Overview

In recent years we've seen a major rise in remasters, and in about the past two years, we've seen a surge in remakes. For those unaware of the difference, a remaster is usually a game that is given upscaled resolutions, better framerates and some quality-of-life overhauls. Whereas a remake is a top-to-bottom reimaging of the game. The easiest examples to point to are Final Fantasy 7 and Resident Evil 2. Character, location and story elements remain intact, but its gameplay mechanics and systems are entirely reworked, providing a complete reimagining of what the game is.

To me, the Dead Space Remake feels like a different non-conventional remake compared to many others I've just mentioned. The refinements made in the Dead Space remake aren't made through reshaping the foundations of its 2008 predecessor but instead by building on the source material. Building on the astonishing atmosphere, environments, combat, and enemy unpredictability. It strikes a great balance between what it changes and what aspects it keeps in place.

Dead Space's remake was taken on by studio Motive, who are best known for their work on Star Wars Squadrons and supporting DICE with Battlefront 2. The tldr is that that didn't disappoint, not in the slightest. Overall, they have taken a game that was already a juggernaut of the horror genre and made it a must-play, a definitive experience for newcomers and veterans first stepping on the Ishimura.

Story

Tweaked and Tuned, but Faithful

The story for Dead Space Remake follows Isaac Clarke on a rescue mission to find his girlfriend Nicole. He is accompanied by Kendra Daniels and Zach Hammond, who're on a mission to inspect the Ishimura and the recent happenings. The story doesn't diverge from its 2008 counterpart, but it does lend itself to adding some lore through logs that would be explored in later games. Dead Space's narrative was something that I always found enthralling, and replaying the remake was such a treat to re-experience. Despite knowing many of the big twists and turns, the game managed to provide a fresh take on the story that was worth experiencing again, and to those who haven't played this in years, it'll be a fresh and slick trip down memory lane. I will refrain from talking too much about the narrative as I feel this is one that you should play and experience for yourself. But in short, if you're playing this for its story, you'll likely be satisfied with this game's narrative.

Gameplay

Combat

The combat in Dead Space has always been something I've admired, even back when I played the original. The limb dismantling combat always felt like a great subversion to aiming for headshots that we've gotten used to in most other titles. It provides you with a way to think out of the box and consider which weapons you equip to deal with enemies, but it also works cleverly with the different kinds of enemies and figuring out their weak spots.

One side note I've always found really cool in Dead Space is the practicality of the weapons that are also tools. It makes a lot of sense, given Isaac is an engineer, and these weapons are the tools of his trade. It's a found clever as a little cohesive element that I've always thought was

Back to the important stuff, the gameplay here is still intact, feeling fresh and familiar to those who have played the original. I found some weapons more useful in this game due to changes and overhauls of many weapons you acquire throughout your playthrough. Whereas in the original, each weapon would have 1 particular function. In the remake, your weapon has many different unlockable abilities, which are unlocked through the workbench. Workbenches are your stop-off point for those new to Dead Space, and it is at a workbench where you'll upgrade your weapons with nodes found throughout the Ishimura. There are about three abilities that are unlockable for each weapon.

For those returning players, you'll be happy to know that in Dead Space Remake, every node on a weapon or equipment rewards you with something. There are no empty nodes like in the original, and to me, that is a welcomed improvement.

The brilliant environmental design, coupled with the versatile set of weapons, makes each area of Dead Space a puzzle to crack, and once you get your hands on Statis and Kentic abilities, you can see the entire loop of Dead Space start to flourish. The ability to hurl explosives, pin enemies to the floor with pipes, or freeze enemies in place to distance yourself makes each bout with the Necromorphs as empowering as it is frightening.

Atmosphere and Environments

The next significant change is to the environments, where the original captured the hopeless tense feeling of the Ishimura from the disfigured bodies, the flickering lights, and the rattling sound of the vents. The writing was on the walls quite literally that this place was in ruin. One welcomed addition that can be found in the remake is the approach to lighting that Motive has incorporated. Some areas will oscillate between being well-lit to borderline pitch black. The continuous flickering only heightens the frantic panic of determining where each Necromorph is coming from. Both your eyes and ears are working overtime as you frantically panic through these claustrophobic halls, waiting for an enemy to jump you and praying you make it to the next door.

But not only that, there are specific environments in this game where you'll be at a generator showing you where power is running and making you, the player, trade-off lighting for, say, access to an elevator or a door somewhere. These kinds of additions to the Dead Space remake add an additional layer of fear and immersion to the experience. The Ishimura is already a labyrinth to traverse with vision. Imagine the pitch black halls with only your torch light and narrowed vision, and roars and rattles echoing around you.

Environmental Storytelling

If there is one thing that really hits home the incredible amount of detail and immersion of Dead Spaces environments and level design, it would be how it shines through in many of the different locations found aboard the Ishimura. Many of these areas will have insane ramblings on the walls, a vacant and unsettling emptiness. The areas and environmental storytelling of Dead Space in many ways is what makes this horror experience so memorable in the minds of people. As you tread through the halls of a ship that has been tormented. There is a lot of great work that has been done with text and audio logs to paint a story of what transpired, but nothing can quite convey this as clearly as simply looking in and taking in what's around you. It's as the saying goes a picture can paint a 1000 words and hear with Dead Space they've painted enough words to fill up a book. The imagery and storytelling of the Ishimura and it's occupants is brilliantly conveyed and the remake has only further flourished and built on this.

Zero-G Sections

One of the most monumental changes I would say has been completely reworked is the Zero Gravity sections of the remake. Where in the original Dead Space, Zero-G segments would be more on rails having the player super glued to the floor, allowing them to jump only between certain platforms. The remake completely reshapes these moments allowing the player to jet around, shoot, and spin. The objectives and foundations of the level are still intact from the original, but it has been altered and modernised to make what would be otherwise one of the more dated parts of the authentic feel polished and fresh.

Intensity Director

Throughout your experience with Dead Space, you'll notice how unscripted and unpredictable a Necromorph appearance will be. It will feel like a room is safe one moment, and in an instant can be swarming with enemies. This feeling and uncertainty are due to what Motive calls the Intensity Director. These encounters work by gauging and tracking the player as they move through each room. It'll analyse how long it has or hasn't been since an enemy encounter making generated decisions that manifest in different ways to provide the player with a scare. Even with the knowledge of this mechanic, its unpredictability will always keep you on the edge of your seat. It's one of the elements that keeps re-exploring old areas feeling uneasy. Especially given the finite weapon resources you may have at the time.

Open World and Side Quests

One new addition in the Dead Space Remake is the ability to traverse back and forth between levels. Where in the original, the game would have you looping around to different areas around the Ishimura through loading screens. The remake is a seamless driver between each of the major stopping points, and with that being said. With broader horizons to explore comes more rooms locked behind access passes, which you'll acquire through the story and side content. Oh, yeah, there are side quests now. The Dead Space remake provides a handful of side-quests that share insight with the player into the events that have taken place and piecing everything together.

Enemy Variety

The enemies in Dead Space I had forgotten how many different types of enemies there were. The different abilities and attacks these enemies presented always kept the game surprising. Almost all of the enemies in this game are fun and always manage to catch you off guard if you're unprepared. It was great to see a visual indicator when attacking these enemies. For example, using the Force Gun to propel enemies back, blowing off their flesh. It is another little detail that adds much character to this experience. But the way you mince up the Necromorphs really does finesse the visual spectacle and gore-ish grit, providing glow-up players of the original didn't know they needed but would welcome. The range of enemies in this game is still impressive, and how well most of them work within the game is also quite a feat, from the projectile-shooting Lurkers to the towering Brutes and iconic slashers. A few enemies can still provide a minor annoyance, such as the Guardian Necromorphs, who shoot out their little sac monstrosities and are glued to the wall. But they're still manageable and not a hindrance to the experience.

Visual and Sound Presentation

Stunning Visual Presentation

The visual presentation in the Dead Space remake is one of the highlights that sell the experience. As mentioned before, the lighting and lack of in the Dead Space Remake really elevate the stress and intensity level the original mastered all those years ago. Many areas in this game really do create a level of stress and anxiety. Especially treading down these narrow corridors, with the fear that enemies can drop in at any moment, given the randomised system that the game has in place. The different sections of the Ishimura feel distinct and visually succinct. From the medical ward to hydroponics, I see the visual layout and Necromorphs that walk those halls.

The vivid image of the dimly lit halls is only matched by how stellar the audio design in this game is. As I previously mentioned, the rattling, the screams and roars. The sounds of flickering, the music building in, growing ever tenser as if to indicate that there's an enemy, but sometimes fizzling off to trick you into ease. The sounds of your weapons smacking and shooting enemies and the feeling of the haptic feedback of the Dualsense controller give a particular sort of weight to your shots and attacks. Speaking of weighty attacks, stomping an enemy for sheer life is scary, but man, what seals the deal on this intensity is the frantic grunts that Isaac makes with each sequential stomp. It provides that panic and urgency you, the player, feel as you wishfully pray that you don't see those deformed claws spring up and attack you.

Conclusion

So to bring this all together, I believe Dead Space Remake is a phenomenal game that builds upon and adds many features to an already incredible experience. It takes the Dead Space we know and love and provides a fresh experience for veterans and a definitive experience for newcomers. It improves areas that would feel old and dated in 2023 but maintains many pillars that make Dead Space the thrilling nightmare it is.

Motive has done a fantastic job here, and I would love to see them take on the following two entries in the series. The Dead Space series has been sorely missed, and many who felt disappointed by Callisto Protocol expecting a game like Dead Space will surprisingly find that fresh experience in this Dead Space remake. This game is brimming with many new ideas wrapped in a classic we know and love. I really hope that EA greenlights the complete revival of Dead Space and that we see more of the nightmarish ventures of Isaac Clark.

Thanks for Watching.