If you’ve spent any time in the original 2006 Willamette Mall or the recent Deluxe Remaster, you know the feeling. The transceiver chirps. It’s Otis. Again. You’re halfway across Leisure Park, dodging a jeep full of convicts, and suddenly you have a deadline. But there’s one specific mission name that sticks in the brain of every veteran player: image in the monitor dead rising.
It sounds cryptic. It sounds like a ghost story or a technical glitch. In reality, it’s the pivot point where the mystery of the Willamette outbreak stops being a background detail and starts becoming a frantic race against a countdown clock. This isn't just another scoop; it’s a Case File. If you miss it, the truth "vanishes into darkness," and your chances of getting the best ending are basically toast.
What Actually Is the Image in the Monitor?
Basically, "Image in the Monitor" is Case 2-1. It’s not a mission where you go out and find a physical photograph. Instead, the "image" refers to a specific security feed that Jessie McCarney spots back in the Security Room.
Around 6:00 AM on the second day (September 20th), Jessie is glued to the wall of CRT screens. She catches sight of something—or rather, someone—on the grainy monitors. It’s Carlito Keyes, the man responsible for the mall’s descent into hell, and he’s not alone. He’s dragging a very confused and very elderly Dr. Barnaby toward the Entrance Plaza.
Why does this matter? Because Barnaby is the only guy who knows why the zombies are there in the first place. If Carlito gets away with the professor, the story hits a dead end.
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The mission itself is a "Cutscene Only" event, but the stakes are huge. You have to physically be in the Security Room between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM to trigger it. If you’re busy trying to save a survivor or just messily mowing down zombies in the North Plaza and you let that clock hit 7:01 AM, the Case File fails. Honestly, it’s one of the easiest ways to accidentally ruin a "True Ending" run because the window is so tight.
The Frustration of the 6 AM Trigger
Dead Rising is a game about time management, but "image in the monitor" feels like a trap for new players. You might be in the middle of a long trek from the back of the mall. Maybe you’re carrying a survivor who moves at the speed of a tectonic plate.
One thing that confuses people is how to actually start it. You’ll get a call from Otis telling you to head back. If you’re already in the Security Room at 5:59 AM, the cutscene won't just start automatically. You often have to leave and re-enter or wait for the exact moment the clock flips.
Pro-tip for the Remaster players: The Deluxe Remaster (DRDR) is a bit more forgiving with its UI, but the timing logic remains the same. Don’t get distracted by the "Cut From the Same Cloth" mission with Kent Swanson, which is usually happening around the same time. Kent is a creep, but he can wait; Dr. Barnaby cannot.
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Why People Search for This "Image" Specifically
There’s a lot of old forum DNA—think GameFAQs threads from 2007—where players were convinced there was a secret image or a "ghost" in the monitors. Because the original game had a lot of low-resolution textures, some players thought they could see hidden details on the screens in the background of the Security Room.
They weren't entirely wrong to look closely. The monitors in Dead Rising are actually dynamic. They show different parts of the mall in real-time. If you look at the monitors while a survivor is standing in Paradise Plaza, you can sometimes see a tiny, pixelated version of them.
But the "Image in the Monitor" case isn't a scavenger hunt. It’s a narrative trigger. It’s the moment Brad Garrison realizes he has to go to the Entrance Plaza to intercept Carlito. This leads directly into Case 2-2, "Rescue the Professor," which is where things get really sweaty.
Common Misconceptions and Fail States
You wouldn't believe how many people think they can skip the cutscene and just go to the Entrance Plaza. You can't. The gate between Paradise Plaza and the Entrance Plaza is literally locked until you watch Jessie point at those screens.
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Here is a breakdown of what usually goes wrong:
- The Otis Call: If you’re in a fight or jumping over a ledge when Otis calls, he’ll hang up. If you don't hear the full dialogue, it can feel like the mission hasn't popped.
- The 7:00 AM Deadline: This is a hard stop. Unlike some survivor scoops that have a bit of "buffer" time, Case Files are strict.
- The "Truth Vanished" Screen: If you see this, you’ve missed the window. You can keep playing, but you’re locked out of the "A" ending. You’re basically just a guy in a mall now, not a journalist uncovering a conspiracy.
How to Prepare for Case 2-1
Since you know this mission is coming at 6 AM on Day 2, you should plan your Day 1 night around it. Don't be in the middle of a boss fight with Adam the Clown at 5:45 AM.
Try to wrap up your business in the mall by 5:00 AM. Head toward the air duct in Paradise Plaza. If you have survivors with you, get them into the Safe House before the clock strikes six. This gives you a clean window to trigger the cutscene, watch Brad run off like a hero, and then follow him to the Entrance Plaza.
When you finally get to the Entrance Plaza after the cutscene, bring a gun. Seriously. You’re going to be dealing with Carlito again, and he’s much more annoying this time around.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
To make sure you never fail the image in the monitor dead rising case again, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the clock, not the zombies: At 5:30 AM on Day 2, start moving toward the Security Room. Don't take "one last photo" of a weird zombie.
- Empty your hands: If you're carrying a survivor, prioritize getting them to the duct. You can't trigger main story cutscenes easily if you're stuck in a "leading" animation.
- Check your Case Files menu: If Case 2-1 is red or blinking, you are running out of time. If it’s gone, you need to reload your last save.
The mystery of Willamette is pretty dark, but the mechanics don't have to be. Just get to the room, look at the screen, and keep the story moving.