During the PS1 and PS2 eras, games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill dominated the horror genre. While Resident Evil 4 was considered one of the best horror games of its time, the two subsequent sequels (RE5 and RE6) began the franchise’s decline. To fill the void in the horror genre, developer Visceral Games and publisher EA released Dead Space in 2008. While RE4 was the source of inspiration for the game, it made one significant change – allowing the protagonist to walk and shoot simultaneously. This may seem trivial today, but at the time it was unprecedented in the world of horror games. Fast forward 15 years and Motive Studios has made the Dead Space remake. I’m happy to say that, while the original is as old as a fine wine, the remake adds its own fresh flavor that will appeal to new players and fans of the franchise alike.
Story
The story of the Dead Space remake remains unchanged. You once again take on the role of Engineer Isaac Clarke on your way to the USG Ishimura. The ship’s crew have turned into necromorphs and it’s up to you to save the day. The game’s story will appeal to anyone who loves a good science-fiction horror story and has enjoyed TV shows like The Expanse. The story flow is much better this time around as concepts like the Church of Unitology and information about “markers” are introduced much earlier and save you a large dose of exposition towards the end of the game. You also have new objectives in the form of side quests, some of which give you more information about Nicole, the player’s love interest.
Isaac Clarke was a silent protagonist in the original Dead Space, but this time, he has a voice played by Gunner Wright, who played Isaac in Dead Space 2 and 3. So this time, all the “engineering decisions” are taken by Isaac instead to salvage the USG Ishimura as objectives giving the story a more natural flow.
Overall, the remake has polished up the rough edges of an already great story to make it a more holistic experience for newcomers and fans of the franchise alike.
gameplay
The gameplay of the original 2008 Dead Space is still fairly well maintained except for a few niggles that were fixed in the sequel. It’s a testament to just how good the original’s gameplay design was that it goes largely unchanged in the 2023 remake. The game is still a third-person action-adventure horror game, with an over-the-shoulder view to keep you closer to Isaac.
Unlike other shooters, a direct headshot for Necromorphs does not lead to victory. You need to shoot their limbs which means multiple shots to take out each enemy. This time the Necromorph’s design has layers. With each shot, you can see skin, bone, and flesh peeling away, adding an eerie layer to the horror elements. This is similar to the layers found on enemies in Doom Eternal, which shed layers with each striking blow.
Needless to say, like the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, the position of the enemies in the game has changed. So if you think you know USG Ishimura by heart, we say, think again. Plus with the addition of side quests, you’ll revisit previously explored areas. Thanks to the newly designed ‘Intensity Director’, you’ll encounter random scares when you revisit an area multiple times. At one point you’ll hear vents rattle, at another, your enemies will spawn, at a third, lights will flicker, and so on and so forth, making each revisit feel fresh. Revisiting certain areas provides new inspiration as some doors are locked behind a security clearance level that you access during the course of the story. I wish the developers had taken a leaf from Resident Evil 2 Remake and marked cleared rooms with a unique color when looking at the map to make locating a previously inaccessible area an easier experience. But it’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise masterpiece experience.
Another change is how you interact with the different sections of the game. In the original, you explain your objectives, go to the tram station and move on to the next part of the game. This time, the experience of moving from one part of the USG Ishimura to the other feels more natural as you can walk from one end of the ship to the other if you want and the tram opening is a simple fast travel solution, with an added Is. More smooth experience for the game.
Lastly, you will no longer find new weapons in the in-game store. But stumbled upon them throughout the game. This makes the experience of getting new weapons feel more seamless.
Speaking of weapons. While the arsenal remains the same, there are some refinements that go beyond just looks. Each weapon’s alternate fire has been slightly modified either to consume less ammo or to have a new effect entirely. Additionally, each weapon has a passive effect such as adding to its status the more it is fired at an enemy. The whole experience feels a lot smoother than the original.
graphics and sound
For its time, the Dead Space visuals were an unprecedented technological leap forward. Compared to the remake, however, the original looks quite outdated, especially when it comes to the details in Isaac’s suit, the details in the environments, and of course the amazing lighting. It’s a testament to just how much technology has advanced in the last 15 years.
Isaac’s suit looks super detailed with each element individually shimmering in the light and it gets drenched in blood after each encounter. You can feel the heft of the suit with each gameplay movement.
Enemy designs have also improved, ensuring you sleep with the lights on for days after completing the game. But the real star of the show is the soundtrack.
I highly recommend that you play this game with a pair of headphones as the 3D sound (on PS5) gives the game a more immersive feel and more than once I found myself looking back when I heard the vent shake. While there is a background score, the true audio mastery lies in the silent sections when you are exploring the ship and the loudest thing you can hear is Isaac’s heartbeat. The sound design is the true star of any horror game and it really excels here.
Decision
Dead Space Remake stays true to the original while polishing up the gameplay and story beats to provide players with an immersive experience. The quality bar of the game is as high as that set by Resident Evil 2 and 3 Remake. If you are a fan of horror games then Dead Space Remake should definitely be at the top of your list. You can beat the game in 10-15 hours, making it the perfect weekend experience.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Pros:
- great looking
- too scared to jump
- immersive gameplay
- incredible sound design
Shortcoming:
Backtracking can be tedious at times
more info
Developer: Motive Studio
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Reviewed on: PS5
