The announcement of the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster came as a (welcome) surprise less than a couple of months ago, and we’re inching quite close to the release date of September 19th. In the lead-up to launch, Capcom has seemingly granted preview access to a number of outlets, and first impressions of the game are as positive as we could’ve hoped.
Common praise amongst those who were able to check the game out include the visual glow-up, which is now presented via the excellent RE Engine, quality-of-life improvements that include more modern controls, new camera features, more voice acting, hugely improved survivor AI, UI updates and plenty more that round out what was a charming and scrappy but sometimes needlessly frustrating experience originally. And don’t worry – you can opt into the original controls if you’d like.
Taylor Lyles at IGN praised the remaster’s modern innovations and quality-of-life updates among the obvious visual upgrades, and said, “While I was upset that I could not play the entirety of 72-Hour mode, my time with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster gave me all the information needed to feel confident that Capcom just might have knocked this more-than-a-remaster, not-quite-a-remake right out of the park. I am especially eager to see the changes, if any, made to Overtime and Infinity Mode and I look forward to playing the final build when Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster releases to digital storefronts on September 19.”
Over at Polygon, Michael McWhertor called this a “grown-up version” of the quirky original, writing, “Much of what makes Dead Rising so interesting, unique, and frequently goofy is still intact in Capcom’s Deluxe Remaster. It’s just been made more player-friendly, integrating nearly two decades’ worth of gameplay improvements and modern expectations into a now-ancient-feeling game. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feels like a small step forward for the franchise, and hopefully a bellwether of more Dead Rising games to come.”
TheGamer’s George Foster had reservations about the dulling of the original’s notorious challenge, but ultimately had great things to say, writing, “Still, even if some of Dead Rising’s classically rough edges have been sanded off a little more than I would have liked in Deluxe Remaster, it’s still a dream come true to see one of my all-time favourites get such a loving and faithful reimagining. If the rest of the game has been treated with as much respect, then Deluxe Remaster could easily be the best the series has ever been.”
Meanwhile Glenn Bunn at ScreenRant had reservations going in, but found them quickly quelled by the update, saying, “While the overall story of Dead Rising hasn’t changed – if you enjoyed the game in 2006 or 2016, the odds are high that you’ll also enjoy Deluxe Remaster – it’s clear that Capcom’s approach to Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has been to provide a far smoother overall gameplay experience alongside its more updated look, and in that regard, from my time with the game I would say the studio has been successful. While its changes aren’t too revolutionary, they certainly make it the best way to play the classic zombie title, and it is a great introduction to the series for newcomers.”
And Destructoid’s Zoey Handley gave this remaster a measured endorsement, writing, “I’m optimistic, to say the least. I’ve been putting off a replay of Dead Rising for quite some time now, and this glossed-up version of the original seems like it will be the ticket. It was never a perfect game, and it’s unlikely that Deluxe Remaster will be, either. However, it does nudge the classic title a notch closer to perfection.”
