Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster on PS5
It was a simpler time back in the early 2000s when it came to video games. Players were often dropped into experiences that were less concerned about realism and more about ridiculous fun, and the original Dead Rising captured the campiness that defined that era. Fast forward 18 years, and Capcom has unleashed Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, an upgraded adventure in many ways, but it is not without some problems that refuse to go away, just like the zombies.
For the uninitiated, players will join freelance photojournalist Frank West as he investigates the Willamette Parkview Mall. With the town placed under quarantine by the army, he smells a scoop, but definitely not one of the undead variety. With only 72 hours to figure what’s going on and escape, thus unfolds the tale of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster.
As an old game turned new, the first obvious change is that the game has undergone a graphical enhancement. Now, instead of a more stylised take forced by limited hardware capabilities, it’s all about realism. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on personal taste. Still, it is quite a sight looking at all the zombies and Psychopaths in much more detail this time, making some of the graphical pop-ins hard to ignore when everything else is already on another level.
What hasn’t changed is the intense and time-limited nature of the gameplay, which has undergone some tweaks and quality-of-life additions that are certainly for the better. The revamped controls, the addition of auto-saving, and the improvements in the UI will help players get into the groove of things more and make full use of the 72 hours.
With the clock ticking, the last thing you want is to get lost, which is thankfully quite hard now with the new compass and map marking system. Helpful icons are now more visible, making planning your route to new objectives and side scoops easier. Survivors are also more aware of their surroundings and the threats, and can pinpoint useful items for Frank. Yet, they can still get stuck behind geometry and the distance they need to be at an exit to transition with the player to another area is still vague.
However, the most significant plus point in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is the ability to fast-forward time, especially for returning players coming back to the remaster or going on another run. When you are aiming for something specific, such as scoops, survivors, or a particular achievement or trophy, the ability to speed ahead makes things much more manageable. And it certainly doesn’t hurt in Infinity Mode either, but more on that later.
All of these additions and changes help breathe new life into the meaty gameplay as Frank goes about completing story missions, killing zombies, and taking photos for those precious Prestige Points (PP). The progression system wasn’t broken back in the day, but the journey to obtaining new skills is made all the better in this latest iteration. Gaining valuable stat boosts and becoming a one-man zombie killing machine is always satisfying and provides plenty of incentive for players to do as much as possible within the time frame.
Leaning into Frank’s job as a photojournalist means that taking photos takes on a more significant role during your time in the mall, and the chase for all the PP Sticker shots is another reason to fully explore your surroundings and hopefully find a secret or two. Capcom’s decision to remove the option for Erotic-type photos ultimately doesn’t affect the mechanic, but it makes perfect sense in this day and age.
While the threat of the undead cannot be ignored, there is no denying the maddening allure of the Psychopaths that have taken up residence in the shopping centre. It is now much easier for these maniacs to showcase their various talents in often more threatening ways. These fights are more interesting than your general undead killing, but if you have stockpiled the right weapons and diligently levelled up Frank, they won’t give you too much trouble. In fact, trying to hit them using your melee weapons will be the biggest challenge, and you can almost always use the environment to block them off for some quick punishment. That said, the annoying convicts on the jeep are still annoying in Leisure Park, and their repeated respawning remains a mystery that will likely never be resolved.
Once the dust has settled for the main narrative of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and Overtime Mode, players can then jump into the improved experience of Infinity Mode. The aforementioned fast-forwarding mechanic works here as well, letting you plan for your long days ahead, while real life will no longer get in the way as you can suspend the game mode and come back later on. The mode also encourages players to actually go on the offensive against not just the human enemies, but also the zombies, as some will drop random supplies when vanquished. A timely food item can make all the difference in Infinity Mode, so prepare yourself.
In essence, there is much to like about Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Capcom has kept to its word in delivering an enhanced adventure for Frank, upping the ante when it comes to graphics, the zombie horde, and the crimson-filled action throughout. Smart tweaks make it easier to hold out over the 72 hours, and the progression system remains a good motivator in pushing players to the end. Unfortunately, there are also some issues that still crop up every once in a while, but they shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying a nostalgic romp through the Willamette Parkview Mall in 2024.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster launches on September 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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Summary
In essence, there is much to like about Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Capcom has kept to its word in delivering an enhanced adventure for Frank, but therein remain some issues that are hard to shake off.
