead Rising, players step into the role of Frank West, a freelance photographer who finds himself in a small Colorado town that turns out to be anything but ordinary. After receiving a tip about some major events unfolding, he’s trapped there for 72 hours (equivalent to 6 hours of gameplay) until help arrives. His mission involves capturing the chaos on camera and fending off hordes of zombies using whatever tools he can find.

As a tech-loving zombie apocalypse fan, I’ve found myself immersed in the world of Dead Rising. The game offers a gripping main narrative about uncovering the roots of the zombie outbreak, along with side missions involving rescuing survivors and battling psychopaths. But here’s the kicker – you’re not forced to follow any specific path! This game is all about freedom, allowing you to snap photos of hilarious scenarios or come up with creative ways to off zombies if that’s your thing. So, grab your camera, strap on those combat boots, and let chaos ensue – however you see fit!

Frankly speaking, based on common industry standards, it seems quite plausible that this could be seen as a direct re-creation or adaptation. And, there is a strong likelihood that those making such claims are correct.

In simpler terms, while Capcom labels this updated version of Dead Rising as a “remaster,” I believe that description may not fully capture its essence. Compared to Capcom’s other remakes of Resident Evil games, which have significantly overhauled the level design and many other aspects, this game appears more like a straightforward update. However, it might be underselling the game to call it just a remaster, as there seems to be more than meets the eye with this rework.

On an RTX 3070 graphics card, the visual overhauls are truly striking, thanks to the RE Engine delivering improved lighting and fresh textures that maintain quality during both gameplay and cutscenes. Notably, all dialogue has been re-voiced, featuring new lines for characters like Otis, our helpful janitor who now has a voice to match his assistance. In essence, this could easily be categorized as a remake by many publishers’ standards, and they wouldn’t be off base in making that claim.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

As a tech enthusiast diving back into Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, I must say that many aspects of the game feel reminiscent of my initial playthrough. However, there are some thoughtful quality-of-life enhancements that were long overdue and have indeed managed to freshen up the gameplay experience.

It’s really convenient to have autosaves now, since it significantly reduces the stress of dying unexpectedly before reaching a save point, and it’s not as big a deal as it used to be. Additionally, the process of saving survivors is less nerve-wracking because they are more skilled this time around. They no longer get trapped in groups of zombies like they did initially.

When you handle an object, you can tell right away how durable it is, eliminating any doubt about whether it will withstand a tough battle or not.

When you handle an object, its durability becomes apparent, eliminating any doubt about its strength for withstanding a specific group of enemies. This introduces a covert strategic dimension to the combat, causing me to often hurl an item before it shattered.

1. It’s incredibly gratifying to tear through hordes of zombies using an assortment of tools like pipes, baseball bats, furniture, saws, and other items. Plus, it’s great not having to keep track of how long the weapon in your grasp will last.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

In my experience, despite the enhancements in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, there are still some remnants of the original game’s rough edges that players might recognize. For instance, zombies have a knack for resurfacing at an astonishing pace; if you clear a corridor, take a break, and then revisit it shortly after, you’ll find them swarming once more. Similarly, items, which can be quite useful – like those handy wine bottles – are also subject to this oddity, appearing and disappearing in a manner that seems almost comical. Yet, these quirks align well with the initial game’s atmosphere, and it appears that Capcom has made the wise decision to preserve them as they were.

I did run into some micro stuttering a few times while playing, which was surprising considering this is running on an NVME SSD. It wasn’t so common that it completely interrupted my gameplay, but it did happen enough to be noticeable. I also ran into one hard crash, which would’ve been devastating were it not for the aforementioned welcome addition of autosaves. 

Capcom has made it clear that what we’re seeing isn’t the final product yet; it’s a pre-release version with room for more enhancements. Fingers crossed, any problems encountered during this preview won’t resurface once the game officially launches in September.

An impending launch

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster preview — Beating up zombies in a mall has never looked so good

Despite completing just the initial part of the game, there are some lingering queries about the distribution of time within the mall. However, my brief encounter with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has left me convinced that Capcom has wisely maintained the aspects that made the game so distinctive while simultaneously refreshing and updating it. The portions I played seemed to strike a largely satisfactory balance, and I eagerly anticipate delving deeper into this experience soon.

The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is set to debut digitally on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 on September 19, 2024. However, physical versions for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will be available at a later date, specifically on November 8 of the same year.

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2024-08-13 18:09