Summary
Techland’sDying Light 2 Stay Humanand Dambuster’sDead Island 2have both been released to an overall positive reception. Both titles are touted as action-RPGs with survival horror elements set in a zombie-infested world. Also, both of these modern interpretations of a zombie game are sequels to a pre-established franchise that managed to update everything players enjoyed about the previous entries while also attracting a new playerbase. The success of these games proves that a new entry in Capcom’sDead Risingseries could do well with a modern release.
Dead Risingwas first released in 2006 as one of the premiere next-gen titles of the Xbox 360, showcasing an innovative new gameplay experience with a setting reminiscent of George A. Romero’sDawn of the Dead. By this time, Capcom was already famously known for its long-standing survival horror franchise,Resident Evil(which can be largely credited as the originator of the genre). Once paired with its often humorous moments and secrets to uncover,Dead Risinghad created an entirely new genre, paving the way for future franchises such asDying LightorDead Island.
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TheDead Risingfranchise had seen great success up until the third installment,Dead Rising 3, which was released to mixed reviews from fans. The final nail in the coffin came withDead Rising 4, the last game to be released in the series and one that had an overwhelmingly poor reception. The series had gone dark untilleaks began circulating that aDead Rising 5was in development. However, due to the dissolution of Capcom Vancouver, the game was purportedly canceled. In the years since the only appearance ofDead Risingand its characters has been through crossovers.
Since the release ofResident Evil 7, Capcom has been on the upswing. Utilizing the capabilities of its in-house RE Engine, it has rebooted, rebranded, remade, and unified many of its most successful franchises under one roof. It has shown with games like theResident EvilRemakes,Devil May Cry 5,Street Fighter 6,Monster Hunter Rise,andDragon’s Dogma 2,that it canreturn to a pre-established franchise to create a next-gen renditionthat appeals to old fans and new.
With the interest in these properties at an all-time high, aDead Risingsequel made in its powerful RE Engine could be another major hit. A newDead Risingcould also take some inspiration from the games that have flourished in its absence,Dying LightandDead Island. Both of these franchises feature interesting gameplay mechanics and exploration that have contributed to their respective successes.
They each contain stories to discover either solo or co-operatively with friends, all elements that contributed to thesuccess of the originalDead Risinggames. With players proving to be interested in this type of gameplay experience it would make sense for Capcom to revisit its IP and find a way to contribute its take on the genre once again.
Although theDead Risingfranchise has been long dormant, the desire for a new entry in the series has not gone cold. Fans of the previous entries or even fans of newer gamesDying Light 2orDead Island 2could finda new take on the zombie survival gameworth checking out. With no current announcement, players will just have to wait and see.
