How to Make Survivors Stay in Dead Rising: A Comprehensive Guide
The world of Dead Rising is a chaotic one, teeming with zombies and punctuated by desperate cries for help. As Frank West, your mission often involves not just surviving, but ensuring the safety of others. One of the most crucial aspects of this is managing the survivors you encounter. So, how do you make survivors stay with you in Dead Rising? The primary method is through the Triangle button (on PlayStation) or the corresponding button on other platforms. Pressing this button once commands the survivors to follow you closely. There’s no need for repeated mashing; one press is all it takes to get their attention and have them stick by your side. This simple mechanic forms the backbone of your survivor management strategy. However, it’s not just about following; it’s about actively managing their movement and safety.
Understanding the Survivor System in Dead Rising
Before we dive into specific tactics, it’s important to understand the limitations and mechanics of the survivor system:
- Limited Capacity: Dead Rising has an “Eight Survivor Rule”. This means that you can only have a maximum of eight active survivors following you at any given time. Once you’ve reached this limit, you won’t be able to recruit any more until you either complete their related side quest or they, unfortunately, meet their end.
- Basic AI: Survivors in Dead Rising aren’t the brightest, they will sometimes lag behind and require you to double back and get them. They mostly rely on Frank for guidance and protection, they will often just shuffle to the stairs with very little purpose. You’ll need to carefully navigate the mall, clearing a path and ensuring their relative safety.
- Survivor Health: Survivors have health and can be attacked by zombies, they can also be grabbed and infected, and you must keep a close watch to ensure they don’t get overwhelmed. You’ll need to be vigilant and actively protect them.
- Escape Routes: Not all areas are safe, and sometimes the most direct path to safety isn’t the best choice for survivors. Take into account what the survivor can do, you might need to change your strategy if one of them is very weak and slow.
How to Keep Survivors Safe and Following
Managing survivors effectively isn’t just about getting them to follow; it’s about ensuring they get to safety in one piece. Here are some key strategies:
- Clear the Path: Always clear a route ahead before you move. Taking out zombies around you can give the survivors breathing space and makes it far less likely that you or them will be grabbed. Taking out any special enemies will also reduce risks.
- Use Weapons Wisely: Utilize your full array of weapons; a well-placed melee or projectile can clear out a group of zombies quickly. Remember, any damage taken by you also means damage taken to the survivors, so being efficient can reduce the risk.
- Patience is key: Avoid rushing and always check behind you to see if they are struggling to keep up. It’s better to go slow and steady than to leave them behind, as this is often when they are attacked and killed. If you see a survivor has been grabbed by a zombie, be quick to help.
- Pick Your Battles: Don’t always engage every zombie, use the landscape to your advantage and find paths that minimise the dangers to the group. If you can avoid a large group of zombies, you should. Try not to engage in places that may be detrimental to the survivors such as at the bottom of the stairs.
- Prioritize Survivor Safety: Always put the safety of your survivors first, they should be the priority above loot or levelling.
The Unfortunate Case of the Starting Survivors
It’s important to note a specific early game challenge. At the beginning of the game, it is impossible to save all the starting survivors, like the arguing couple and the girl. If you get to the stairs with the girl, you will see that she can not get up them, similarly, the couple will be killed the moment you walk up the stairs. This is a designed part of the game to highlight the difficulty of survivor management. Don’t take it personally, it’s an obstacle that many players encounter. There is no way around it.
How to Stop Survivors Following You
While having survivors follow you is often your objective, there are times when you might need them to stop. While Dead Rising doesn’t have an easy way to make survivors stop following directly in the first game, there are some things you can do. The only real method to ‘stop’ survivors from following you is to deliver them to their assigned location, this can be an area in a mission or the safety of the security room. They will stay there until the next time you have to go into the Mall.
Dead Rising FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about managing survivors in Dead Rising, and how to make them stay:
1. How do I make survivors follow me in Dead Rising?
Press the Triangle button (or equivalent on other platforms) once to have them follow you closely. They will not stop following until you either deliver them to safety or if they get attacked.
2. How many survivors can I have following me at once?
You can have a maximum of eight survivors following you at one time due to the game’s Eight Survivor Rule.
3. Can I save all the survivors at the beginning of the game?
No, it is impossible to save the first few survivors (such as the girl and arguing couple) due to how the game mechanics are programmed.
4. How do I protect survivors from zombies?
Clear a path, use weapons strategically, take your time, and prioritize their safety over all else.
5. How do I deal with survivors who fall behind?
If a survivor lags behind, quickly backtrack to them, clear out zombies around them, and use the follow command to get them back on track.
6. What happens if a survivor dies?
If a survivor dies, they are permanently lost. You won’t be able to revive them or bring them back. Be mindful of every survivor and keep them safe.
7. Can survivors heal themselves?
No, survivors cannot heal themselves, they rely on you for protection.
8. Are there any upgrades to help with survivors?
While there aren’t upgrades specific to survivor control, any upgrades that help you kill zombies, improve speed or improve health will ultimately help you keep survivors alive.
9. How do I make sure the survivors stay in a safe location?
By completing the survivor’s main mission you are tasked with. Once complete the survivor will stay at the location you drop them off at.
10. Is there a way to get survivors to stop following you?
The game doesn’t allow you to simply dismiss survivors. Delivering them to their assigned location is the only true way.
11. Are some survivors faster or slower than others?
Yes, some survivors will move much faster than others. This will affect your strategy and what paths you choose to take.
12. Can survivors use weapons?
No, the survivors themselves do not use weapons, but they will use objects to block themselves in certain circumstances, and they might use their fists.
13. Can survivors get infected?
Yes, survivors can be infected if they are grabbed by zombies. Always try to avoid this happening.
14. Is there a penalty for losing survivors?
Losing survivors won’t necessarily cause you to fail, but you may miss out on valuable experience or other rewards, as most missions have a payout.
15. How is Survivor management different in Dead Rising 2?
In Dead Rising 2, survivors are also important, but there are some differences in how they are managed. There is a bulletin board that allows you to choose which survivors follow you at any given time, making management of multiple survivors more effective.
Conclusion
Survivor management in Dead Rising is a crucial element of the gameplay. While it can be challenging, especially with the limitations placed on you by the game, understanding the basic mechanics and following the strategies outlined will significantly improve your chances of success. Keep the follow button handy, prioritize their safety, and never leave a survivor behind. Good luck, and may your mall be a haven for humanity!