10 Things To Know Before Playing The Dead Space Remake
The Basics
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Sadly, the original developers of the Dead Space series are no more after EA unceremoniously shuttered them in 2017, but one of their most well known and respected IPs is being resurrected by EA Motive with a remake built from the ground up using EA’s own proprietary Frostbite Engine and a scheduled release date of January 27th, 2023. The game will tell mostly the same story of Isaac and his crew investigating the USG Ishimura and Isaac’s search for his girlfriend Nicole while all hell literally unfolds around them. Reportedly, the team at EA Motive will be re-adding content cut from the original game’s release back in 2008, so even long-time fans could have some surprises to look forward to.
Next Gen Only
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As the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles wrap up their second year on the market, we’re approaching almost two years of near consistent cross-gen releases, but thankfully as the consoles’ third year approaches, we could be seeing progress towards true next gen gaming with more releases becoming PS5 and Xbox Series exclusives. The Dead Space remake is one such title making its 9th gen only debut and will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, taking full advantage of the advanced hardware under the hood to improve not only the visuals but also updating the audio and gameplay experience as well making impressive use of all the advancements in the industry since the game’s original release 15 years ago.
No Microtransactions
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We’ll be the first to admit, it’s pretty sad that this even needs to be an entry, but after the disastrous implementation of microtransactions in Dead Space 3 which, coupled with its unnecessary co-op and focus on more action over horror, made it one of the worst received entries in the franchise. While the implementation of the workbench was a nice idea, giving players more freedom to customize their weapons, the egregious push towards buying components was unforgivable. Thankfully, over the years, EA seems to have learned from past mistakes, we can only hope anyways, and the Dead Space remake will feature no microtransactions whatsoever. However, this is a line we’ve fallen for before from big AAA publishers, so just take this one with a grain of salt for the time being and hope for the best.
Atmospheric Audio
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Along with improvements in graphical technology with each generational leap, comes new technology and features for all of you audiophiles out there. The Dead Space Remake is taking full advantage of the advancements of 3D audio to create one of the most immersive and terrifying horror video game experiences ever. With the right setup, players will be able to pinpoint exactly where the skittering sounds are in the walls and from what direction the eerie howls of the necromorphs are coming from long before you can see them. Which could be for the better or worse depending on your anxiety level. For those wanting the best experience, a set of 3D audio headphones is going to be an absolute necessity.
Terrifying Tweaks
While the teams at EA Motive are committed to retelling the same compelling and horrifying story found in the original, they are making some tweaks to keep players on the edge of their seat and in constant fear of the unexpected. Certain encounters will be altered so that even diehard fans won’t be sure of what to expect, as well as the aforementioned addition of the previously cut content, while also expanding on the established lore to make a more cohesive experience from start to finish. So far, all the changes being made are for the better and will make sure that while in space, no one can hear you scream, your neighbors certainly can.
Isaac Speaks
In the original Dead Space, Isaac never spoke, acting as an avatar for the player to explore the slowly collapsing ship. This changed in the sequels however and Isaac was given more than just a voice, he was given a personality along with it. In the Dead Space Remake, not only is Isaac going to be fully voiced with dialogue written specifically for the remake to expand on Isaac’s role in the escape from the Ishimura, but Isaac’s voice actor from Dead Space 2 and 3, Gunner Wright, is reprising the role helping add additional depth to Isaac’s “everyman” character forced into an unprecedented nightmare which he has to survive.
A.L.I.V.E.
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In EA Motive’s pursuit for complete and total immersion in the nightmare hellscape that is the U.S.G Ishimura, the team is implementing what they call the A.L.I.V.E. system which stands for Adrenaline, Limbic System Response, Intelligent Dialogue, Vitals, and Exertions. This new system will dynamically affect how Isaac delivers his lines, whether he’s calm, or his heart rate is accelerated due to a recent encounter, his breathing will become labored and the player will be able to hear Isaac’s exasperation in his delivery as well see it in his movements should his health get too low. The way Isaac interacts with other characters will also depend on the situation and his gasps and wheezes while speaking will let players know how exhausted or frustrated Isaac truly is as the team has taken everything from Isaac’s in-game BMI and his age into account when determining how strenuous each interaction would be for poor Isaac.
One Shot
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As we’ve already touched on, EA Motive is taking great strides to ensure that this is the most immersive horror experience possible, and that includes no breaks whatsoever for the player as the Dead Space Remake will now take place in one continuous shot, much like 2018’s God of War. With already no pause screen to speak of due to the game’s limited HUD always being present on screen, the tension will be insurmountable for those looking for a breather between encounters. This new approach also means that sections such as the train that would transport Isaac to different sections of the Ishimura are no more and players will now be able to travel from one end of the ship to the other uninterrupted.
Peeling
“Shoot the limbs” is a phrase all fans of the Dead Space series know all too well. While attacking the body barely slows the necromorphs down, shooting off their individual limbs or tentacles will limit their attacks to a literal crawl or sometimes outright kill them. This system is also being revamped and expanded upon for the remake with what EA Motive is calling their “Peeling” system. Instead of simply shooting off the limbs individually, when Isaac attacks an encroaching Necromorph, his shots will quite literally peel the flesh from the bone, revealing multiple layers of muscle and tissue, and oftentimes requiring multiple shots in order to take off a single limb. With ammo already in short supply, each encounter becomes far more strategic as every shot needs to be carefully planned for maximum effectiveness.
Intensity Director
As if things weren’t already scary enough, EA Motive has also created a new system to keep the tension at an all-time high throughout the entirety of gamers’ playthrough of the remake with their new Intensity Director. The role of the Intensity Director is to keep the player constantly on edge, systematically changing environments the player has already explored by adjusting ambient lighting, adding volumetric fog, or setting up an ambush of Necromorphs for sections of the ship the player believed had already been cleared. The intention is to keep the player always on high alert, never knowing what the game could throw at them next to keep their anxiety at maximum for the entirety of their playthrough. Couple the Intensity Director with the game’s new atmospheric audio and even those with nerves of steel could end up needing a break to steady themselves before facing whatever new nightmare awaits them around the next hallway.
