Analysis | Dead Space remake is a lesson in how to remake a classic.
Remakes are increasingly part of the industry’s annual catalog of games, even if there is still no consensus on when they are needed or the format adopted. Some like the virtually original experience, with virtually no changes beyond the graphics. Others are hoping to see gameplay and even story changes to correct past inconsistencies.
However, if recent successes are the north for this discussion, the most acclaimed remakes are those that make the necessary specific changes and maintain the original essence in terms of setting and gameplay. Dead Space is yet another successful example of this option and, oddly enough, manages to be even better than the original in most of what it proposes, without looking like another game.
Isaac, I hear you!
If you’re not familiar with Dead Space, it was perhaps the most important survival horror game of its generation, which was saturated with the use of zombie themes. The success yielded two direct sequels, with the last one not being as well received, and yielded a legion of fans who were eagerly awaiting the return of the franchise. For this reason, there was a fear that the remake would not be able to reach the quality of the work that inspired it and that the changes could spoil the original essence.
Motive, the studio that made the game, had a very open development, showing the direction of the project to the fans and listening to constructive criticism about the gameplay. The focus was on bringing the original experience to the next generation, faithful and at the same time more responsive, with some ambitious changes.
The success is almost complete. The graphics are obviously the first point to catch the eye. Isaac’s armor, the game’s protagonist, is extremely detailed, with textures in very high resolution and animations with a feeling of even more weight and impact. Weapons and scenarios are also not far behind and the biggest highlight goes to lighting. As with another hit, Resident Evil 2 Remake, the current lighting not only makes the game more lush, it also raises the level of immersion and terror. The environments are darker and the flashlight beam is the player’s only guaranteed vision option. Just as walking around the police station with Leon got darker, exploring the claustrophobic corridors of Ishimura with Isaac got even more dangerous, with enemies being able to appear from different blind spots, causing scares and leaving the tension always at the maximum level.
The combat continues cadenced and with a lot of weight. Enemies can now be accurately ripped apart in multiple spots, adding an extra layer of violence to encounters. The rule is still to hit the limbs and not the head, but the visual result of the shots is more satisfying and rewarding. Some boss battles were even more impressive, like the giant Titan in the greenhouse wing, which uses the new lighting to create a visual spectacle.
Changes on some fronts have taken place, but the good news is that virtually all of them have been for the better. One of the main problems with the original game was the imprecise controls in the zero-gravity areas, where Isaac could use his suit to “float” from one point to another. Controls are now intuitive and responsive, and these locations add up to a whole new mix of welcome gameplay.
Another striking novelty is that Isaac now speaks in this first game. In the original trilogy he only had dialogue in the next two games. Motive brought in the original voice actor, Gunner Wright, who this time has more to say than just grunts and screams. In the scenario of the remake, this could have gone very wrong, since the current protagonists talk more than necessary during gameplay, killing environments and areas with riddles and puzzles. However, the use here was very well dosed. Isaac only reacts to the most remarkable events in the narrative, giving an idea of the emotional impact caused and increasing the player’s sense of presence in the environment. Especially when it comes to Doctor Nicole, the scenes became more complete, but never with a feeling that another story is being told, which is exactly what is seen as a nice addition.
very complete package
In addition to the campaign being complete, without cuts or glaring differences in content, Motive still made sure to let a series of extra content keep players entertained for longer. Impossible mode is back, but now it feels more like Dead Space 3’s Hardcore mode. When you die, you have to start from scratch or continue on Hard difficulty. For the joy of trophy hunters, it is also possible to use the death animation to exit the game and keep your save before losing it. There’s even a host of armor and weapons to unlock, including the iconic Hand Cannon.
There’s the option to choose two different modes on consoles – focusing on performance or focusing on visuals. However, here is perhaps the biggest criticism of the game, which is quite heavy and in both modes suffers from some sudden drops in dynamic resolution in some more demanding areas. Some visual issues with VRR on launch day were resolved with updates in the following days and the impact on performance was minimal, which makes this more technical part much less problematic, but still not excellent as the other fronts.
For Brazilians, the good news is that the campaign is fully subtitled in our language. However, it is sad that they did not add the dubbing in Portuguese, which would be a great novelty for those who prefer to play like this.
Conclusion
Dead Space Remake is one of the best of its kind and a lesson in how to rebuild a classic for new generations. The gameplay is more fluid, especially in the zero gravity areas, and the graphics are impressive. The essence, however, remains intact, and more abrupt changes, such as dialogues for Isaac, are also made in an exemplary way, giving greater depth to the story without seeming like a different game. Definitely a must see for fans and newcomers to the franchise.
pros
- Breathtaking graphics, worthy of the new generation
- New lighting makes areas more tense to explore
- Gameplay is now responsive and intuitive in zero gravity
- Isaac’s dialogues were well implemented in the story
- Complete content such as game modes and extra equipment
cons
- Performance is sometimes inconsistent, with drops in resolution
Grade: 9.0/10.0
A PS5 copy of the game was provided by Electronic Arts for the preparation of this review.
