In a latest episode of the VG247 ‘Finest Video games Ever’ Podcast – which is superb, by the way in which – Lifeless Rising turned a subject of sizzling dialog. It feels acceptable that it did – as that episode of the podcast was launched only a matter of days earlier than this week’s anniversary of the collection, which kicked off again on August eighth 2006.
16 isn’t precisely a tentpole anniversary to mark, however Lifeless Rising is value celebrating irrespective of the yr. With traditional Capcom horror getting a resurgence because of a revitalized Resident Evil push, what higher option to capitalize on the newfound thirst for frights than extra Lifeless Rising! To speak about what makes the collection so nice, and why it deserves to rise from the grave, Alex and Connor discuss what makes the collection so nice, and what they’d prefer to see revisited sooner or later.
Alex: Properly, I don’t fairly know the place to begin. I used to be the man who purchased up Lifeless Rising on the podcast – for the episode ‘finest recreation you had been ridiculously excited for as a teen’. For me it was an ideal match for that class; I used to be 17 on the time, and Lifeless Rising was the primary recreation of that console era the place I simply checked out it and couldn’t consider what I used to be seeing. The variety of zombies! The variety of interactive objects! How open-ended it appeared! It got here out the higher a part of a yr into the 360’s life, nevertheless it was the primary recreation of that era that actually wowed me with that nebulous sense of next-genness.
However the factor about Lifeless Rising is it was simply kind of… greater than that? It acquired me by the door with the lots of of zombies factor, however that gimmick truly served a very intelligent function throughout the recreation itself.
Actually, it’s a recreation about positioning, about timing, and about studying the clockwork mechanics of a world so you possibly can abuse them and plan forward in future play-throughs. As I kind this, I notice truly it as soon as once more has some bizarre little similarities with the latest Hitman video games, the place the sport is at its most satisfying whenever you’re virtually pre-empting occasions with the intention to be sure you’re in the correct place to rescue a survivor, or sort out a psycho.
I believe the primary recreation is by far and away the very best, however I’m additionally a kind of individuals who will go to bat for Lifeless Rising 2, and even 3. It’s finest we fake that 4 didn’t occur, although. However even 2 and three acquired and understood a lot of the magic of the unique, in numerous methods.
That makes me significantly unhappy that Capcom has parked the collection, but finds the time to place out Resident Evil video games bi-yearly or much more often. Lifeless Rising nonetheless has one thing to supply.
Connor: I don’t assume I’ve felt fairly so jealous of per week’s podcast visitor than after I heard Lifeless Rising got here up on the most recent episode. Lifeless Rising was one in every of my first 360 video games again after I was a pre-teen – one thing snuck to me with out my mother and father’ data by a cousin additionally responsible of smuggling Mortal Kombat and Gears of Struggle disks my means. Trying again, it in all probability wasn’t an excellent concept to funnel that stuff to a 12-year-old. However wow. What a recreation Lifeless Rising was for my impressionable child mind.
One of many facets that stood out to me then, and continues to stay out as an actual boon to the early entries within the collection, is the emphasis on time administration. As Alex identified, there’s an actual enchantment to studying the development of occasions and planning a route effectively, however in my thoughts it’s the early hours whenever you don’t know the perfect pathway by Willamette, that Lifeless Rising thrives in. Dashing again to the safehouse with survivors in tow as a primary mission creeps nearer, just for Gone Guru to begin taking part in and a jeep crammed with inmates to begin racing in the direction of you. An all-time “oh sh*t” second.
I discovered myself progressively drifting away with Lifeless Rising as new video games within the collection got here out, Lifeless Rising 2 was hella enjoyable however appeared to lose a number of the dread that made its predecessor so morish, buying and selling it out for a extra dynamic, motion thriller vibe. By the point Lifeless Rising 3 rolled round it was clear that the collection branched off right into a route that didn’t align with what I actually needed – its antagonists much less sympathetic, its themes much less delicate. Once I strapped in and fought Adam the clown within the first recreation I used to be petrified – nothing actually did that for me in Lifeless Rising 2, not to mention 3.
Like Resident Evil, the collection went off into the sundown with motion in thoughts whereas shedding its doomish, haunting vibes. Once I examine Frank West kneeling dejected on a tank on the finish of Lifeless Rising, to him taking selfies with zombies in Lifeless Rising 4, I really feel deeply, deeply, unhappy. I might like to see Capcom take the identical lesson learnt from Resident Evil 2 Remake and RE7 and revisit the collection with its unique themes and tone. Out with the brand new, in with the previous.
Alex: You already know, I didn’t thoughts the truth that Lifeless Rising 2 dialed again on the dread. The factor I discovered fascinating about that recreation is it examines what occurs in a shitty world after they get used to the nightmare situation of the useless rising – it turns into a triviality. And DR2 smacks you within the face with that full-force proper on the onset, what with Chuck being half in a twisted zombie-slaying actuality TV present, full with nice hype music. And that present can be the in-universe conceit for a multiplayer mode! It’s very intelligent.
I additionally like how DR2 recontextualizes the time restrict by Chuck having to supply Katey with the important drugs to cease her from turning – and Chuck’s devotion to her there contrasts properly with the opposite themes of the sport – the folks standing up demanding zombies be handled with dignity, the sick exploitation of them… it’s neat.
I do assume the third recreation begins to meander off the right path. That’s the place the time restrict is softened to the purpose the place it could as properly not exist in any respect, and the place an elevated deal with automobiles and stuff feels a little bit of a mismatch.
I do assume the primary recreation is the template. In the event that they’re going to make one other – and they need to – it ought to be about attempting to outlive zombies in a comparatively enclosed atmosphere. For this reason a Mall works, and why Vegas motels, with Malls inside, had been a very intelligent pure development.
Connor: Yeah I believe finally, it’s the timer and enclosed gory playground you end up in are key. Give us a brand new Lifeless Rising, with that concentrate on timing and surviving in a closed off house, and I’d be completely happy sufficient. However, as a small be aware, depart Frank West alone. Give us somebody new!
Alex: I don’t truly thoughts if they bring about Frank again. The issue with 4 was simply that it made it into one thing he wasn’t. I believe it was most encapsulated in – in his earlier appearances, Frank is sorta this goofy-looking dude. There are vibes of Dan Aykroyd in a few of his best comedy roles, you recognize? Frank is that this straight everyman in a totally bonkers world. He’s not significantly good-looking, or intelligent – however he’s simply acquired his head screwed on proper. And he’s courageous… or is he courageous, or is he simply completely, recklessly obsessive about getting his story? Whichever it’s, it really works.
This was additionally understood in Lifeless Rising 2 – they rightly sidelined Frank, and once they did the non-canon story about him, he was washed up, as a result of turning into well-known had kind of ruined what made him… him. Lifeless Rising 4 Frank is pretty unrecognizable because the character to me – from how he acts right down to how he acts, the place by some means he’s simply change into pretty generically good-looking.
Capcom loves doing remakes in RE Engine, and actually, in the event that they’re not sure about this collection, I’d love to simply see the primary recreation remade in RE Engine. Related scope, related type.. Maybe that’s the reply, one thing extra constrained?
Connor: I 100% agree. The unique recreation has a spot in lots of people’s hearts, and with the RE Engine of their instrument belt I may see a full on remake doing properly. The unique, for all its perks and bits I really like, is feeling a contact previous now. Return to the roots with a shiny new engine and a few contact ups right here and there and convey Lifeless Rising again to the world, remind folks what made it so particular, and see what occurs!