Capcom continues to give consumers more reasons to boycott the upcoming release of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, as keen fans have noticed additional changes to the game’s infamous “psychopath” mini bosses.
Previously, it was discussed how Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, which is more of a remake than an HD re-release blatantly race-swapped the antagonist Larry Chiang, one of the game’s iconic bosses.
Capcom has made noticeable changes to Larry Chiang’s design, altering him from a heavyset, bald Asian man to a generic White character with a mustache, glasses, and a hat, seemingly to avoid racial stereotypes.
Additionally, the remaster will remove a key feature from the original game: the “erotica” category in the photography system. This unique aspect allowed players, as journalist Frank West, to earn points by taking photographs categorized into Horror, Brutal, Drama, and Erotica.
The erotica category included suggestive photos of women, typically highlighting cleavage or knees. In the remake, Frank West’s character has also been physically altered to appear older and more masculine, and he will not be voiced by his original actor.
Given the current social climate, where heterosexuality is criticized, and Capcom’s alignment with Western ESG funding discourages any features that might “objectify” women, it’s unsurprising that they chose to remove such a core function from the game.
This change aligns with ESG principles, promoting inclusivity and tolerance to avoid offending today’s more sensitive audience, particularly those active on social media. After all, equality is a key aspect of ESG initiatives.
However, it has now been discovered that there are more underlying changes in the Dead Rising remake, including increased accessibility for players who struggle with free thought.
As gaming has become more mainstream, no longer seen as just a “nerdy hobby,” the industry has seen an influx of players who need emotional and physical assistance.
Just ask “game journalists” how challenging it can be to complete the tutorial stage in Cuphead.
Though the official release of the Dead Rising remake is set for September 19th, early embargoes have been lifted, allowing various journalist outlets to showcase “preview” footage. This has led to sharp-eyed fans noticing deviations from the original game.
First and foremost, one of the most noticeable changes for me is the drastically altered lighting conditions between the original and the “remaster,” which is actually built using Capcom’s modern RE Engine.
While the game does look “nice,” the lighting has been significantly modified to make the remake appear darker, grittier, and more horrific. This makes sense, considering it’s set during a zombie outbreak inside a massive mall complex. However, the remake seems to prioritize cinematic lighting at all times, regardless of the situation.
Just because the game “looks” good doesn’t mean it actually is, as the remake significantly deviates from the original’s style and lighting. The original had a more vibrant and colorful appearance across all scenarios, while the remake opts for a darker, grittier aesthetic that changes the overall tone.
Next, there are the so-called “modern touches” added for today’s audiences, like the infamous yellow paint that has become common in modern games.
This feature essentially guides players by highlighting interactable / destructible objects, or even blatantly pointing out where to go, catering to those who might need more hand-holding, and feeling like an insult to the player’s intelligence simply because the modern “gamer” is retarded.
Capcom has previously announced that the Dead Rising remake will eliminate its infamous toilet save points and introduce the ability to fast-forward in-game time.
In the original Dead Rising, saving progress required players to use designated save points scattered throughout the large mall complex, primarily located in bathrooms. This mechanic encouraged careful planning, as saving wasn’t as straightforward or frequent as in many other games.
If you ventured too far from a save point, you would have to traverse a long distance to find one, adding a risk factor, if you were killed you’d lose your progress.
Capcom seems to recognize that modern gamers might not be inclined to deal with such a mechanic, so the remake removes these limited save opportunities and adds the ability to fast-forward time.
Dead Rising operates on a real-time system, where in-game time progresses continuously as you play. The game’s events, missions, and storylines are tied to this clock, requiring certain actions, such as rescuing survivors or completing missions, to be performed within specific time windows.
The game is set over a 72-hour in-game period, equivalent to 6 real-world hours. As the clock ticks down, players must manage their time efficiently, balancing exploration, combat, and mission objectives.
Missing key missions or failing to rescue survivors within the allotted time can impact the game’s outcome and lead to different endings. The combination of the time-based gameplay and the save mechanic requires players to carefully manage both their time and resources.
The toilet save system, combined with the time-sensitive gameplay, creates a constant sense of tension and urgency. Players must strategically decide when to save, where to go, and how to allocate their limited time.
Occasionally, players might find themselves with extra time between missions, allowing them to roam freely and take on zombies. However, instead of encouraging players to engage in side activities or exploration, Capcom now offers the option to fast-forward time, allowing players to skip the downtime and jump straight back into the story.
In addition to these changes, the game has been censored, despite featuring various suggestive costumes for Frank West, from near-naked attire to women’s dresses. The removal of the “erotica” category, which included photos of bare knees and clothed cleavage, seems surreal. It’s now okay to sexualize male characters, but female characters, even virtual ones, must be protected.
Fans have uncovered that Capcom has once again modified the game’s psychopaths, including Cliff Hudson, the deranged Vietnam veteran wielding a machete, whom players encounter during the “Hatchet Man” mission.
As you might expect from a deranged Vietnam veteran, Cliff Hudson, also known as “The Hatchet Man,” has captured and hung decapitated zombies from the ceiling of a hardware store.
When he encounters Frank West, Hudson’s frantic ranting includes demanding Frank’s military rank and accusing him of being a member of the Viet Cong.
One notable change from the original to the remake is the alteration of a specific line. In the original game, Cliff Hudson calls Frank a “filthy communist,” but in the remake, this has been changed to “filthy animal.”
Additionally, all references to Vietnam have been completely removed, with Cliff now referring to Frank as a “Mole” instead of Viet Cong, effectively erasing the character’s entire backstory.
This modification raises questions about whether Capcom’s current focus on inclusivity and sensitivity is driving the change, or if it reflects adjustments made to comply with modern age ratings and content standards over the past 18 years.
As of now, Capcom has not publicly explained the reasoning behind their decision to censor this particular dialogue line, and it’s unlikely they will. Given the race-swapping of another antagonist and the removal of the Erotica functionality, it seems this change may be driven by their commitment to diversity and inclusivity, because communists deserve love too.
At this point, the Dead Rising remake has rapidly become “dead on arrival,” especially considering the disappointing reception of the previous entry “Dead Rising 4,” with the series having lost its original identity by the time of its release. With Capcom having exhausted their options for Resident Evil remakes, they have now turned their attention to the Dead Rising franchise in a quest for quick nostalgia profits.
Capcom has notably declined in recent years, with their remakes of classic games altering “sexist” and “offensive” dialogue, removing content among much more.
This trend continues with the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Additionally, Capcom’s PC games are plagued by DENUVO anti-tamper DRM and Enigma Protector, two layers of copyright protection that not only deter piracy but also negatively impact performance for legitimate buyers. Given these issues, there’s little incentive to invest in Capcom’s subpar reimagining of their classic games.
The art direction of the remake represents a stark departure from the original, adopting a darker and grittier tone that aims for a more “cinematic” look.
Capcom is now strongly influenced by Western ESG ideology, even going so far as to include woke disclaimers in re-releases of older games to apologize for their lack of diversity and the presence of attractive women. Stating how such content is inexcusable and doesn’t represent Capcom’s ethical values, that they’re more or less shunning you for buying such material and vowing to never make such a game ever again.
Capcom has shifted away from its Japanese roots, following a similar path to Square Enix and SEGA who have also embraced Western progressive values to the determent of their own finances.
Capcom’s American branch, based in San Francisco, a hub known for its liberal views, hires drag queens and transgender performers to promote its games. This shift has now led to changes like the removal of the term “dirty communist” from a villain’s dialogue in the game.
As more information and footage about the remake emerge, it becomes clear that significant content is either missing or altered. This remake seems to be a subpar reimagining of the 2006 original, tailored for “modern audiences” by removing anything remotely controversial or offensive.
With its release set for September 19th, it’s likely there are even more changes yet to be uncovered.
