Capcom has announced “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster” and released a trailer to accompany the announcement. While the supported platforms have not been revealed, the game is scheduled for release sometime this year.
Normally, I would be thrilled about the possibility of a modernized version of the original Dead Rising, built from the ground up using Capcom’s esteemed RE Engine.
However, the company has rapidly declined since their brief resurgence with Resident Evil VII and the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2. Capcom has adopted Western ESG policies of diversity and quality, made efforts to deter PC modders from modifying their games by implementing DRM into old titles.
And their latest releases of such as the 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3 and the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4, have strayed from being faithful adaptations, alongside Dragon’s Dogma 2 being a lousy broken experience intertwined with microtransactions.
Entire gameplay segments have been removed, and there has been arbitrary censorship of “problematic” dialogue, such as Leon S. Kennedy flirting with Hunnigan in Resident Evil 4 and other lines referencing Ashley’s “ballistics” and Leon’s catchphrase of “women” being removed entirely.
I cannot, in good conscience, support Capcom’s Dead Rising Remake given their recent track record. They have introduced egregious microtransactions in single-player experiences and have generally dumbed down their games to be more accessible to a wider audience, which can be seen from their upcoming Monster Hunter title.
Capcom’s efforts in promoting body positivity and “diversity,” as seen in Street Fighter 6, seem out of touch with their predominantly male audience, who statistically prefer attractive character designs over gameplay. It’s disappointing to see Capcom continue to implement censorship and produce radical redesigns of beloved characters, making them more masculine, androgynous, and less appealing compared to their previous iterations.
Regardless, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster serves as an updated rendition of the 2006 classic, which managed to sell almost two million copies back in the day. Capcom, having exhausted much of the Resident Evil franchise aside from Resident Evil 5 and another potential attempt at remaking the first Resident Evil, now regarded as one of the best video game remakes ever, seems to be turning to Dead Rising as their next viable option for profit.
The original “Dead Rising” was released for Xbox 360 in 2006, followed by an “HD” re-release for PC (Steam), PS4, and Xbox One in 2016. The game was praised for its unique concept, time-based gameplay, zombie combat, iconic psychopaths, and distinctive characters.
It currently holds a “Very Positive” status on Steam, with 88% of approximately 4,700 user reviews being positive, whereas the original game holds a 7.4 user score on Metacritic. Now, the game will be released as “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster” for next-generation platforms, featuring an entirely new look.
“Dead Rising” is set in the fictional town of Willamette, Colorado. The protagonist, a journalist by the name of Frank West, ventures into the zombie-infested Willamette Mall with minimal photography equipment.
His goal is to uncover the truth behind the zombie outbreak while surviving until a rescue helicopter arrives in 72 hours. During this in-game period, players can fight zombies, take pictures, and rescue survivors, offering a gameplay experience with a high degree of freedom in what little time you have.
The game features a leveling system where players can gain experience points and level up, increasing health points. Levels can also be carried over after clearing the game or experiencing a game over, gradually expanding the range of gameplay and allowing players to enjoy more freedom.
The small announcement trailer doesn’t reveal much, but I particularly dislike Frank’s new look. He appears much older, uglier, and more “masculine,” almost resembling a custom character from Street Fighter 6, whereas his previous appearances portrayed him as an ordinary adult man. Plain and simple.
Another key distinction I noticed in the short 40-second trailer is that Capcom has opted for a new voice actor for Frank. Capcom previously cut ties with Frank’s original voice actor, Terence J. Rotolo, who voiced the beloved journalist from Dead Rising 1 through Dead Rising 3. The absence of Frank’s iconic voice in this remake is concerning and doesn’t bode well for its quality, which I suspect will be as poor as Capcom’s recent releases.
Given that Capcom has opted to give Frank West, the face of the franchise, a radically unattractive makeover, it’s safe to assume they might apply the same treatment to other characters like Jessica McCarney and Isabela Keyes. Their attractive and feminine appearances could be deemed problematic by today’s standards, and given Capcom’s alignment with Western ESG agendas, it’s likely these characters will be altered as well.
Another aspect to be cautious about in a potential remake is the handling of Dead Rising’s iconic “psychopaths.” While the game primarily revolves around navigating a zombie-infested mall, players also encounter a variety of unique and eccentric bosses. These psychopaths are survivors who have been driven to insanity by the outbreak. Each one features a distinct design, backstory, and personality, contributing to the game’s dark humor and horror elements.
One concern I have regarding the iconic psychopaths in the original Dead Rising is how some characters might be perceived as problematic by today’s standards, especially for a global company like Capcom.
For instance, Jo Slade, a morbidly obese female police officer, is a particularly troubling character. She has captured and sexually assaulted various women, which could be seen as highly inappropriate and offensive by today’s overly sensitive audiences.
It goes without saying that Jo Slade’s appearance and character would be immensely “problematic” for modern audiences, who often struggle to differentiate between fiction and reality.
Whether Capcom will faithfully honor Dead Rising, given their track record with the Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 remakes, is unclear. I suspect her design and backstory will be radically altered, if she appears at all.
Needless to say, I have low hopes for this remake. The teaser trailer alone was enough to deter me, given the horrendous redesign of Frank West and the new voice actor. I for one will not be fooled by misty-eyed nostalgia, I’ll stick to the original with glee.
