DEAD RISING | 2006

DEAD RISING

Dead Rising is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Capcom. This game is the first entry in the Dead Rising series, and the story follows photojournalist Frank West as he becomes trapped in a zombie-infested shopping mall. Frank must uncover the mystery behind the outbreak before a rescue helicopter arrives in three days. The game features multiple endings depending on the conditions met by the player.

The game is played from a third-person perspective and features an open world for the player to explore in the form of the Willamette Parkview Mall. The player must survive by scavenging for items around the shopping mall to fight zombies and hostile human NPCs known as psychopaths, while rescuing friendly human NPCs known as survivors. Additionally, the game has a set time limit of 72 hours, within which the player must complete the story.

Dead Rising was released on August 8, 2006, originally for the Xbox 360. The game became a critical and commercial success, leading it to be included in the Xbox 360 "Platinum Hits" lineup and spawning three sequels. The original Xbox 360 version was re-released on September 13, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, and a remastered version, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on September 19, 2024.

Players can operate the game in one of two modes. The 72 Hour Mode is the main mode, where the player’s objective is to investigate the Willamette Parkview Mall within three days before Frank can be rescued by helicopter. Completing all major missions known as "Case Files" unlocks "Overtime Mode," where players must complete additional objectives. The second mode, ∞ (Infinity) Mode, is unlocked after completing Overtime Mode and allows players to roam around the mall in sandbox mode without any time limit.

To survive in all modes, players need to find and seek out weapons scattered around the mall that they can use against the zombies. Over 250 items are available for combat, categorized into melee and ranged weapons. Frank can carry only a limited number of weapons, which deteriorate over time. Players can also try on various outfits and consume food and drinks to recover health.

Dead Rising incorporates a role-playing element through an experience system, rewarding players with "Prestige Points" (PP) for completing various actions. Killing zombies and taking photographs are ways to earn PP. Once enough PP is earned, Frank levels up, resulting in upgrades to attack power, speed, health, and inventory capacity.

The in-game HUD displays information about Frank's health, prestige level, PP progress, weapon inventory, and the number of zombies killed. Players can save their progress using green couches or restrooms, and if Frank dies, they can reload from the last save point.

In 2006, photojournalist Frank West is alerted to something happening in Willamette, Colorado. He flies into the town with helicopter pilot Ed DeLuca and learns that the town is under military quarantine. After being dropped onto the Willamette Parkview Mall's helipad, he discovers the quarantine is due to a zombie outbreak. He takes refuge in the mall's security room and, with the help of janitor Otis, explores the mall.

Frank rescues several survivors and battles psychopaths, eventually confronting an enemy named Carlito, who plans to use the mall to spread the infection. The game offers various endings based on player choices, revealing different fates for Frank and interpretations of the outbreak's cause.

Dead Rising began development as a sequel to Shadow of Rome but evolved into a new game aimed at the Western market. The game emphasizes humorous interactions with zombies and provides a variety of weapons for players to use. The graphics and story received positive reviews from critics, although the save system and NPC AI faced criticism.

Dead Rising sold 500,000 copies in its first month and reached one million copies worldwide by the end of 2006. The game received several awards and was praised by critics for its gameplay and exploration.