Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is more like Dead Space’s remake than Resident Evil 4’s

This story is part of our Summer Gaming Marathon series.

Don’t let Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s name fool you; this is essentially a full-on remake of Capcom’s classic zombie game. While the narrative and core gameplay loop are the same, Dead Rising has seen a complete visual overhaul, as well as a few gameplay tweaks to make it more enjoyable to play. It’s the same great game you remember, but it now just feels like something that could be released in 2024 rather than 2006. After going hands-on with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, it’s clear that this game is less like the remake treatment Capcom gave Resident Evil 4 last year and more like the one EA gave Dead Space. It’s an extremely faithful modern upgrade for a horror classic that still holds up today.

For those unfamiliar with Dead Rising, it follows a photojournalist named Frank West, who sneaks into the town of Willamette, which the U.S. government has cordoned off. It turns out that most of the residents of this small town have turned into zombies, and Frank intentionally strands himself at the zombie-infested Parkview Mall for 72 hours. During that time, he uncovers the truth of this zombie outbreak and works with government agents stuck in the mall with him. Despite its grave subject matter, Dead Rising is also a very funny game with a bumbling protagonist.

It’s a comedic commentary on American consumerism, government overreach, and the scumminess of tabloid journalism. Still, there is heart at the core of this adventure, as you see Frank start to actually care about people over time and understand how this small-town zombie apocalypse truly broke the minds of many of Willamette’s residents. Dead Rising also thrives because of all the emergent moments this premise enables.

The events of Dead Rising take place over 72 hours, and a clock is constantly ticking down in the background of the game. Time passes each time players enter a new area, and for the best