⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Developer (Platform): Motive Studio (PlayStation 5)
Publisher (Release): Electronic Arts (2023)
Length: 8-10 hours
Genres: Adult; Horror; Sci-Fi; Action
❗️Disclaimers❗️:
graphic depictions of violence, blood, gore, and body horror
flashing lights
themes of mental illness
this review contains low-level spoilers
recommendation: must play
👍 Pros 👍
A lovingly crafted remake that captures the original’s spirit
Nails the unsettling atmosphere with stellar sound design and punchy haptic feedback
Gorgeous graphics and weighty gameplay
👎 Cons 👎
Not all voice actors feel as distinct as their original counterparts
Isaac feels more capable than the out-of-his-depth protagonist of the original
👀 Synopsis & Trailer 👀
Isaac Clarke is an everyman engineer on a mission to repair a vast Planet Cracker-class 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 uncover the nightmarish mystery of what happened aboard the Ishimura in hopes of finding Nicole. Trapped with hostile creatures called Necromorphs, Isaac faces a battle for survival, not only against the escalating terrors of the ship but also his own crumbling sanity.
🛎️ Introduction 🛎️
Remaking a classic game is no strange occurrence in 2023, but remaking a classic game well must be an absolutely daunting task. The original Dead Space hit the scene back in 2008, terrifying players with its unparalleled atmosphere and horrific creature design. It’s my personal favourite horror game released and, arguably, one that stands the test of time.
So when I heard that EA was remaking the game from the ground up, my first reaction was: why? Why redo a classic that’s still fun today? Why not continue the series with the new entry fans have been clamouring for? Whether it’s to test the waters or allow Motive to find their feet, it doesn’t matter, Dead Space: Remake is a lovingly crafted return to survival horror that justifies itself within minutes.
🧩 Plots 🧩
A lot of Remake’s story beats weren’t a surprise for me, obviously, and I am envious of those going into it with new eyes because it has been refined and expanded with delicious delight. The mysteries of the Ishimura and the alien Marker are just as potent thanks to Motive’s expansion and inclusion of side quests. Yep, Dead Space now has side quests. Thankfully, there aren’t many, but those that do exist aim to flesh out parts of the plot that most needed it from the original, creating a rich tapestry of stories that make the Ishimura feel haunted.
Deja vu, anyone?
The core plot is paced well and hits all the right notes as a standard, Alien-inspired sci-fi story should. Themes of guilt and repentance give motivation, and explorations of declining mental illness can be a harrowing, more human look at an individual’s world collapsing that’s even more unsettling than the outlandish monsters stalking the halls of a ship out in deep space.
Rounding off with an epic climax, Dead Space: Remake somewhat struggles with tying its plot threads together, something the original also had difficulty with. I imagine this was before the overall story had been worked out, so sequels were more focused, but Motive made a valiant effort in trying to smooth out the original game’s rough spots.
I have a bad feeling about this…
Aside from that, it is so good to see a survival horror classic back, and, hopefully, the overwhelmingly positive response shows EA that it was a massive mistake to kill this series off.
…Motive made a valiant effort…
🎭 Characters 🎭
Isaac Clarke returns to fight the necromorph scourge and, thankfully, EA has brought back Gunner Wright to voice him. In the original, Isaac is a silent protagonist, adding to the player’s sense of dread at being out of their depth, but I won’t deny that hearing Isaac in 2023 is a dose of nostalgia I am happy to absorb. A lot of lines are just cannibalised from other characters, but it does work wonders to smooth out the kinks that come from a main character that doesn’t respond.
I’m not sure if it’s just my experience with the series, but Isaac feels less like the everyman he’s supposed to be and more like the capable fighter we see in Dead Space 2 and 3. It’s not necessarily a bad development and it does paint his character as a smart and adaptable protagonist, but it does lessen the panic somewhat.
Do you have a moment to talk about Unitology?
Gunner Wright, as far as I could hear, is the only returning voice actor from the series. The rest of the cast fills out nicely and benefits from Motive’s attempt to expand rather than replace, but, despite fine performances, Dead Space: Remake’s cast just doesn’t feel as distinct as the original’s. From supporting characters to the audio and video notes scattered aboard the ship, the voices tend to blend.
Praise Altman…
One change I adore, however, is Kendra Daniels. Now voiced by Brigitte Kali Canales, Kendra is much, much less abrasive than her original counterpart. Kind and compassionate, she doesn’t cause as much frustrating friction as she once did, seamlessly supporting Isaac in his journey through hell.
…Isaac feels less like the everyman he’s supposed to be…
👾 Gameplay and Graphics 👾
I’ll say it again and I’ll say it loud: DEAD SPACE: REMAKE IS SURVIVAL HORROR REBORN. It captures everything that made the series great while updating it for a modern audience. With third-person and over-the-shoulder controls, the weighty play recreates the surreal fear fans are used to. It’s simple but thoughtful, forcing the player to contemplate their next move rather than run head-first into a new area.
Fight your instincts to survive
Despite its gorgeous graphical update, Motive has done a phenomenal job of creating Dead Space’s atmosphere. Sure, the framework for most of the game is already there, but the developer expertly recreates while also tweaking just enough that returning players are put on edge. For me, seeing the familiar but unfamiliar had me fighting my instincts. I’ve played the original many, many times over the years, it’s second nature, and the Remake, from beginning to end, found ways to keep me off guard.
Subtle changes such as the peeling of the necromorphs’ skin, doors opening and closing at random speeds, random enemy encounters, Isaac’s fluctuating heartbeat and breathing, and so many other small and simple changes work absolute magic at reinvigorating the series’ unparalleled atmosphere.
Ever feel like you’re the one doing all the work?
Despite its scares, Dead Space: Remake is just fun. Quality of life updates from Motive refine combat and enemy encounters. Kinesis is vastly improved, bringing it more in line with the original’s sequels, Stasis feels much more tangible, and weapons have a decently unique kick to them. Upgrading is tactful and verges on RPG-ish with how strategic the player needs to be in balancing the benefits they need with their own playstyles.
With a New Game+, hidden lore, and a secret ending to discover, gamers will be playing and replaying Dead Space: Remake for months to come.
…Motive has done a phenomenal job…
🧠 Final Thoughts 🧠
I’ve said ‘original’ about a million times in the course of this review, but it only serves to highlight just how good Dead Space: Remake is. Motive has taken on the momentous task of bringing a classic back to life and they utterly nail it, crafting a faithful game that tweaks just enough to unsettle returning and new players alike. The atmosphere is thick, the sound and creature designs are on point, and its graphical update sets the bloody and visceral standard for survival horror in 2023.
EA made a massive mistake ending this series, one of many massive mistakes it made after getting the single-player formula right so many times, but, hopefully, Dead Space: Remake shows them the passion and creativity that gamers lust for, and, hopefully, Dead Space has returned from the dead space EA left it in.
The Phoenix Project 