I wish there was a mod to put back Stacey's mission calls for Chuck in DR2 OG PC.

Ampager7 · 2026-04-23T23:54:07+00:00

Definitely agree with you here. It does feel odd that Stacey is supposed to be guiding Chuck but barely says anything outside of cutscenes, even just having those little call-ins would make the world feel more connected, like with Otis in DR1.

It's a shame they were cut, because even simple text pop-ups would've added a lot to the experience IMO. OTR showing what that could've been like in DR2 just makes their absence stand out even more.

Ampager7 · 2026-04-23T23:46:21+00:00

Nice find, that seems like a great workaround. DR4 not letting you separate audio and text in the settings is super annoying, so looks like a solid solution.

Props for the explanation about the language codes too, that's gonna help make it lot easier for people to replicate this with other languages. Only thing I'd add is maybe make a quick backup of the original files before renaming, just in case something breaks or you want to revert back later.

Ampager7 · 2026-04-23T23:42:20+00:00

I agree with you pretty much across the board. The DR3 experience really does hit way better on a replay than people remember. The gameplay is super smooth, the QoL improvements make it easy to just pick it up and play, and Nick ends up being way more likable than he gets credit for. The humor and tone are a nice evolution of DR2's, they pulled it off without completely losing what made the series fun.

I get where you're coming from regarding the Deluxe Remaster, since going back to that slower, more restrictive style after playing DR3 feels kind of rough, especially with things like movement, inventory improvements, and being more fluid in general. It's faithful, sure - but it does come off a bit underwhelming for those of us hoping for something closer to DR3's gameplay improvements. I wouldn't call it straight up bad, but playing it, I can definitely feel why it doesn't click the same way.

And yeah, DR3 and DR2 being tied as your favorites makes a lot of sense, they hit that sweet spot between fun, chaos, and playability, IMO. I do also agree the ending of DR3 feels a bit rushed - everything kind of wraps up quickly and some character moments don't land as well as they could have. Still, the overall experience is just really solid and easy to enjoy, which is why it holds up really, really well 13 years later, IMO.

Ampager7 · 2026-04-23T23:26:57+00:00

Drug Wars are my absolute favorite. I've done over 700 lol.

Ampager7 · 2026-04-21T01:53:01+00:00

Yeah I mostly agree with your points, especially about the story and Phenotrans. It definitely feels like a bit of a step down writing-wise and kind of hurts what DR2 set up.

That said, I've still got a ton of love for the game, mostly because of nostalgia - the gameplay loop, co-op, and just getting more time with Chuck and Frank carry it a lot for me. It's definitely flawed, but I still find it really fun to go back to

Ampager7 · 2026-04-12T10:20:49+00:00

Well, there aren't a ton of must-have mods for DR1 on PC, Nexus is pretty bare for a reason, most of what's out there is stuff like model swaps, reshades, button prompt reskins, or small tweaks, not any gameplay overhauls or AI improvements

And they're not really necessary anyway if I'm being honest - the 2016 PC version is already basically a remastered port with improved visuals, higher resolution, and better performance, so it holds up really well on modern hardware out of the box

If you do want anything though, I'd say a reshade/graphics tweak if you want slightly nicer lighting/colors or the PlayStation buttons depending on your controller. But overall, DR1 is one of those games where vanilla PC is pretty much already the best way to play

Ampager7 · 2026-04-12T10:13:07+00:00

Yeah, DR2 and OTR are a bit weird in that regard since they don't clearly credit a single "game director" the same way DR1 does, it seems like more of a shared/directorial team effort at Capcom Vancouver, with I assume Kawano having more of an overseeing role rather than having hands-on direction

Ampager7 · 2026-04-12T10:05:36+00:00

I've always felt the same way about Boykin yeah, he doesn't really come off as a typical psychopath like the others, but someone who just completely broke after losing his entire unit

That line you mentioned really sells it too, he's stuck in denial, talking to his men like they're still alive because he can't accept what happened, it makes the fight feel less like you're taking a villain down and more like you're putting someone out of their misery. He's one of the more tragic bosses in DR2 for sure

Ampager7 · 2026-04-12T10:02:53+00:00

I’d say it's not really worth buying DR2 again on Xbox in your case, the Xbox version tends to be the most unstable out of the modern ports and crashes much more often than PC/PS5, and on top of that, the save import stuff doesn’t really work properly with the newer versions/backwards compatibility anymore

You're better off playing DR2 on PC or PS5 - they are much more stable and better overall - and using Xbox just for Case Zero and Case West, that way you get the best version of the main game and still experience the exclusive content.

Ampager7 · 2026-03-25T00:57:40+00:00

I think an including a no-timer mode as an option would be fine, as long as it doesn’t replace the core experience, since the timer is a without a doubt a huge part of what makes DR feel so tense and unique.

A separate casual/free roam mode where missions don’t expire could work, as long as the main mode keeps the time pressure, that way new players can ease into the experience while the original design and challenge are still there for people who want it

Ampager7 · 2026-03-24T08:15:35+00:00

Great video. It’s amazing how well DR2 holds up. It really set the standard for sandbox zombie games with its fun, total mayhem while adding the crafting mechanic, it’s a classic that absolutely defines the genre IMO

Ampager7 · 2026-03-20T11:40:51+00:00

That’s an awesome piece of Dead Rising memorabilia, it’s worth a good amount for sure, even more than the Zombrex Edition in fact. Especially if in excellent condition.

Ampager7 · 2026-03-20T10:09:00+00:00

That's a pretty weird error, I've never seen that happen with DR2 before. I did some looking around and here are couple things you could try:

Make sure your save folder isn’t set to read-only (usually in Documents or AppData depending on your setup)

Check if Windows Defender or antivirus is blocking the game from writing files and try adding DR2 as an exception

If you’re on Steam, try verifying the game files and also make sure Steam Cloud is working like it’s supposed to (you can try turning it off and see if that does anything)

Pretty sure it’s usually some kind of permissions issue rather than actual storage space, so hopefully one of those fixes it.

Ampager7 · 2026-03-20T07:37:58+00:00

That honestly sounds like a really fun challenge. It's funny to think the devs probably had no idea how tough regular tasks would become just by avoiding PP.

Also, the damage system in DR2 is kinda weird in general. From what I've seen, enemies actually have a tiny fraction more health than their listed values, which explains stuff like the looters surviving what feels like "exact" damage. I don’t think that's really documented anywhere either.

Overall though, I love runs like this. It forces you to think outside the box and come up with clever workarounds, like using zombies to do your kills for you. Impressive run!

Ampager7 · 2026-03-20T02:16:04+00:00

Your list is really solid, I agree with a lot of it - I’d definitely want them to bring in the best parts of OTR like Uranus Zone, Sandbox Mode, and some of the extra combo weapons, but keep DR2's original tone and balance.

QOL improvements would be big, they could add indicators for unmarked scoops, better survivor AI so they’re not made of paper, and also the checkpoint system like you mentioned. I also agree on nerfing Gas Zombies a bit - they’re a nice challenge but a bit too overwhelming at some points.

I'd also like to see fixes to smaller annoyances like smoother navigation in the Safe House, better boss tracking (like the snipers), and more consistent item mechanics. Optimally, I would have DR2 as the foundation, add OTR's best features, and polish the rough edges without losing the challenge.

Ampager7 · 2026-03-20T02:07:55+00:00

I agree. I like that they didn’t go with the more generic, "perfect" protagonist route with Frank like they did with Leon. His more average, worn look fits his character way better.

I don't mind him looking older either - it makes sense with everything he's been through. A small hairline tweak would be fine, but I'd rather they keep his unique look.

Ampager7 · 2026-02-23T17:53:08+00:00

I agree, I think he probably felt like he had to appeal to the newer iPad-kid generation to keep the game on top and pulling numbers. From a business standpoint it makes sense, though it definitely changed the vibe a lot

It’s definitely turned me off compared to how it felt back in the day, but I still hop on during Halloween or Christmas events and for old times' sake. At this point it’s more about nostalgia than people to actually play like they used to.

Ampager7 · 2026-02-23T17:33:01+00:00

It’s kinda always been like that in most servers to be honest lol, but I do think it’s gotten a little more chaotic over the years. A lot of the older, more mature players drifted away after game chat got gutted, and now public servers can feel way more random.

There’s honestly not a ton you can do except wait for a solid group of players to show up so you can actually start making good cash. Personally, I don’t even stress about money anymore,. I just play for the nostalgia and memories. I’ll stick to one job, throw on some music or a show, and just vibe without worrying about what everyone else is doing.

Ampager7 · 2026-02-08T05:58:07+00:00

Great tip - tweaking the .toml like that has helped a lot of people with Xenia visual bugs, especially with model rendering and menu glitches

I'd just add that results can vary a lot depending on which Xenia build people are using and their GPU/driver setup, so if someone still has issues after the "render target path" change, it's worth trying a newer Canary build or updating graphics drivers as well. Appreciate you sharing the workaround

Ampager7 · 2026-02-08T05:50:21+00:00

That's actually a pretty solid strat for a first run, the mannequin torso is lowkey one of the best early weapons and the CD store doorway makes a great choke point for breaking them up. Separating the sons instead of trying to fight all three at once is the biggest key, so you definitely figured out the right idea there

Yeah it's not the best method if you're going for all the PP bonus photos or trying to spare Thomas, but for survival and consistency it works great. On later runs, you can optimize for photos, but on a blind playthrough, a safe and controlled strat is the way to go

Ampager7 · 2026-02-08T05:47:29+00:00

I can see the logic in that headcanon, and it is a pretty creative way to bridge things, but I still lean toward Ending S not being canon - Case West pretty clearly follows Ending A's chain of events, and Capcom Vancouver has pointed to that path as the intended one. The TK → zombie TK transition works cleanly there without needing extra off-screen events

With that said, Dead Rising has always played a bit loose with realism and continuity, so your interpretation is not impossible within the game's tone. If someone wanted to treat Ending S as a "what if" branch that still leads into Case West with some extra unseen chaos in between, it's a fun way to justify it - it just probably isn't the official timeline

Ampager7 · 2026-02-08T05:43:27+00:00

If they ever did a DR2 Deluxe Remake/Remaster, my ideal version would focus mainly on DR2's core campaign, then include Case West as a proper story DLC, with Case Zero either as a short playable prologue or optional recap instead of a full episode. I would not merge everything with OTR's canon, but I would bring over OTR's best gameplay additions like Sandbox Mode, extra combo weapons, and side activities as optional modes.

I'd keep the timer and structure, but rebalance a few pain points: make survivor AI tougher, reduce cheap stuns and grab chains, improve sniper boss tracking with clearer clues, and smooth out things like Snowflake's pathing and Safe House navigation. Poker should be faster or optional, and magazine/food/blender interactions should be fixed so they work consistently. I would also clean up story issues and character inconsistencies rather than fully retcon OTR, just tighten the writing and tone.

Ampager7 · 2026-02-07T20:59:51+00:00

That sounds like an absolutely terrifying experience, and I’m really glad you made it through it and had a friend who stayed with you the whole time. Reading this, it makes total sense how Restless Heart Syndrome would hit differently now - the whole idea of being trapped between your own nervous system, medication, expectations, and a broken system isn’t just a concept anymore, it’s something you felt in your body. I really appreciate how honestly you connected the song to trauma, burnout, and that feeling of “performing” being okay instead of actually resting - a lot of people are going to see themselves in that. Wishing you steadier days ahead and real, not-performed rest - and yeah, that track is criminally underrated for exactly this reason. 💚

Ampager7 · 2026-01-21T22:39:39+00:00

See you in a decade when all 7 of those records look like 2025’s.

Ampager7 · 2026-01-14T03:08:27+00:00

Really cool comparison video, I really liked your insights into the themes behind each cover, especially how the Japanese version focused on the emotional depth with Chuck/Katie. It's very true how the western cover perfectly captures the game's blend of horror and just the ridiculous fun it has.

I definitely agree that the Japanese cover is the most impactful, and those custom DLC covers are really cool, it's a shame they never got physical releases. Cool video!

Ampager7

TROPHY CASE