Summary
Last year, theDead Spaceremake pulled off the impossible: delivering a title that evolved the original’s gameplay and combat, without sacrificing any of its strengths. The title’s positive reception has fans new and old hoping for more remakes to follow, with the series’ best title,Dead Space 2, due to be modernized next. However, aDead Space 2 Remakeis already at a disadvantage, as the modernization of the original leaves little room for the second to improve upon. If and when it is released,Dead Space 2 Remakemay have a harder time standing out from the original.
TheDead Spaceseries’ first two entries were a masterclass in sci-fi horror. However, the second’s status as the overall best is largely derived from the marked improvements it made toDead Space’s core mechanics, including its combat, movement, and environments. Many fans likely expect aDead Space 2 Remaketo accomplish the same. However, that may prove impossible due to EA Motive’s approach to last year’s release.
The originalDead Space 2took what worked from its predecessor and raised the stakes considerably. It was bigger, bolder, more fine-tuned, and offered fans a much greater breadth of scope. Additionally, the sequel built upon the original’s navigation, movement, and combat, infusing a more fluid control system and allowing fans more room to explore. Alongside these gameplay improvements,Dead Space 2boasted new and improved enemies, outfits, and weapons that gave the title a more modern and “action-packed” feel.
When EA Motive set to remake the originalDead Space, they infused the title with many ofthe improvements made inDead Space 2. While this allowed theDead Spaceremake to prosper, it also narrowed the gap between the two experiences.Dead Space 2 Remakemay struggle to differentiate itself from its predecessor upon release, as little to no room for further modernization exists. However, the title can still differentiate itself in other ways, by leveraging the way that players experience its improved story and refreshed environments.
While theDead Spaceremake leaves little room for a sequel to improve its core gameplay,Dead Space 2’s setting -The Sprawl- offers a variety of fresh opportunities.Dead Space’s USG Ishimura trapped Isaac in a claustrophobic space, but The Sprawl saw him forced to navigate a vast space station, featuring a variety of residential, commercial, and religious locations. This wide range of locations provided the foundation forDead Space 2to keep fans guessing, as grotesque and horrifying new enemies were born from the Marker’s effect on each location, leading to some of Dead Space 2’s most shocking moments. This enemy variety led to a wider range of weapons at Isaac’s disposal, which helped to give the sequel a vastly different aesthetic and pace than the original.
ShouldDead Space 2 Remakehope to differentiate itself from2023’sDead Spaceremake, it would do well to overhaul The Sprawl, its enemies, and the various locations therein. Modern gaming hardware provides an ample opportunity forDead Space 2 Remaketo overhaul the sites, sounds, and interactive elements of The Sprawl, and can make these elements feel brand new by altering how players experience them first-hand. It remains to be seen when news of theDead Space 2 Remakewill first arrive, but fans are hopeful that the title can exceed expectations and further prove theDead Spaceseries' position as one of survival horror’s best franchises.
Dead Space (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The sci-fi survival-horror classic Dead Space™ returns, completely rebuilt from the ground up to offer a deeper, more immersive experience. This remake brings jaw-dropping visual fidelity, suspenseful atmospheric audio, and improvements to gameplay while staying faithful to the original game’s thrilling vision.Isaac Clarke is an everyman engineer on a mission to repair a vast mining ship, the USG Ishimura, only to discover something has gone horribly wrong. The ship’s crew has been slaughtered and Isaac’s beloved partner, Nicole, is lost somewhere on board.Now alone and armed with only his engineering tools and skills, Isaac races to find Nicole as the nightmarish mystery of what happened aboard the Ishimura unravels around him. Trapped with hostile creatures called Necromorphs, Isaac faces a battle for survival, not only against the escalating terrors of the ship but against his own crumbling sanity.
