Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster: A Fresh Bite on a Classic

Capcom's iconic zombie-slaying sandbox, Dead Rising, first burst onto the scene in 2006, offering an unconventional twist on the genre with its emphasis on over-the-top action and a massive, explorable environment. Now, the series is back with a ground-up rebuild of the original, promising a revitalised experience for both newcomers and seasoned fans. Having spent time with the first two days of the 72-Hour mode, it's safe to say Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is everything a long-awaited return should be.

While labelled as a remaster, it's important to clarify that this isn't a complete remake. The core narrative remains untouched: you're still Frank West, the intrepid freelance photojournalist, thrust into a zombie-infested shopping mall in a small Colorado town, tasked with surviving three days while uncovering the truth behind the outbreak.

However, unlike the 2016 HD re-release, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster boasts a complete overhaul thanks to the power of the RE Engine. This results in significantly enhanced visuals, with realistic lighting, improved facial animations and expressions, and a level of detail that breathes new life into the Willamette Parkview Mall. The vibrant, chaotic world of Dead Rising, particularly the first two titles, was always renowned for its Ying-Yang contrast of a massive, colourful playground teeming with the undead. These modern additions, particularly the realistic lighting, further enhance this contrast, encouraging players to pause and appreciate the familiar surroundings in a fresh light.

But the upgrades go beyond mere aesthetics. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster delivers a significant quality-of-life update across the board. Combat has been overhauled, offering a smoother experience, most notably with the ability to move while aiming, a boon for the limited firearms available.

Of course, dodging zombies isn't always possible. When those pesky undead do grab hold, the remaster offers a more intuitive escape mechanism. A simple button mash replaces the cumbersome thumbstick twirling to shake off a zombie. Similarly, specific melee counters, like the "Kick Back" move, have dedicated button presses for counter-attacks.

Skills have also been streamlined, making them easier to perform. One notable improvement is the "Flying Dodge" skill, which now requires a simple button press while moving instead of the frantic thumbstick manipulations of the original.

However, the new control scheme does require some adjustment. Old habits die hard, and I found myself instinctively reaching for the old controls. Fortunately, the option to revert to the "Classic Controls" is available in the settings for those who prefer the familiar layout, albeit with the same limitations of the original.

A welcome change is the addition of an item durability bar. This handy indicator replaces the need to constantly keep track of the remaining uses for each item. Firearms, especially the handgun, have also received a boost. A well-aimed shot, even at lower levels, can now eliminate a zombie with a single bullet, even allowing for headshot-based dismemberment.

The game's AI has also undergone a major revamp, for the most part. While limited play time prevented a comprehensive assessment, the boss encounters felt slightly underwhelming, with AI remaining somewhat sluggish. However, the AI for rescued survivors has been significantly improved, making escorting them much easier. No longer will players need to babysit them every step of the way, fearing a zombie grab or attack, even when equipped with a weapon. Additionally, the entrance to the air ducts and security room now features steps, allowing survivors to easily access the platform and the ducts.

Dead Rising has always been known for its player freedom. Engage with the main story mission, or delve into the plethora of side quests and survivor rescues. Or simply forgo the story entirely and embark on a zombie-slaying rampage.

Many side missions still originate from Otis, who contacts you via the transceiver. Veteran players will recall the frustrating nature of answering Otis' calls in the original game. The calls would leave Frank vulnerable, and any interruptions would abruptly end the call, leading to an irritated Otis calling back. While calls from Otis remain in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, a simple button press now allows for skipping the dialogue, leaving you free from vulnerability. This sped-up dialogue option extends to interactions with other NPCs, particularly the more verbose survivors.

The Photography minigame has also undergone a substantial overhaul. While maintaining the ability to move while aiming the camera, new features like auto-focus and camera tilt have been added. Importantly, Frank's camera can now be upgraded. Throughout the mall, new parts can be acquired, unlocking features such as a flash.

The distribution of Prestige Points (PP) has been adjusted, providing more opportunities to gain experience and incentivize players to make use of the camera. Taking pictures of the PP stickers scattered throughout the mall offers significantly more PP than in the original, awarding up to 5,000 PP for a 100% accurate shot. This encourages greater use of the camera, making it a much more compelling part of the gameplay experience.

With the limited play time, I reached level 16, largely thanks to the high PP point photos.

While the full scope of changes to Overtime and Infinity modes remains unknown, the 72-Hour mode has seen a notable addition: fast-forward functionality. This feature, activated at a save location, allows players to speed up the game clock, catering to those more focused on completing the main story rather than the side quests.

My time with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, while limited, provided enough insight to confidently declare that Capcom has delivered a worthy update to this classic. The anticipation for Overtime and Infinity modes, and the final build's release on September 19th for digital platforms (and November 8th for physical copies), is palpable. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is set to reintroduce players to the thrill of zombie-slaying mayhem in a fresh, engaging, and familiar way.