Gab Hernandez 
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a great example of what a remaster should be.
Some publishers will only do the bare minimum and call a re-released game “remaster.” To add insult to injury, the publisher may even charge full price for it. And if a PC gamer tries to buy the older version, it mysteriously gets delisted.
It’s refreshing to see Capcom avoid that practice. If anything, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has become the best way to introduce newbies to the Dead Rising franchise. It’s the same game at its core but with much-needed quality-of-life changes and a gorgeous graphical overhaul.
The Good:
- A smooth remaster that irons out the tedium of the original
- Updated graphics stay true to the OG while taking advantage of modern technology
- Much more accessible for newbies
The Bad:
- The game changes some of the more nuanced aspects of the original, particularly the psychopath Cliff Hudson
- Capcom plays things a bit too safely, with very few additions to entice older fans
- Frank West’s new voice doesn’t have as much character as the original
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PC
- Platforms Available: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Official Release Date: September 18, 2024
Welcome to Willamette
The remaster feels like a re-release of an old line of sneakers. Undeniably new, and yet the fit feels just right. The shoes even feel comfier than the original. Finally, when there’s running that needs doing, the shoes won’t suddenly rip at the soles after a few kilometers.
Sneaker metaphors aside, the remaster just feels amazing to play.
There was always a level of jank to the original that was charming, except when it wasn’t. The campy characters and odd glitches? Fun. The tedious fetch quests and braindead NPCs that threaten to ruin a run? Not as fun. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster trims off much of that fat, leaving only the juicy parts for players to bite into.
The graphical overhaul also makes familiar cutscenes and characters feel new. Capcom does a great job of sticking to the original while brushing off some of its outdated elements. Unfortunately, there are times when Capcom gets a bit too aggressive with the polishing.
Too smooth around the edges
In the pursuit of modernization, Capcom ended up softening the original’s hard-hitting moments. Some elements are admittedly problematic in 2024, such as the Erotica category. Frank West’s voice feels less campy, and less memorable, than the original but it’s not a bad performance.
Other changes felt like an overcorrection. Cliff Hudson, a veteran of the Vietnam War, has his dialogue replaced with more generic insults like “animal” and “mole.” The changed dialogue felt needless, given the seriousness of the character’s plight.
Frank West typically quipped at the game’s psychopaths, given how blatantly evil many of them were. Cliff was different. He was a veteran suffering from PTSD who just saw his granddaughter devoured by zombies.
As a wartime journalist, Frank immediately sympathized with the man. After fatally wounding Cliff, Frank looks uncharacteristically sad. When Cliff used loaded terms like Viet Cong or communist, it wasn’t for shock value. These words are an intrinsic part of the character’s backstory that reveal a lot about their tragic past.
In a game where people are eaten alive every other minute, it feels strange to see it pull punches with one of the most compelling psychopaths. Ultimately, this one change doesn’t ruin the game. It’s just a bit sad that new players won’t get the same narrative experience as older fans.
The Bottom Line: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster mostly stays true to the original, with many changes enhancing the experience.
Score: 8/10
