Dead Space Remake: The Resurrection of Terror || Rolm

Since the start of 2020, we have increasingly witnessed the remaking of super-hit video game titles. Most notably, we saw the remastered versions of The Last of Us, Resident Evil 3, Diablo II, Alan Wake, Demon’s Souls, and so on…

And now, after 10 long years of speculation, we finally see the renaissance of the much revered Dead Space franchise with a remake of the first game in the trilogy.

As such, this remastering of a game is unlike any other we have seen before. The over-the-top alienated environment, show-stealing lighting, enhanced character visuals, and revamped audio mechanics, all combine to redefine the horror genre from the ground up!

About Dead Space Remake

Dead Space is a 2023 single-player third-person survival horror video game developed by Motive Studio. It is a remastered version of the 2008 game with the same name where players assume the role of a space engineer, Isaac Clarke.

Dead Space Remake was initially revealed in July 2021 and planned for a late 2022 release. However, due to certain delays, the launch date was extended. The game was finally released on January 27^th, 2023.

Although the remastered version features the same plot as before, the game is not about “reinventing the wheel”. There have been a couple of neat upgrades and solid improvements that polish the original game with a beautiful gory finish.

Improvements and New Features

Given that the original title was a cult classic, I couldn’t help but wonder what is the point of remaking something that remains so brilliant even today. When I played the game, however, I decided to take my words back.

Deadly Graphics and Haunting Audio

The Dead Space remake comes packed with even more fiendish scenarios that are nothing short of a gory feast for the eyes. Players will unearth terror like never before and the game will get under your skin in no time!

At many places, its audio reaches dangerously haunting peaks and players will find themselves begging for a little relief. You will forget the horror known to date as you walk down the dark blood-stained corridors of the USG Ishimura.

Moreover, the devious audio tricks and spine-chilling screams of Necromorphs, when compounded with the top-notch game lighting, give Dead Space horror an all-new menacing look.

An All-New Game+ Mode

Moreover, the Dead Space remake features an all-new Game+ mode that provides a new secret ending to the game.

In order to access Game+ mode, players require a second playthrough. It is initially locked and can only be unlocked when players complete the game at any difficulty.

However, players will not be starting from scratch all over. You will carry over all of the supplies, weapons, upgrades, credits, and items from the previous playthrough. Though certain weapons will be locked again as they are part of the main quest.

When players start the second playthrough with Game+ mode, they will receive a handsome amount of 50000 credits, 10x power nodes, and an advanced level 6 Soldier RIG suit. There will also be a new enemy variant, called Phantom Necromorph, with unpredictable behavior and unique attack patterns.

Plus, there will be Marker fragments scattered around. Collecting all of them would lead to the secret ending in the game.

Side Quests

Now, besides the main events, there are some additional side quests in the Dead Space remastered version. These side quests do not come in big numbers but they do add a nasty flavor to expanding your unfortunate visit to the USG Ishimura.

Weapon Upgrades

Furthermore, apart from the gameplay visuals, the most noticeable change in the remake version is the weapon system which has undergone a complete refurbishment. There are no new weapons introduced, instead, the existing weapons have been wholly modified.

The alternate firing modes have completely changed and players can now even put on upgrades on weapons. For example, the Plasma Cutter can be upgraded with an extended magazine or with the ability to set foes alight for continuous damage over time.

Isaac’s Voice

In addition, the remastered version of Dead Space features a fully-voiced Isaac Clarke. Previously, the game protagonist was all but a silent errand-running character.

Although fully voiced in the sequels, Isaac being mute in the original game did not sit well with some gamers and reviewers. In the remake, the voice actor behind him is the same person who voiced Isaac in Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3: Gunner Wright.

New Enemies in Revisiting Old Areas

Lastly, instead of idly exploring the old cleared stages for leftover supplies, players will now encounter enemies at unexpected places. This gameplay element will constantly keep them on the edge of their seats.

Furthermore, in order to encourage exploring old areas, new sections of the Ishimura ship will get unlocked as players progress in the game. Due to the Security Clearance System, certain areas at the beginning of the game are locked which hides various useful items as well as new enemies.

Dead Space Game Plot

Just like the original game, the Dead Space remake is set in the 26^th century. Due to the dwindling resources on Planet Earth, humans have now started mining resources on distant planets.

USG Ishimura is one such planetary-mining spaceship that has eerily gone silent after discovering a strange artifact on Planet Aegis VII. Responding to the distress call, USS Kelion (a space repair vessel) and its crew arrive at the scene. Due to a docking malfunction, it crash lands on the USG Ishimura.

With no one responding, little does the crew know of the horrors that await them. They soon discover the swathes of destruction that have engulfed the USG Ishimura in its entirety. Apart from a few key survivors, everyone on the ship has been horribly slaughtered.

The crew finds themselves in a completely estranged environment where mutated human corpses are running wild and hiding in unknown dark places. As it turns out, a mysterious outbreak has occurred and infected everyone, converting them into lethal undead beings known as Necromorphs.

While seeking out the answers, players will untangle an insidious conspiracy centered on a theistic cult and a large Red Marker. Players will soon find themselves in a nightmarish blood bath of relentlessly ripping apart Necromorphs limb by limb. With seemingly no safe place to catch their breath, the game will have players second-guessing everything they see!

Watch the Dead Space remake trailer.

The game is available on Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Final Thoughts

Conclusively, it is safe to say that the Dead Space remake is a lethal devotion to the original 2008 game. The remastered version makes players decide on consequential choices that will significantly impact their gameplay.

What do you think about this iconic remake of the original Dead Space? Let us know in the comments below!