Dead Space Remake | Review

Initial Release Date: January 27, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Composer: Trevor Gureckis

Series: Dead Space

Developer: Motive Studio

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Engine: Frostbite

Introduction: Dead Space Remake is better than the original Dead Space. I am shocked too. Believe me. But it’s true. I have platinumed the original Dead Space beating it upwards in three separate occasions. I know Dead Space very well trust me. I also watched all of the anime films as well.

I’ll say it again, it’s better than the original Dead Space. Two generations ago during the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC’s life cycle many would consider Dead Space as the best original survival horror videogame of that era.

It was an immediate classic. Which is why I was originally against this remake after seeing gameplay footage. Boy was I wrong and stand corrected. Keep reading to find out what changed and what remained the same from the original Dead Space to this better newer Remake.

Presentation: Dead Space Remake improves and expands upon the original game’s presentation whether it’s cutscene interactions between Isaac and everyone now. Or Side Missions involving Nicole Brennan’s experiences before the demise of the USG Ishimura.

Isaac now talks to everyone and has a real say onboard the Ishimura opening up different confrontations whether it’s Kendra Daniels, Zach Hammond or Unitologists like Dr Mercer. Some cutscenes were new as well.

What impacted gameplay the most was the tram system on the USG Ishimura. Ishimura itself is now fully interconnected with no loading screens. Use a door or the tram and you can go anywhere anytime for the most part.

Visuals are current gen for sure. I would say The Calisto Protocol looked a tad bit better. Dead Space Remake looks great regardless and it did need a visual overhaul come to find out. Sound design and dialogue are better written for characters.

When talking about presentation the Remake is better than the original. Not everything was changed though. Things were added like quality of life improvements for modernity. The original didn’t need much improvement but it got enough with Dead Space Remake for it to be the better game.

Story: Dead Space centers around an alien Marker that was brought aboard the USG Ishimura from Aegis-7. A week later all hell breaks loose turning regular people onboard into crazy people not before turning them into bloodthirsty killers then into Necromorphs.

Dead Space’s protagonist is everyday joe Isaac Clarke. An intergalactic space engineer who takes a job on the Ishimura mining vassal after getting a distress message from his girlfriend Nicole Brennan. Nicole was a Medical Physician onboard the Ishimura. To make a long story short, Isaac tries to find Nicole while killing Necromorphs.

Furthermore, Isaac learns the cause of the madness onboard the Ishimura which is caused by the Marker taken from Aegis-7 (the planet below the Ishimura). So Isaac along with Dr Terrance Kyne (killed by Kendra) brings the Marker back down to Aegis-7 then drop an asteroid on the planet hopefully destroying the Marker.

The story is better due to character interactions featuring new dialogue. There are new cutscenes for instance when Isaac get’s stasis locked by Dr Challus Mercer. You also have Mercer Killing Jacob in a separate cutscene (I don’t remember seeing in the original). Kendra and Zach were written better and are more believable this time around.

Gameplay: Dead Space Remake’s main core design change is the interconnectivity of the USG Ishimura mining vassal. Wanna go to the Atrium? Take doors from anywhere or the tram anytime with no loading screens. To me, this was huge and made the Ishimura feel like a real space vassal while exploring.

Each weapon (as far as I know) has an extra upgrade schematic that unlocks new weapon perks. For instance I found the Plasma Cutter’s upgrade shematic. I unlocked a node that let’s you knock down Necromorphs with melee attacks while holding the Plasma Cutter. So that’s new.

As for gameplay-feel Dead Space Remake feels just as great as the original. However, what I will complain about is the weird but not often magically spawning of necromorphs behind Isaac. I be like “how the hell did you get behind me?”. Necromorphs are frickin ninjas all of a sudden.

Some weapons are placed in different level’s locations I have noticed. The Force Gun wasn’t available until Chapter 6. In the original I remember getting the Force Gun much earlier. Once I got the ammo schematic for my Force Gun I upgraded the hell out of that thing and ran through the game like the olden days! Fun times.

Gone are the old cockpit shooting down asteroids in favor of an outside Zero-G experience that much better. Also a Remnant Leviathan fight outside the Ishimura in Zero G. I didn’t remember the latter being in the original.

Instead of opening everything including storage rooms and crates you can collect security cards as you play to get more loot. I guess that was implemented to curb inventory issues which it did in my case.

Don’t be worried about Dead Space Remake’s changes in gameplay from the original. It’s better. The game flows better. It feels more “open”. Combat feels just as great as the original. The overall quality of life changes to gameplay like getting rid of the cockpit asteroid sequences makes this the better version.

Necromorphs now feature a skin peel-away gameplay mechanic system. Use the Force Gun and watch the flesh get blown off Necromorphs in great detail (really). So not only do you have to dismember you also have to destroy the epidermis.

Visuals/Graphics: Dead Space Remake looks like a early current gen Playstation 5, Xbox Series X game. It looks great. The atmosphere now pops with smoke, fog and particle effects. The lighting is phenomenal creating atmospheric tension sequences like planting a bomb on the asteroid ouside. It looked and sound as if you are in wait for it, dead space! It’s not cringe….

Necromorphs look so good now. You can actually see the differences in each types of Slashers from miners to soldiers. Necromorphs now have faces. It’s creepy yet beautiful. Atmosphere effects are thick. At times I couldn’t see through steam or green poisonous gas before a Necromorph got up on me. Texture work was great.

Sound/Music: Sound design is top notch in the Remake. Dialogue and voice acting greatly improved upon from the original. Dialogue is more realistic and believable. Necromorphs now sound like human alien creatures when they scream. Decent all around from the music and sound design composer’s.

Final Verdict: Dead Space Remake is better than the original in my opinion. From the interconnectivity of the USG Ishimura to the many quality of life changes throughout. To Isaac now having a say vocally in the madness.

From the story, visuals and gameplay. This classic just got better in 2023. I know $69.99 is expensive but if you can buy this game if you were a fan of the original or like the survival horror genre. Buy it!