I’ve admittedly complained a lot about the whole nature of remakes and how they’re becoming mainstream, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that what EA Motive is cooking up for the Dead Space remake has intrigued me for a while. After a launch event last year, I’ve been looking forward to the full release to see how the game develops. And since the time has come, I can begin this analysis by proudly saying so this is a good remake. As for the technical part, the polish, the fidelity and the new additions, Dead Space is practically perfect. But before I explain every detail, let me pull out some dirty laundry.
I really don’t think the “survival horror” genre does Dead Space any more justice. Unlike Resident Evil, where you have to run from enemies and deal with those who are stalking you even if you literally can’t stop them, Dead Space works differently. It still has that horror essence, but this is truly an action game that will bring you to the brink of despair. What I mean by that is this You will never see Isaac in real danger, he always shows himself master of his own destiny and without risking his life while fleeing from the monsters that pursue him. No, Isaac Clarke is more of an action hero who would rather solve his problems with plasma projectiles than sneak and dodge.
That brings us to the “desperation” part, which I think has to work up a sweat for a game titled “survival” with more threats than the enemies in front of you. If not, any action or shooter game would fall into this category. It’s true that Dead Space has some levels that can take your breath away, but in the rest we sometimes find rather niche game mechanics. No, the greatest enemy Isaac will face that I think the word “despair” best describes in this title today is that ammunition economy
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So I think we should stop categorizing titles like Dead Space (and even the recent The Callisto Protocol) as survival horror games because they really are neither. Don’t get me wrong, the improvements and new additions that EA Motive h as introduced in this remake raise the level of horror and atmosphere quite a bit, but you’ll never really feel scared while playing.
When I say improvements, I’m mainly referring to the currently unmatched audiovisual experience. Graphically, the game leaves you speechless, and the way the developers use volumetric mist and vapor over the scattered points of light makes the Ishimura exude an atmosphere of hostility you’ve never felt before. To this we add the Audio improvements which give us the opportunity to use 3D sound in the game, something you absolutely must experience with headphones, and when you feel the necromorphs coming out of the ventilation shafts in all directions, you will know that your best friend and only Salvation will be your ears. All this makes Dead Space Remake something more than just a remake, a new version of the famous sci-fi series that you should definitely try, setting the brightness to minimum since you will have to rely on low lighting and Isaac’s Lantern Dead earned Empty the horror genre title.
Settings and technical improvements aren’t the only things EA Motive has been grappling with. In this re make, Dead Space is a non-stop adventure. Loading screens aren’t as obvious (disguised as train rides, waiting times for doors to open, moving between tight spots, etc.). This means you can roam the entire USG Ishimura without having to be in your own game level. Also, the ability to move without gravity and magnify the environment like Isaac does in the sequels to the original Dead Space gives this remake a more contemporary and fresh feel, although the narrative and story are the same that made us fall in love with 2008 to have.
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But I’m also not going to tell you that Dead Space is perfect, because it’s not. In a conversation, Isaac seems to switch off and never really focus on the person he’s talking to, which is very disturbing. It’s also hard to appreciate the improvements the developers have added to the enemy Necromorphs (skeletons, flesh to cremate, and more detailed anatomy) since you’ll be using the same method to kill them, such as: B. blowing off their limbs. It’s a bit bloodier, so to speak, but little else. It doesn’t make you change the way you fight. You’re more likely to use your plasma cutter to dismember them than to use any other type of weapon to strategically take out enemies, e.g. B. the flamethrower or pulse rifle to blast or burn the flesh so you can cut the bone with it easier to cut. But in practice it never happens.
For the rest, the way of saving the game still seems to me to be a mechanic that has been left behind, since auto-saves are not very common. You never know when to trust the automatic system or when to do it yourself, until it’s too late and you’re on the last save point loading screen. One last detail that annoys me is the flight systems (or rather the zero gravity) that can drive you crazy if you get lost and don’t know where to go. Of course, this would be a true interpretation of what it would be like to move about in zero gravity, but having never been in space makes me quite dizzy.
But none of that changes my opinion that Dead Space Remake is one of the best remakes we’ve ever had the privilege of playing. The technical, sonic, and graphical improvements create total immersion in the game, and the quality and sheen are appreciated when looking at other supposedly finished games we’ve seen lately. Whether you’re new to the Dead Space universe or looking to jump back in, this exciting, hair-raising, immersive, and most importantly, entertaining video game is worth checking out.
