It’s been 15 years since the original Dead space launched and since that day in 2008, it has gained a reputation as an outstanding survival horror title. For me, though, 2008 was all about assembling my ragtag Nintendo mascot pool to win as many games as possible in Super Mario give Nintendo Wii. The 2023 remake of Dead space was my first experience with this supposed gem of the survival horror genre. Thankfully, it turns out Dead space just like, if not better, Super Mariothanks to plenty of tense moments, exciting gunfights, and stunning visuals.
If there’s one important aspect that makes horror games appealing to me, it’s the tension and Dead space take it almost immediately. You are the “Engineer of the Year” Isaac Clarke, who, along with your ragtag repair team, is tasked with maintaining the flagship mining vessel USG Ishimura. Unsurprisingly, things go awry and you’re forced to try to survive while uncovering the ship’s mysteries. Answers to these mysteries mostly discovered through text, audio logs and holograms found throughout the ship. It’s a prime example of environmental storytelling, and I find myself inspecting any door that I can enter, in the hopes that I can find these records, or even is a message scrawled on the wall. If you haven’t played yet Dead space but then I recommend going in with as little story knowledge as possible.
While stress in Dead space not part of the story is revealed slowly, a large part is also provided by the limited resources and ammo that is a staple of most survival horror games. There have been dozens of times when I chose to try to run through enemies instead of fighting them, because I wanted to save ammo. It’s neat dead space, for the most part, gives you the option to get through enemies instead of blowing them up. Thankfully, there are still a lot of explosions made in the game. The lack of ammo motivates you to use every weapon in your arsenal even if they’re not to your liking. There are many games where you start with one weapon and quickly move on to bigger and better weapons. IN Dead spaceThe best gun is the one that has ammo in it.
There is more nuance and customization offered to each of Isaac’s weapons and suits thanks to the button upgrade system. These buttons are scattered throughout the ship, and each unlocks a new ability, ranging from additional HP and stalling power, to more damage and faster weapon reload times. They have pretty standard fare until the upgrade, but it’s fun to stumble across a new one.
Various enemies in Dead space takes a while to scale but does so at a reasonable rate. The first grunt-type enemies you’ll encounter are the ones you’ll also be fighting for 10 hours, but at that point they’re just part of a sizzling summoner menu, each with their own style and trick. its own unique advertising. My favorites are the decent names for the lanky Divider, who are easy to defeat but drop creepy heads with tassels. If these tentacles kill you, they will rip your head off and take over your body. Seeing them maneuver your corpse is terrifying, and the animations of being killed are equally mesmerizing. However, the game still has parts that are challenging, and it can be frustrating to watch the same kill animation for the sixth time in a row.
Completing the fight is Isaac’s hovering ability, which is mainly used while exploring the exterior of USG Ishimura. The flight controls are hovering and a bit nauseous, but the worst feeling is fighting against enemies on the fly. It’s easy to get your orientation turned upside down and there are often ranged enemies sitting in the dark. I’ve died multiple times from a combination of being in space and not knowing where the enemies are, and that’s all the more remarkable given the stellar and dynamic levels of air combat. It’s a shame because other aspects of being in space work so well. Neat image, and tThe relative silence of the vacuum creates a wonderfully tense atmosphere in a game that is already quite tense from the start.
Also contribute to Dead space stressful class is missing loading screen. Save for a few cutscenes, Isaac is always in control, and loading is covered by elevators and trolleys that help you navigate Ishimura. While games that don’t load the screen are becoming more popular, the implementation in Dead space is the best i have seen so. Waiting for the elevator to go down a few floors while not knowing what horror awaits you is scary. and similar to most of the game’s systems, adding to the overall tension.
It helps that too Dead space is a beautiful piece of sci-fi horror goodness. From fearsome shapeshifters and dark industrial ships, to the glints of your weapons and the sparkles on Isaac’s suits, Dead space it’s a feast to the eyes and one that doesn’t stop (except for Isaac’s goofy expression when he’s not wearing a mask). My favorite visual hit is Isaac’s health bar which takes the form of glowing buttons on his spine, as it’s both a visually striking and practical way to show how much health you have left.
Dead space is a great game to play in 2023, thanks to its engaging storyline, excellent combat, and smart system. It’s testament to the team at Motive Studios and EA that the struggle of Isaac Clarke and friends has made an impression 15 years later. This is a resounding home run.
Dead space available for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC.
