Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster: 12 ways Capcom renovates Willamette Mall

72 hours. That was how much time you originally had to find out why there was a zombie outbreak at Willamette Parkview Mall, in the fantastically entertaining Dead Rising. Even after unlocking its extended modes, it never felt enough to capture all the unpredictable and often hilarious fun had by using everything from a kids’ plastic laser sword to tennis balls to fend off the endless undead masses.

So it’s only fitting that Capcom has updated Frank West’s adventure with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster to get fans and newcomers’ blood pumping in the best possible way…

Note: Some gameplay clips in this article feature outfits available with the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Digital Deluxe Edition

A visual showpiece via the RE Engine

Real time lighting and shadows: Whether you’re running around the colorful food court or trying to hold your nerve in the moonlit outdoors between mall entrances, the Remaster’s reborn visuals don’t sacrifice the stylised personality of the original game. The mood created by these dynamic effects ensure you’re engaged in an entertaining blend of the creepy and vibrant.

More detailed character models: Getting up close to Frank highlights the marked improvements Capcom has made to the stars of the game, with even the seams and stitching of his iconic leather jacket visible. And if you’re unfortunate to get caught out by an enemy, you’ll sometimes see anything from temporary facial bleeding to crimson bullet holes.

Non-Player Characters have been graced with more detail, too. For example, annoying rival photographer Kent is blessed with some lavishly moving hair, and fans of Madonna the poodle will definitely get a kick out of her looking more like a… well, poodle.

Even the zombies have a greater variety of models and body shapes, which not only makes it more fun when taking snaps of them, but certain moves like Frank’s head stepping Zombie Ride become even more amusing.

Modern and classic control options

Get to grips with Frank quicker: It’s frightening enough being surrounded by hordes of the undead, so if you’re unfamiliar with Frank’s original controls never fear. You no longer need to choose between moving and shooting, making for far smoother gunplay. During moments where gun mastery is essential – that’s most boss battles in the game – you’re in for a much more accessible and dynamic fight, helped with the option of auto aim assist and a Heads-Up Display reticle.

Defensive moves are easier to perform: A new dedicated dodge roll button offers pain-free evasion, but if Frank gets pinned by zombies you can tap a face button to escape instead of having to manically twirl the left stick.

And, of course, if you want to keep the deliberate tension of the original, you can always revert back to the classic control set-up, too.

Better save functionality

More save points: Now you don’t need to worry about getting to specific places like the bathrooms or security room beds to save your game. Every time you enter or exit a new area (usually denoted by a very short loading time) the game autosaves, reducing that previous dread of having to restart from the beginning due to being unexpectedly overrun. It personally meant I took more risks getting around Willamette Mall knowing my mistakes wouldn’t be punished as badly compared to my exploration in the original.

Improved survivor intelligence

Improved NPC intelligence: It was all too easy for your fellow survivors to get turned into zombie chow by getting caught on bits of the environment or not following you quickly enough in the original Dead Rising, something Capcom addresses in the Remaster. While you still need to be mindful of their surroundings, the NPCs have better pathfinding intelligence around obstacles, with some areas tweaked to let them navigate better in trickier locations.

Undead aptitude: The improved AI isn’t limited to survivors, either. Stumble across any of the armed zombie cops and they’ll fire at you. Although thankfully they’re not the best of shots – to be fair, they are aiming with undead eyeballs.

A better life through the lens

Get picture perfect: In all the zombie smashing chaos, it’s easy to forget that Frank’s only in this situation because he wants to get some world-changing snaps. So taking great photos has been made easier with the addition of an auto focus button and the ability to tilt the camera.

More generous Prestige Points (PP): If the enhanced visuals weren’t excuse enough to take more pictures, better shots now earn larger ability-boosting PP, making it easier and quicker to upgrade Frank and survive a bit longer in the wilds of the Mall.

Updated UI and quality-of-life features

Snappy status screens and HUD options: If navigating the improved mall is a joy, the same can be said for the enhanced UI and menus. The status screen alone is impressive, featuring Frank framed in a viewfinder, breathing, blinking and wearing whatever clothing you’ve donned him in at that moment. 

With the vast range of tweaks available to the HUD, you can also make the game look as cinematic as you wish. One particularly handy addition is the damage bar beneath each weapon, indicating when your equipped bludgeon will break. So this time if you’re caught lacking in the middle of a fight, it’s entirely your own fault. 

Audio updates

All NPCS are voiced: While being able to switch the mall’s ambient music at any time is a great mood modifier, the real audio game changer comes from the vast amount of spoken dialogue in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Voice acting is ever-present, creating more intuitive and faster interactions, and making it easier to locate some survivors.

Otis isn’t as needy: VO also changes your relationship with everyone’s favorite mall janitor, Otis. In the original game, answering any of his frequent calls to receive info and new missions prevented Frank from doing almost anything in that moment, including defending himself. If you were attacked, the call would end and Otis would later ring back to scold you for cutting him off… before restarting his previous call info from the start.

But now, thanks to Otis being voiced, Frank can answer and listen to his friend’s calls without interruption or concern – and even if you ‘accidentally’ cut Otis off by walking into an area which requires loading, he’s still remarkably chill about it. Phew. And as a little nice bonus, if you activate the Controller Speaker option, you’ll hear his calls through the DualSense controller.

You won’t have to wait long to enjoy all these enhancements that make Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster the most memorable trip to the mall you’ll ever experience, when it launches September 19 on PS5. Enjoy your 72 hours…