Dead Rising is the explanation I purchased an Xbox 360, so it holds a particular place in my coronary heart. However as a lot as I look again on my time with the sport fondly, I additionally discover it just about unplayable at this time. There are just a few causes for that; the prisoners within the courtyard are extremely annoying, the mission timer is far too strict, and customarily, I am not into replaying older video games after a sure stretch of time.
However greater than something, Dead Rising suffers as a recreation in 2024 due to one flaw: its NPC allies are dumb. Dead Rising–as a wacky zombie recreation that gives a unique taste than Capcom’s different zombie collection, Resident Evil–is successful, for probably the most half. But it surely’s additionally the final word escort mission, and an incredible instance of why gamers so typically hate that form of factor.
In case you have by no means performed it, Dead Rising borrows closely from Daybreak of the Dead, placing gamers in a mall filled with zombies and difficult them to outlive a number of in-game days till rescue arrives. Alongside the best way, 50 NPCs might be found, a few of them preventing for his or her lives, others hiding out in quick meals eating places, or sustaining their heartbeat in quite a lot of different methods. I like the idea of discovering different survivors in a world of undead and recruiting them to your aspect whereas getting them to security, however Dead Rising’s NPCs are far too prone to get their throats ripped out due to poor AI.
As Frank, gamers can instruct survivors to go to a sure place, maintain their place, or actively observe in his footsteps. Gamers also can arm NPC allies with weapons, however even the armed allies frequently fail to drag their weight. This creates a irritating gameplay loop that’s exacerbated by the aforementioned mission timer, which calls for gamers are continually doing one thing productive. I’ve qualms with this timer past the way it interacts with NPCs–if you are going to give me an undead playground, give me time to play in it–but I am going to settle for a timer simply as strict as earlier than as long as the NPCs aren’t dragging down my tempo with their perpetual peril.
It is a characteristic that’s repeated, and fortunately improved on significantly, in Dead Rising 2 and three, which has meant my nostalgic returns to the collection have primarily been restricted to these two (and maybe some messing round in Dead Rising 4 each December). It is actually solely the primary one which suffers so significantly from unreliable AI friends. In later video games within the collection, allies can successfully dodge and combat again towards zombies in methods the primary recreation’s survivors merely cannot. Whereas Frank would swim by way of hordes, his newfound pals would drown in them within the authentic. Perhaps that is why Frank has at all times been seen as the primary character of the collection regardless of there having been a number of different playable characters–players endured probably the most ache in his footwear.
The not too long ago revealed Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (which appears as if it may very well be extra like a Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy-style remake) has not simply the possibility, however the duty, to repair this facet of the unique recreation. The teaser trailer would not inform us a lot in regards to the venture, although we are able to infer just a few issues, reminiscent of a brand new voice actor for Frank. That alerts this venture is extra than simply one other remaster for Dead Rising–a recreation that already acquired a remaster practically a decade in the past.
So for now, I am cautiously hopeful that Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster might be the makeover Frank has so desperately wanted for nearly 20 years. I would wish to assume Capcom, which has performed an incredible job with remakes and remasters as of late, understands this and emphasised it in manufacturing as an space of enchancment. A recent coat of paint just isn’t going to be sufficient to benefit taking part in this recreation once more if the allies are nonetheless routinely strolling into zombie enamel prefer it’s their job.