Summary
Dead Spaceis something of a legendary game at this point. Initially released in 2008, the title was a huge hit for the horror genre and inspired numerous sequels. Like its original release, the remake from early this year found itself highly celebrated. With heavy inspiration drawn fromResident Evil 4,Dead Spacepacked a survival horror framework with action game set pieces. WhileRE4retained many of the series' more subdued survival horror elements,Dead Spacereveled in being an over-the-top and violent action game.ResidentEvilis perhaps the most revered horror franchise in gaming, and while it has inspired many excellent titles, it’s time forDead Spaceto become the template for future horror games.
Dead Spacewas something of an anomaly at its release. WhileResident Evil 4had allowed for players to dismember their adversaries,Dead Spaceamplified it to a new level. Chopping off enemies' limbs is something that players need to do tactically. The title’s setting in a darkly-lit spacecraft, theUSG Ishimura, also stands out from the crowd. The unique setting and approach to story telling combined with its grotesque and brutal violence delivered players a memorable experience.Dead Spaceis a game filled with dread and certain doom, and it stands at odds with much of what is popular in the horror genre today.
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When the player finds theirfirst weapon inDead Space, the plasma cutter, the phrase “cut off their limbs” is written on the wall behind it in blood. After an initial combat encounter, the player learns that shooting Necromorphs in the head will do nothing, and that they have to cut Necromorphs into pieces. Combat inDead Spaceis, from the very first encounter, truly horrific. The player may be acting in self-defense, but to survive one must embrace brutality.Resident Evilrewards quick kills with headshots; in contrast,Dead Spacerequires the player to fight as grotesquely as its monsters do.
Dead Space’s no longer silent protagonist,Isaac Clarke, is surrounded by doom, and not just because of monsters. Before the spread of the Necromorphs, the USG Ishimura was a mining vessel that destroyed planets. The ship is in ruin when Isaac arrives, and soon his whole team is killed as he helplessly watches. This sense of dread grows as the player explores the ship. The space setting allows for movement in zero gravity at points which feel unique in the genre, and the brief segments outside the Ishimura highlight how alone Isaac and the player are in this ship. This isolation in combination with the game’s brutal combat create a real sense of hopelessness.
Dead Spaceisn’t just great for its environment and brutal combat; it is a game with many excellent puzzles.Resident Evil’s puzzles, while fun, are often abstract and gamey, lacking realism and believability.Dead Spacerelies on puzzles that are based in repairing circuits and using machinery. Isaac is a mechanic, so these puzzles feel engrained in the world and share the same thematic pulp as his arsenal of makeshift weapons. The game’s stasis packs allow for time manipulation, and some puzzles make use of zero gravity. Puzzle solving inDead Spaceis tactile and makes sense in the context of Isaac’s character and the game’s setting
Dead Spaceis a modern masterpiece due in no small part to its cohesion. Isaac is a mechanic and this is reflected in his weapons, tools, and approach to combat.Resident Evil 4 Remakefeatures enhanced dismembermentand the ability to shoot while moving, two things that set the originalDead Spaceapart from the originalRE4. Dead Space’s fast and brutal approach to horror still stands out over a decade later, and the remake is one of the best horror games to come out in 2023. While the influence ofResident Evilhas moved the horror genre forward, it’s time for more games to draw inspiration fromDead Space’s unique approach to the genre, just asResident Evil 4 Remakehas done.
Dead Spaceis out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
