Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster seems like Capcom’s attempt to revive their once-popular franchise and bring it back into the spotlight. The series lost its way after the release of Dead Rising 4, and although the first three games were relatively successful, the latest entry faced several issues, including a weak story, repetitive gameplay, and unimpressive graphics. Recently, Capcom has been reviving more of its intellectual properties, even those once considered niche, like the Ace Attorney series. It’s refreshing to see them return to one of their most successful franchises from the 7th generation of consoles—Dead Rising.
While Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feels more like a proper remake, Capcom has chosen to label it as a remaster, so we will stick with that term. The core gameplay remains the same as the original. The main updates, according to Capcom, include a complete “graphical overhaul” and several quality-of-life improvements. The game now runs on the RE Engine, a highly versatile engine primarily used for the Resident Evil games, including recent remakes, but also for titles like Exoprimal, Street Fighter 6, and Devil May Cry 5. This engine has become Capcom’s go-to technology. It is no surprise to see Dead Rising using it, and the visual improvements are quite impressive.
Every cutscene in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feels polished, with impressive-looking character models. Although the technical aspects are not without flaws, the remaster is still a notable improvement when compared to the original release. One of the standout features of the original game was its ability to display hundreds of zombies on screen, and this feature has not only been retained in the remaster but also enhanced for players with capable hardware.
The story centers around Frank West, a freelance photojournalist who receives a tip about suspicious activities in Willamette, Colorado. Frank hires a helicopter to fly into the city, which proves to be a good decision as the military has sealed off the entrance. Upon arriving, Frank quickly discovers that the town has been overrun—not by an angry mob, but by zombies, the result of a viral outbreak. He eventually lands at Willamette Mall, where he meets a group of survivors who are struggling to keep the zombies at bay.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is one of the few games with a time-limited story mode, which gives players a fixed amount of time to complete various tasks, adding significant replay value. Frank West, the main character, has three in-game days—approximately 72 hours—before the helicopter he hired returns to take him back. The clock is constantly ticking during story mode, and this is represented by a watch that Frank wears, which can be checked at any time. As time passes, the game triggers new quests and events based on the time of day. This time management element adds an interesting layer of tension, and it has been further refined in the remaster through various quality-of-life improvements.
Some of the new enhancements include the addition of auto-save functionality and an improved user interface. The game is now fully voiced, which enhances the dramatic impact of the story. While the tone of the game leans more toward dark comedy, the threats extend beyond just the zombies. The Willamette Mall is expansive, with numerous hidden locations and some in plain sight. Many of these areas are home to Psychopaths—either former criminals or individuals driven insane by the outbreak. Frank must battle these Psychopaths not only to survive but also to rescue other survivors who might fall victim to them.
The PC port of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster offers a range of visual enhancements and upscaling options. I was pleased to see that Capcom has included support for DLSS and Frame Generation, which were missing from earlier RE Engine games, including the Resident Evil 4 Remake. There are ample options to adjust the graphics and optimize performance based on your hardware. Despite its improvements, the game is not particularly demanding and runs smoothly even on a Steam Deck, where it is fully playable. Additionally, the game supports HDR, a feature not commonly seen in many PC titles.
One of the key attractions of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is the ability to craft custom weapons and unleash them on hordes of zombies. Frank can find a variety of items scattered throughout the mall and combine them to create makeshift weapons, which are effective both against zombies and during boss fights with Psychopaths. The game maintains a comedic tone, and although there are minor tweaks to the narrative, it largely follows the same storyline as the original.
As a long-time fan, I was thrilled when Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster was officially announced. After years of waiting, I can confidently say that this remaster is a step in the right direction for the franchise. It is a technically solid port for both PC and consoles, and the various upgrades ensure that it remains relevant over time. The game successfully balances modern improvements while preserving the essence of the original, which is exactly what fans like myself hoped for. I highly recommend giving this unique and enjoyable game a try.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
