The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s Omission of Combo Weapons Is a Hugely Disappointing Oversight

Among the many quality-of-life adjustments made in Capcom’s new Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, some gameplay improvements that could have been included were omitted.

One of the most noticeable things about Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is that using the RE Engine was a wise decision by the studio to update this game. Most weapons are unchanged from the original game, but the studio missed an opportunity to improve them and add new mechanics.

One of the mechanics introduced in later entries in the franchise is combo weapons, something that wasn’t in the first game but could have easily been a worthwhile addition.

It Was an Opportunity to Enhance Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Even Further

Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception from fans who experienced the original version in 2006, Capcom had the opportunity to bring new elements to Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster.

However, they chose to stick closely to the original formula without making significant gameplay changes or adding features that could have been well-received. While this doesn’t drastically affect the overall result of the game, there was room for much more.

When remastering a game over ten years old, it’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce new elements. Capcom has extensive experience with this, taking into account how each Resident Evil remake has improved on its predecessor.

In all these titles, Capcom has done an incredible job updating the gameplay and adapting it to modern standards while maintaining the essence of the original games.

Combo Weapons Were a Great Addition in Later Dead Rising Games

The weapon system and the various combinations it allows for much more destructive results were among the best improvements in the Dead Rising franchise. You can only save survivors for so long before wanting to try something new.

Capcom embraces the freedom to create wild, over-the-top combinations in the second and third games, taking this mechanic to its fullest potential. Despite having the expertise and knowledge, the studio decided not to introduce this feature early in this new remake.

This was a missed opportunity, as it could have been a spectacular addition to the game. The studio could have introduced this mechanic, achieving a balance without changing the original essence of the game.

One option the development team could have explored was to include this feature but keep it less developed compared to future titles, which will likely receive updates due to its success.

There Is a Significant Opportunity to Incorporate Additional Elements Without Overstretching

Considering that the mechanics of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster remained largely unchanged, the studio could have taken more risks in tweaking the gameplay with a graphical update.

While the game is still fun with its simple and straightforward mechanics—where weapons break and must be replaced—they could have implemented a repair or save system, or other features, to make it more engaging.

The studio did not handle the release of these games on different platforms at different times well in the past. That said, Dead Rising still has outstanding potential to receive a proper remake in the future, one that could release on all platforms simultaneously, allowing a larger audience to enjoy it.

These are titles with a simple but effective charm, where the bizarre nature of the game is the main draw for players.

What’s your favorite mechanic in this new version of the game? Let us know in the comments!