Dead Rising is Better Than Resident Evil | Dead Rising Review
Dead Rising is one of my favourite games, and it deserves more love.
Find out why this zombie survival game is so underrated, and why you should pick up the new Deluxe Remaster edition.
We'll look at the story, setting, gameplay and more.
#DeadRising #HorrorGaming #Review
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Transcript
The Underrated Genius of Dead Rising: Why This Game Deserves More Love (Marking the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster)
Nearly two decades ago, Capcom gave us Dead Rising, a messy masterpiece that shamelessly borrowed from Dawn of the Dead - and somehow dodged a lawsuit. Now, with the release of the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, it’s time to revisit this underrated zombie game and remind ourselves why it still stands out in 2024.
While the first game is a cult classic (big up my Frank West-ers), Dead Rising often feels overshadowed by bigger zombie franchises like Resident Evil. Sure, the series has had its ups and downs since its debut, but so has Resident Evil, so why hasn’t Dead Rising earned the same lasting legacy?
Innovative, campy, violent, and irresistibly silly, Dead Rising is a hidden gem that deserves just as much love as its contemporaries. Let’s take a closer look at what makes it so special.
A Playground of Chaos: Rediscovering Willamette Mall
If there was one thing that ‘made’ Dead Rising, it’s the setting: Willamette Parkview Mall. Now, to say it was ‘inspired’ by the mall in Dawn of the Dead is like saying M&Ms were inspired by Smarties - it’s a complete rip off. But I’m so glad they ripped it off.
Whether you're battling zombies in a jewellery store or grabbing lunch in the food court, every part of the mall is meticulously designed for mayhem. It might not have the vast expanses of the cities in GTA or Saints Row, but its contained environment works to its advantage. Everything feels rich, packed with detail, and begging to be exploited for your survival.
And this very much extends to the weapon system. Almost anything in the mall can be turned into a weapon, from a humble frying pan to a chainsaw, from toys to lawnmowers. The sheer variety of weapons (and how they very rarely take themselves seriously) set the game apart from other zombie titles. You don’t just have to survive with a baseball bat and a pistol with hardly any ammo. You’re constantly encouraged to experiment and indulge in a macabre sense of whimsy. At least I felt some whimsy hitting a zombie with pet food, I don’t know about you.
The Time Mechanic: A Bold Strategy, Cotton
Perhaps one of Dead Rising’s most controversial mechanics is the 72-hour in-game timer. From the moment you land in Willamette Mall, you are racing against the clock to solve the mystery behind the zombie outbreak, rescue survivors, and gather scoops for your story. The timer means you can’t do everything in one playthrough, which could be kind of annoying, particularly if you’re used to doing a completionist run of games. But it was a bold strategy, Cotton and one that definitely paid off.
The time mechanic forces you to make tough decisions. You can’t save everyone or see every cutscene in one go. You have to pick and choose which survivors to help, which missions to prioritise, and which side activities to skip. It adds a layer of pressure that makes the stakes feel higher and creates a sense of replayability that’s rare in games even today.
I’m a big fan of the fact you could just hide in a cupboard and wait out the entire 72 hours there. It’s dull but it’s absolutely what I would do in that situation.
The first time you play Dead Rising, you’ll make mistakes. You’ll miss out on rescuing survivors, finding secrets and easter eggs, and it can be tough knowing you’re skipping over parts. But it’s in these imperfections that the game shines. Each new playthrough offers new opportunities to try new things and roleplay different tactics, making every run feel fresh. The time mechanic pushes you to embrace the chaotic, trial-and-error panic of what a zombie invasion might actually be like...
