Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Game Review

The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a remastered edition of the classic open-world zombie action-adventure game, originally developed by Capcom. The remaster brings visual and performance improvements, making it a modernized experience for both new players and returning fans of the series. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the remaster:

Graphics & Visual Improvements

The most noticeable change in the Deluxe Remaster is the graphical overhaul. The remaster includes:

• Higher resolution textures: The environments and characters are much sharper, and the overall aesthetic is more polished compared to the original.
• Improved lighting and shadows: The game’s lighting gives the zombie-infested Willamette Mall a more atmospheric, eerie feel.
• Smoother animations: Character movements and combat sequences feel less clunky, making the gameplay more fluid and responsive.
• 60 FPS (on supported platforms): The smoother frame rate elevates the experience, especially during intense moments when hordes of zombies flood the screen.

Gameplay

At its core, Dead Rising remains a time-based survival game, where you play as Frank West, a photojournalist trapped in a mall filled with zombies. You must complete missions, rescue survivors, and uncover the truth behind the outbreak, all while keeping an eye on the ticking clock.

The remaster doesn’t drastically alter the gameplay mechanics:

• Combat is still fun and chaotic, with a wide variety of makeshift weapons to use against zombies. Whether it’s a baseball bat, lawnmower, or even a shopping cart, the sheer variety of weapons keeps combat fresh.
• Time management: The stress-inducing time limits for completing objectives remain a core aspect of the gameplay. Some players may find this challenging or frustrating, as it limits exploration.
• AI of survivors: One area that has not seen much improvement is the often frustrating AI behavior of survivors. Escort missions can be tedious, as survivors can be clumsy or slow to follow you.

New Features & Quality of Life Improvements

The Deluxe Remaster includes a few new quality-of-life upgrades:

• Auto-save and manual save options are more accessible, addressing one of the biggest complaints from the original.
• Inventory management is slightly improved, making it easier to cycle through weapons and healing items.
• DLC included: All previously released downloadable content is bundled with the remaster, including outfits and weapons.

Sound & Audio

The remaster retains the original voice acting and sound effects, which might feel dated for some, but still holds nostalgic charm for long-time fans. While the audio hasn’t been upgraded to the same degree as the visuals, the music still fits the game’s campy, over-the-top style.

Story

The story remains the same as the original. Frank West is on a mission to uncover the truth behind the zombie outbreak. As he navigates the zombie-infested mall, the player is introduced to a cast of quirky characters, twisted psychopaths, and survivors. The narrative strikes a balance between humor and horror, maintaining the tone that made the original so popular.

Final Verdict

The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster does an excellent job of modernizing the original game while staying true to its core. Fans of the series will appreciate the visual upgrades and smoother performance, while newcomers will get to experience one of the defining zombie games of its time. However, if you were frustrated with the original’s survivor AI or time mechanics, this remaster won’t change your mind.

Rating: 7.5/10
A solid remaster that rejuvenates a cult classic, but with some dated mechanics and frustrating AI quirks still intact.

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