Highlights

  • Dead Space 2 took risks by giving the protagonist a voice and focusing more on action, but it paid off with expanded gameplay and a well-written narrative.
  • The dark and disturbing content of Dead Space 2, including depictions of self-harm and suicide, may be challenging to handle tactfully in a remake.
  • Adapting the edgier and controversial aspects of Dead Space 2 without appearing crass or over-the-top could be difficult in a current-generation remake that prioritizes realistic graphics and immersion.

Last year's Dead Space remake managed to successfully capture the spirit and gameplay fundamentals of the original game, and EA may choose to follow it up with a remake of Dead Space 2. While the idea of a revamped and modernized Dead Space 2 has a lot of potential, there are aspects of the original game's narrative that could pose a challenge.

Dead Space 2 is an evolution of the first game in just about every way. Looking at the original releases of both titles, Dead Space 2 took several risky steps, including giving protagonist Isaac Clarke a voice and placing a greater emphasis on the action side of the series' formula. The sequel also offers a brutal, heart-wrenching continuation of the first game's narrative, showing how Isaac is dealing with his guilt and trauma. Ultimately, the gameplay, narrative, and presentation decisions Visceral Games made in Dead Space 2 paid off, with many fans considering the sequel as good, if not better, than its predecessor.

In a way, Dead Space 2 is a must-play for fans of the first game, serving up expanded gameplay, exciting level design and setpieces, and a crushing, well-written narrative.

Dead Space Remake Hospital Hallway
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A Remake of Dead Space 2 Has to Address Elephants In the Room

Dead Space 2 Is Much Darker Than the First Game

EA Motive's well-crafted Dead Space remake offers more realistic graphics, enhanced sound design, and brand-new features like the Intensity Director, all of which help elevate the terror that was so present in the original. These sorts of enhancements could work wonders in a Dead Space 2 remake, but the nature of that game's content could make a tasteful adaptation a bit more challenging.

Dead Space 2 contains many dark and disturbing moments, with levels like the Titan Station Elementary School standing out as some of the most troubling. These edgier parts of the game attracted some controversy upon release, though this didn't do much to hamper the success of Dead Space 2, especially as EA embraced the dark side of the game with marketing tactics like the Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2 ad campaign. However, adapting them in a current-generation remake, with graphics that border on photorealistic, might be tough to pull off without coming across as crass or over-the-top.

Dead Space 2's Self-Harm Content Needs to Be Handled Tactfully

Pitting players against rabid necromorph children and infants is bad enough, but EA could run into real problems when it comes to depictions of self-harm and suicide. In Dead Space 2, Isaac is tormented by visions of Nicole, his girlfriend who committed suicide in the first Dead Space. Wracked by guilt and mentally shattered by the influence of the Marker, Isaac hallucinates Nicole saying hurtful things to him.

At a few points, the visions seem to tempt Isaac toward killing himself, saying things like "you can't handle the pain forever, soon you'll be begging for a way to end it all" and "you're trying to kill yourself, Isaac. Why do you think that is?" One particularly memorable hallucination, which incidentally occurs during the aforementioned elementary school level, has Nicole taunting Issac, saying "What's the matter, Isaac? Afraid you'll slit your wrists if you listen to me?"

These moments are shocking by design, and EA may be tempted to either remove or alter them in a remake, making them less impactful. Changing these key moments could be the wrong choice for a Dead Space 2 remake, though, as they are important manifestations of Isaac's guilt and emphasize the brutal cunning of the Marker. At the same time, the hallucinations walk a fine line between upsetting and narratively significant in the original Dead Space 2, and striking this perfect balance might prove difficult in a remake, especially one that prioritizes realism and immersion.