As we are all fully aware, this generation of console has become the generation of the remastered game. And I will openly admit that it has been frustrating to see so many developers go down this route of re-releasing games, especially ones the feel like that haven’t even been out that long anyway. That being said, when handled well and given the right about of care and attention, and good remaster can be very welcome. Bringing new graphics to an aged game, bundling games together, putting additional content etc. Games such as Master Chief Collection, GTA V, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and even the Rare Replay collection show that there can be some value to the remaster. But when something the Dead Rising Triple Pack comes out, the old frustrations start to creep back in.
While the pack isn’t totally marketed as a remaster, seeing games that are now 10 years old (in the case of the original game), I think there is now an expectation that things will have changed a bit with the game. At a minimum some sort of clear graphical upgrade. What we have with Dead Rising Triple Pack is a straight re-release on a newer console, and while there has been improvements to frame rates, resolutions, and the overall experience is a little smoother than the originals, it feels like lazy money grabbing, and for me, a lost opportunity to give fans of the games something of any worth.
The rant isn’t quite finished yet but I’ll just dip in and out of it from now on. I need to be clear that this review is purely focussing on this package as a whole, as presented on the Xbox One. Because the quality of the games themselves haven’t changed. There is still plenty of fun to be had here, especially if you’ve not played them before, and want to see what the fuss was about, and maybe see the origins of the game having played DR3 or looking ahead to number 4. Jump into Dead Rising 1 with Frank West as he is dropped into what now feels like an infamous shopping mall in Willamette, and tried to solve the mystery of the zombie outbreak. Or Dead Rising 2, with Chuck Greene attempting to clear his name and save his daughter. Hell, you can even have another shot with Frank and play through the second game as him in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record.
I can’t really argue with the amount of content that’s available here, and each game is purchasable individually. But what I don’t understand is why something more hasn’t been done. For example, packaging all 3 games into one, with a nice new menu system, some new goodies thrown in, and some new textures in the games. Just…something! Even the need to find a sofa or toilet to save the game is frustrating at this point. An auto save function would have been very welcome given that nearly every other game has one now. While I can totally understand a game like Dark Souls forcing you to find locations to save, Dead Rising isn’t a game that provides the same style of challenge. And after a handful of times needing to replay big sections of the game, the motivation to continue dwindles.
This package just seems like Capcom being reluctant to make the game backwards compatible, instead wanting to make people buy their games again. It is a massive shame, and it is another sign of just how greedy some in the gaming industry are. If you’ve never played these game before, then there is of course some value here for you. If you have however, I would side-step this release, and let your wallet do the talking. The more people that purchase this, the more it will seem acceptable to re-release games on current gen, rather than just make them backwards compatible.
As individual games played for the first time, there is plenty here to enjoy. But for anything else this needs to be avoided.
