Survival horror title Dead Space was a landmark video game, combining elements of Resident Evil and Silent Hill to become an acclaimed hit. Regarded as one of the most iconic horror titles ever made, Dead Space spawned several sequels and spinoffs. Now, after nearly a decade away, the original Dead Space is finally getting a long-rumored modern remake.
Taking cut elements from the first game and refining them into a masterpiece, Dead Space's remake plans to modernize the iconic gaming experience. While it's still far away from launching on modern consoles, there's still a good bit that is known about the revamped game.
Dead Space Remake Trailer
The remake's announcement was coupled with a short teaser trailer. Not much was shown outside the beginnings of Dead Space's graphical engine, which is vastly improved and even scarier than the original version of the game. The trailer showcased spooky corridors and environments with flickering, dimming lights. This perfectly creates the franchise's haunting mood, even without much in the way of any real action being shown yet.
What Is Dead Space About?
Given this is a remake of the original game, Dead Space's plot is expected to remain the same. It's set in the far-flung future of 2508, long after the Earth's resources had been drained. Humankind's survival began to hinge upon a new way to cultivate resources known as planet cracking, which allows them to draw resources from another world and restore the human race. One of these planet cracking ships is the Ishimura, which has been mining planets illegally.
Having received a distress call from the Ishimura, the USG Kellion is dispatched to investigate. The ship's engineer, Isaac Clarke, is one of only a handful of survivors who much scour the ruins of the Ishimura spaceship to repair their own ship and escape. However, the Ishimura's remaining crew have become Necromorphs, a change related to the mystery behind objects known as Markers. With a custom weapon designed to cut off limbs, Isaac must survive the onslaught and solve the mystery of the Ishimura before everything is destroyed by an impending asteroid collision.
What We Know About Dead Space Remake?
The game's announcement had been rumored for a while, but it wasn't until the EA Play presentation that is confirmed. The title isn't a mere remaster, but instead a full-on remake that rebuilds the game from the group up using the Frostbite Engine. This means that graphics, lighting, and textures will be given a huge facelift, making the experience both familiar yet incredibly fresh.
The game's development is being handled by EA's Motive Studios, who helped out with Star Wars Battlefront II and Star Wars Squadrons. The game will not have microtransactions, which were a controversial element in Dead Space 3. However, the remake will incorporate concepts that were cut from the original game and incorporate some features and elements that were fleshed out in Dead Space 2.
Some new elements being added to the game intend to enhance the franchise's iconic fear factor, making Dead Space more modern and horrifying than ever. Emblematic of this is the A.L.I.V.E. System, which stands for Adrenaline, Limbic System Response, Intelligent Dialog, Vitals and Exertions. This mainly manifests through Isaac's breathing, which would already change in the original Dead Space depending on the situation.
Now, adrenaline and limb responses are influenced by Isaac's surroundings and his health. The same goes for dialogue, which is delivered differently depending upon what condition he's in. This will not only change the gameplay itself by making it seem more realistic, but also enhance the horror by making players feel as strong or as destitute as Isaac himself.
Furthering the fear is the developer's intent of the game being one long, uninterrupted experience by taking advantage of modern technology to eliminate load times. Another element being brought in is full voice acting for Isaac, courtesy of returning actor Gunner Wright, who voiced the character in the second and third games, but not the original.
When Will Dead Space's Remake Release?
The release date for the Dead Space remake has finally been revealed, and it's still a good bit away. EA has stated that the game will be coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on January 27, 2023. This announcement came along with new concept art showing the reimagined game, though these are not necessarily meant to reflect the eventual game. Likewise, there will be a true full reveal for the game later this fall, showing just how much the classic fight against the Necromorphs has changed.