Dead Rising

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,724 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dead Rising Game Cover
Dead Rising remains one of Capcom's most classic and ambitious games to-date, and the re-release is most welcome, even if a lack of new content or genuine remastering is present in the package.
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Dead Rising is a single-player, horror open-world game with an interesting plot and masterful graphics. As photojournalist Frank West, players navigate a shopping mall overrun by zombies, using any available resources to survive and uncover the truth behind the epidemic. With its marvelous game mechanics, amazing music, high replayability, and blend of humor and emotion, Dead Rising offers a delightful and thrilling experience.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,724 reviews
story225 positive mentions
stability31 negative mentions
  • Creative and humorous gameplay with a wide variety of weapons and items to use against zombies.
  • Engaging story with multiple endings and memorable characters, particularly Frank West.
  • High replayability due to the time management mechanic and the ability to carry over levels and skills in New Game Plus.
  • Frustrating AI for survivors that often leads to their deaths and complicates escort missions.
  • Clunky controls and mechanics that can feel dated and unresponsive, especially in combat.
  • Strict time limits that can hinder exploration and lead to missed opportunities in the game.
  • story915 mentions

    The story of *Dead Rising* follows photojournalist Frank West as he investigates a zombie outbreak in a Colorado mall, blending dark themes with absurd humor and campy elements. While the narrative features intriguing characters and multiple endings, it is often overshadowed by frustrating escort missions and a strict time limit that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the story is considered engaging and entertaining, though it may not be the primary draw for all players, who might prefer the chaotic fun of zombie-slaying over the plot itself.

    • “The main story and boss fights in this one are definitely the best, and it has a good balance where the overall tone is serious, but there's cheesy humor here and there, it feels like a good zombie b-movie.”
    • “The story is actually pretty good, with a mix of dark writing, emotional moments, tension, deception, and lots of investigating.”
    • “The story is pretty generic, but it serves its purpose, and it puts pressure on the player to keep up an unrelenting pace.”
    • “The story itself is terrible, there is a layer of humor with Frank taking everything so seriously, the empty writing and acting mostly makes it a bore.”
    • “The story follows photojournalist Frank West after he becomes trapped in a zombie-infested shopping mall.”
  • gameplay350 mentions

    The gameplay of Dead Rising is characterized by its unique blend of humor, chaos, and challenge, offering players a sandbox experience filled with zombie-slaying and quirky mechanics like time management and photography. While many players appreciate the fun and replayability, they also note that the game suffers from clunky controls, frustrating AI, and outdated mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game remains a beloved classic for its engaging gameplay and memorable moments, particularly for those willing to embrace its quirks.

    • “Dead Rising 2 is an interesting, unconventional game with an incredible amount of fun, especially in co-op gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is indeed a bit janky, but this somehow just adds to the charm and enjoyment.”
    • “The gameplay strikes a cool balance between being frustratingly stressful and very compelling and replayable.”
    • “The game also experiences crashes, which can be disruptive to the gameplay experience.”
    • “Poor gameplay, saving system is really bad, aiming with a gun is terrible, graphics have aged badly since it's a 2007 game.”
    • “The mechanics of this game ruined the enjoyment for me; players don't want to be punished all the time.”
  • graphics172 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2006, have aged but still hold up reasonably well, especially in the remastered PC port, which offers enhanced visuals and smooth performance. While some players note that the graphics appear dated compared to modern standards, many appreciate the nostalgic charm and detail of the environments, particularly the mall setting. Overall, the remaster provides decent graphical options and runs smoothly, making it a solid experience for both new players and returning fans.

    • “The graphics are really impressive for a 2006 game.”
    • “The visuals are great for a 2006 game, the character models are pretty good for the most part and the mall itself is wonderfully detailed, which helps in selling its lived-in or...died-in feel.”
    • “The graphics hold up surprisingly well and performance is a non-issue; virtually everyone should be able to play this game with the graphics settings maxed and 4k is a breeze on mid-range to high-end hardware.”
    • “Poor gameplay, saving system is really bad, aiming with a gun is terrible, graphics have aged badly since it's a 2007 game.”
    • “The graphics don't hold up.”
    • “The graphics are dated, but the gameplay and visual aesthetic are intact.”
  • humor120 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of absurdity and dark comedy, with players enjoying the ridiculous scenarios and quirky character interactions. The ability to use almost any object as a weapon adds to the hilarity, while the game's self-aware tone and over-the-top moments create a unique experience that balances humor with horror. Overall, the game is seen as a timeless classic that effectively combines funny gameplay mechanics with a captivating story.

    • “The balance between humor and depressing, horrifying situations is unparalleled and truly prevents the game from being either a laugh-fest or a depressing play, making it a relaxing yet anxiety-inducing thing of its own design.”
    • “The bosses are no exception to being exceptional either, as the 'psychopaths' come in varieties of silly, hilarious, and terrifying, as well as all of the above at once.”
    • “It's funny as hell, and doesn't take itself too seriously.”
    • “It's not funny; Otis calls you even during boss fights with useless information.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, making the game more tedious than entertaining.”
    • “I expected humor, but the attempts at comedy are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
  • music92 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and impact, featuring unique soundtracks for each boss encounter and memorable mall tunes that enhance the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the blend of early 2000s rock and electronic tracks, which not only amplify the intensity of gameplay but also evoke nostalgia. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout elements, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional weight.

    • “The music does a great job at setting the tone; 'Justified' is easily the best song out of the entire series. Frank's theme really makes you feel the weight and tension of his mission to expose the truth and survive.”
    • “The soundtrack's got some nice atmospheric songs, some iconic character themes for the 'psychopaths' as the bosses are called, and some classic corny mall music that digs itself right into your head and stays there.”
    • “The music in this game rocks. A lot of the tracks are iconic, from the charming mall music to the convict's theme.”
    • “The ambient noises are great, but the mall music gets kind of annoying since it repeats over and over again, and some of the boss battles are annoying.”
    • “I've encountered a bug where the music in the intro doesn't play and even some of the pilot's lines are noticeably absent if you've played the original on Xbox 360/PlayStation 3.”
    • “There are a few bugs such as music not cycling (looping the same track), and some laggy points when there is gore but I am sure they will fix those in due time.”
  • replayability91 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by a wealth of side quests, multiple endings, and a New Game Plus feature that allows players to carry over their progress. Players appreciate the challenge of mastering the time-limited gameplay and the variety of interactions available, which encourage exploration and experimentation across multiple playthroughs. Overall, the combination of addictive mechanics, achievements, and the freedom to approach objectives in different ways makes it a highly replayable experience.

    • “Because of the quantity of side quests, the game has great replayability for players that may have missed a few optional parts of the game or for those who wish to play a new game plus run which saves the level and stats of Frank West from your last completed run into the new run.”
    • “The game is meant to be played in multiple runs, and having an achievement roadmap to plan which group of achievements I'd get in any given run added quite a lot to its replay value.”
    • “The time limit is what makes Dead Rising so replayable, as mastering both the mall and Frank allows the player to handle more and more of the mall's daunting tasks in each playthrough.”
    • “The story has practically no replayability; I only watched the cutscenes once and that was on my second playthrough. Now I skip all the cutscenes and ignore the story almost entirely.”
    • “Which is both good and bad as you will see that the game has much to offer in the replay value, but if you hate trial and error playthroughs, then avoid this game.”
    • “The time limit here is phenomenal and will lead to a lot of mistakes with new players, which encourages replayability and mastery.”
  • optimization55 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with players reporting smooth performance even at high settings and resolutions, such as 4K and 60 FPS. While some minor issues, like stuttering with specific weapons, were noted, the overall experience is described as a significant improvement over previous console versions, making it a well-optimized port for PC gamers.

    • “The game is a solid port, giving PC gamers everything that they could ask for, including great optimization, a 4K resolution, 60 FPS, as well as a slew of other graphics options that are completely absent from the console releases.”
    • “Extremely well optimized - never dropped below 60 FPS with 2160x3840 resolution.”
    • “The optimization is very well done with no FPS lock; there is a little lag when killing zombies but nothing to pull your hair out over.”
    • “First off, because like many others, I bought the other Dead Rising games on Steam and was bummed out to find that they weren't optimized in the slightest.”
    • “The only performance problem I've run into is that a few weapons (like the sledgehammer) cause massive stuttering when you kill zombies.”
    • “Oddly enough, this only really happens outside of the maintenance tunnel, so I guess there are a few points of optimization missed during the port.”
  • stability47 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with many users praising the port's performance on modern PCs, noting smooth gameplay and enhanced graphics. However, several players reported bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes, particularly during specific gameplay scenarios, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While some found the game to be less buggy than its original Xbox 360 version, others highlighted significant issues that detracted from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The port itself runs smooth as butter, no slowdown, no freezes, fast load times... I couldn't have asked for a better port than this. I thank the team who ported this for doing a great job, as I know a lot of ports to PC can be rushed and end up being very dire. This port has started to give me a little bit of faith in Capcom again.”
    • “As for the PC port, it runs great, looks really nice, and is a welcomed addition to my Steam library.”
    • “This new version runs great at 60fps and 1080p.”
    • “Unless you get it for free, I could never recommend it unless you want an annoying and buggy experience.”
    • “This Xbox classic didn't age well and on PC it's a buggy mess.”
    • “After the helicopter intro, the game freezes on an infinite loading screen.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of Dead Rising is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, horror, and nostalgia, effectively capturing the essence of a zombie apocalypse within a shopping mall setting. Reviewers highlight the game's engaging soundtrack, memorable characters, and the immersive environment that evokes classic zombie films, particularly the works of George Romero. Despite some technical flaws, the game's atmosphere remains its standout feature, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “Dead Rising (2006) and 28 Days Later (2002) both do their best in their job: creating a perfect atmosphere around the zombie apocalypse theme.”
    • “The atmosphere alone is one to be experienced firsthand.”
    • “The environment looks great, I like walking around and looking at the atmosphere of being in a shopping complex, but there's too many zombies most of the time to appreciate any of it anyway.”
    • “While the setting might be similar to 'Dawn of the Dead', the atmosphere is more like 'Shaun of the Dead'.”
    • “It builds a true horror/survival atmosphere far better than its successors, and if that sounds like fun to you, pick this game up immediately.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often seen as excessively tedious and frustrating, with players needing to invest significant time to progress due to slow leveling and unbalanced AI. Many express that the grind detracts from enjoyment, turning gameplay into a chore rather than a rewarding experience, despite some acknowledging the challenge can be fun in parts. Overall, the grinding mechanics are criticized for being poorly designed and overly punishing, making it feel like a test of patience rather than an engaging aspect of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The poor AI in particular feels like it discourages pushing your limits in rescuing as many survivors as possible by making it super tedious.”
    • “Starting over lets you keep your levels and unlocked skills, but the rate at which Frank levels is so slow and so tedious that progress is effectively nil without brute force and a bit of luck.”
    • “Dead Rising is plagued with so many bad design decisions that incentivize grinding in a game that does not need it, nor does its rigid gameplay excuse the slapstick comedy it wants to heavily rely on as well as its utter lunacy of a storyline.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its dark storytelling, intense moments, and character depth, which evoke genuine feelings and attachments. Players appreciate the blend of horror and emotional engagement, though some feel there could be more nuanced portrayals of psychopaths to enhance the emotional impact. Overall, the game successfully crafts a compelling narrative that resonates with players, making them feel invested in the experience.

    • “It's a story with a bit of dark writing, emotional moments, tension, deception, and lots of investigating.”
    • “The story is very interesting and being able to revisit the game's good old charm of Frank West made me feel nostalgic.”
    • “It doesn't shy away from the horror elements and actually crafts a world that can get pretty emotional at times.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the thoughtful design and customization options that enhance the experience, while others criticize the industry trend of releasing cash grab remasters lacking substance. Overall, there is a strong desire for more innovative games rather than exploitative monetization practices.

    • “We must make Capcom aware that we want more games like this, not soulless cash grabs made by inhuman monsters.”
    • “They need to stop releasing cash grab broken 'remasters'.”
    • “Not just a cash grab attempt, the port is well thought out and made, customizable graphics options, 1080p support, anti-aliasing, and integrated controller support.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its depth and ability to be retained across playthroughs, allowing players to restart while keeping their progress. However, the overall character design has received criticism for its lack of appeal, particularly among NPCs, which detracts from the experience. Despite these design flaws, the narrative and character arcs are praised, contributing to an engaging story.

    • “If you're going to play it for the first time, you can restart the game anytime while keeping your character development, and you should do it many times.”
    • “Roguelike fans will enjoy the game; when you die, your character development is saved, but you need to start the story from the last save or from the beginning.”
    • “The story was wonderful, the character development was perfect, and the psychopaths still scared the crap out of me.”
    • “Every NPC just looks so ugly. Most of the males are a default fat, balding, sweaty, hairy character that runs at a snail's pace when you're trying to rescue them while getting chased by zombies. This only shows how terrible the character design of this game truly is.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
    • “I was really disappointed with how the characters evolve throughout the game; it feels like there are no meaningful choices that impact their growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

72hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
14-72hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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