Much has been changed and improved in Motive’s Dead Space remake compared to the original, and there is a lot that is different that fans may not register as being different if they have not played the original recently. Motive has been able to somehow keep the USG Ishimura’s interconnectivity the same, but make it even more seamlessly maneuverable with a manual tram system and parts of the ship that weave into one another. Gameplay-wise this is incredible for replayability since there will likely be security clearance doors and lockers players missed the first time around.
Thankfully, the Dead Space remake has a fulfilling New Game Plus mode that does not simply carry over weapons and upgrades into an identical playthrough. Dead Space now has more to explore with reworked level designs and entire side quests to complete, but it is still a relatively short game. That said, Dead Space’s New Game Plus is absolutely worthwhile because of its alternate ending. Instead of having to guess which NPCs to talk to or follow obtuse guidelines on a convoluted quest, Dead Space’s alternate ending is fairly straightforward to get and narratively significant.
Dead Space’s Alternate Ending is a No-Brainer for New Game Plus Players
If fans are playing through Dead Space again in New Game Plus anyway, it only makes sense to complete the necessary requirements for the alternate ending. The Dead Space remake is comprehensive enough that players may enjoy indulging in the same content, but New Game Plus gives fans a legitimate incentive to return with new rewards, a tankier enemy type, and new collectibles that are needed to unlock the alternate ending.
The alternate ending alone is a great reason to start New Game Plus since it means that not everything in Motive’s Dead Space can be completed in a single playthrough, which nearly doubles the game’s ~10 hour length for players who wish to experience everything in it. The new enemy type is only a tougher rendition of ordinary necromorphs, but its presence in a mob of other necromorphs can turn the tide of any encounter and make situations much more dire in New Game Plus.
Dead Space Purists Might Prefer the Remake’s Alternate Ending
Multiple endings are not uncommon in survival-horror, and therefore it makes sense to have an alternate ending in Dead Space’s remake. Survival-horror games having multiple endings encourages replayability, especially if the game itself is relatively short otherwise.
Not every ending needs to be as complicated or fulfilling as the game’s default ending, but it is fun to see how many ways the same story could conclude—if there are requirements to complete in a playthrough to receive these endings, then that becomes wholly satisfying since it can often give players something new to do or see in the game that they might not have before; for example, Motive’s Dead Space adds Marker Fragments as collectibles to retrieve in New Game Plus.
Because Dead Space only originally had the one, brief ending, fans may be surprised to hear that an alternate ending has been added. This gives it great intrigue as a result, and once all Marker Fragments are found and slotted into Mathius’ office players will see that the remake’s alternate ending is actually logical from a narrative perspective as well. Tying into the events of Dead Space 2, this ending arguably makes more sense as a place to end off on instead of a simple jump scare, and is well worth players’ time if they enjoy Motive’s remake.
Dead Space is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
