Dead Rising: Deluxe Edition is a reinvigorated take on the beloved zombie-slaying series, offering a refined and matured experience for fans.

As Resident Evil has seen resurgence from its undead slumber, Capcom’s once-thriving Dead Rising series has languished in dormancy since 2016. A fresh iteration in the series promises to infuse new vitality, potentially hinting that Capcom can rekindle enthusiasm for its quirky zombie concept once again.

The newly unveiled model exhibits a striking balance between refinement and restraint, showcasing subtle enhancements in certain areas while toning down others, as observed during a brief hands-on experience with the preview build. Despite the peculiar nature of the original, the remastered version addresses lingering criticisms, rectifying issues such as the restrictive save system, drab visuals, and disappointing AI-driven zombie hordes that had marred the gaming experience.

Sends Frank West, a rough-around-the-edges photographer, to investigate a rumoured military quarantine in Willamette, Colorado, where whispers of an extraordinary army presence have sparked widespread intrigue and speculation. After experiencing a series of brutal incidents during their helicopter ride into the city, Frank and pilot Ed DeLuca make an emergency landing on the helipad of Willamette Parkview Mall, a vast open-world playground teeming with survivors of a devastating mass infection, hordes of zombies, and countless weapons and tools to combat the undead. Within a 72-hour time frame, Frank must unravel the mystery of Willamette while fending off its undead populace.

The key to Frank’s survival lies in the abundance of resources scattered throughout the mall, including food, weaponry, vehicles, clothing, and more. Frank can mobilize almost anything he encounters into a makeshift weapon, transforming items like retail signs, gas-powered chainsaws and even bicycles into potential threats. The true appeal of this unorthodox blend of horror and comedy lies in the creative freedom afforded by the diverse arsenal of sporting goods, ranging from deadly serious implements to laughably inept tools that defy explanation. While the sport features some amusing visual elements, one notable example is Frank’s ability to place toy helmets on zombie heads, effectively disorienting and neutralizing them as a threat.

The most significant change is a complete visual revamp of the game. Operating within the capabilities of Capcom’s RE Engine, the remastered version renders in stunning 4K resolution and achieves a silky-smooth 60 frames per second, closely mirroring the visual splendor found in the developer’s most recent Resident Evil titles. While not attempting to replicate the remake’s photorealistic standard, Useless Rising still manages to impress with its meticulous attention to detail, where everything – from character facial expressions to the revamped Willamette mall – appears more refined and visually stunning than its original counterpart.

Thanks to these numerous upgrades, the characters you encounter and collaborate with in truly come across as significantly more lifelike compared to their counterparts in the original 2006 version. While seemingly ordinary, Otis, the mall janitor, is fully fleshed out as a character, and the non-playable individuals attempting to be rescued by Frank react with unanticipated realism as he navigates challenges in his rescue endeavors. While exploring the game in its early stages, I’ve surprisingly found myself feeling significantly less frustrated when trying to guide survivors through hordes of flesh-eating zombies.

I haven’t oversimplified matters unnecessarily; I’ve lost a considerable number of lives through sheer recklessness. The advent of technically simplified gameplay stems from precise refinements, coupled with the freedom to maneuver while capturing – a vital feature addition to the franchise – and the ability to employ in-game objects as shields. To address player frustrations, Capcom has revamped the transceiver functionality in the game, allowing Frank to communicate with Otis without disrupting the gaming experience. Frank is now free to transfer and engage in fierce battles against the undead, while simultaneously responding to critical radio communications from Otis.

Players can select from various welcome quality-of-life improvements, accompanied by a refined, dynamic user interface featuring a compass-style directional indicator that guides players towards objectives, as well as the ability to accelerate time progression by consulting Frank’s wristwatch. While all these adjustments aim to polish the unique’s more rugged aspects, primarily by refining its professional veneer without diminishing its characteristic eccentricities.

Capcom has removed the “Erotica” scoring system in pictures, eliminating rewards for gamers who take inappropriate snapshots of female characters. To eliminate an insensitive association, the company has rebranded the “Frank the Pimp” achievement, earned by safely escorting multiple female survivors at once, effectively removing any perceived offense. While the term “psychopath” is often associated with negative connotations, it’s worth noting that the reimagined Larry Chiang, a human boss character, has undergone a transformation to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Capcom’s latest iteration retains much of the charm that has made its predecessors so attention-grabbing, distinctive, and frequently hilarious.

The classic game has undergone significant updates, incorporating nearly two decades’ worth of improvements and modern gaming trends to create a fresh, streamlined experience that feels revitalized for a new generation of players. appears as a promising stride forward for the franchise, potentially foreshadowing additional innovative projects in the future.