We got our hands on an exclusive hands-on preview build for Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and having played over 20 hours, experiencing a welcome dose of nostalgia while being impressed with all the subtle modern changes made, here are our first impressions.
When the original Dead Rising released in 2006, it quickly became a critical darling and a cult classic, setting a new standard for the zombie survival genre. With its unique blend of over-the-top action, dark humor, and the then-groundbreaking “72-hour” gameplay mechanic, the game carved out a special place in the hearts of gamers. Me included. It remains to be one of my favorite games of all time. Despite numerous sequels and spin-offs, none have quite recaptured the magic of that first entry—until now.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is essentially a love letter to the original, retaining everything that made Dead Rising iconic while introducing some much-needed quality-of-life improvements and a significant graphical overhaul. Built using Capcom’s powerful RE Engine, which has already impressed in titles like Resident Evil 7 and the recent Resident Evil 4 remake, the game looks nothing short of stunning. The environments of the Willamette Parkview Mall have never looked so good, with detailed textures, improved lighting, and a level of polish that brings the world to life in ways the original could only dream of.
From the story to the missions and cutscenes, everything is a shot-for-shot recreation of the original. Fans of the first game will feel right at home as they step back into the shoes of photojournalist Frank West, exploring the mall, saving survivors, and fighting off hordes of zombies with whatever you can get your hands on. All the wacky stuff is still here. Nearly everything in the mall can be picked up to be used as a weapon. Frank can change into any outfit and no matter how ridiculous he looks, it’ll be reflected in all cutscenes, even in the more serious ones. And the map itself remains untouched. Every secret, corner, and inch you memorized from before, is all here.
The gameplay has also seen subtle tweaks to enhance the experience without compromising the original’s charm—minor adjustments that smooth out some of the rough edges from 2006. One of the more significant ones is being able to move while aiming and a bar that visualizes how much durability is left in the item you’re using. Animations, for the most part, remain faithful to the original, with some minor tweaks to make them a bit smoother. Frank still keeps the slightly awkward running animation that we all know and love. Although, opening doors no longer look and sounds like he’s punching them. Unfortunate news for those like me who loved that very insignificant detail.
The biggest change probably is the new UI, which is a significantly much better version than what the original had. Even the pause menu provides more direct and digestible information such as various stats and even a dynamic Frank character model. As someone who has played the original more times than I can care to admit, I love how the developers for the Deluxe Remaster really made it a point to only make the changes that would keep the original feel as intact as possible.
However, one of the more disappointing changes is the new voice acting. While the original actors brought a distinctive energy to the characters, the remastered version falls short in this department. The new voice cast, while competent, simply doesn’t capture the same essence, and it’s unfortunate that Capcom didn’t at least bring back Terence J. Rotolo, the original voice of Frank West. This change detracts somewhat from the nostalgia factor, making the remaster feel a bit off for long-time fans.
On the upside, the remaster did take the opportunity to add voice acting for side characters like the survivors and Otis, the mall’s janitor who communicates with Frank via a walkie-talkie. This addition adds a little bit more personality to each of them and makes interactions feel more dynamic and engaging.
Overall, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a faithful recreation of the original game, delivering on the promise of improved visuals and subtle gameplay enhancements. While the voice acting may not live up to the high standards set by the original, the remaster still offers an amazing return to one of the most beloved zombie games of all time, reminding us why Frank West’s first foray into the undead-infested mall remains a classic.