Highlights
- The Dead Space remake introduces a dynamic system called the Intensity Director, which adjusts a player's experience in real-time to create a satisfying and terrifying gameplay experience.
- The Intensity Director controls atmospheric elements, sound effects, and enemy encounters to time everything perfectly, preventing players from feeling overly stressed or too safe for too long.
- Resident Evil could benefit from a system like the Intensity Director, as it would add an extra layer of unpredictability and ensure each playthrough feels unique, especially if the rumored Resident Evil 9 takes a more open approach with NPCs and multiple paths.
2023 has been filled to the brim with top-tier game releases. Among the many AAA titles and sequels to established franchises was the revived classic Dead Space, now fully rebuilt from the ground up for next-generation devices. Remakes are nothing new, with the trend seemingly becoming popularized by the Resident Evil remakes starting in 2002. Since then, many remakes of popular Resident Evil titles, as well as other franchises, have been made. Perhaps inspired by the success of these remakes, EA and developer Motive Studios have re-introduced the world to Dead Space and loaded the new revamp with plenty of modern features. One of these features in particular could help make the next Resident Evil game even better.
The original Dead Space was stated to have been inspired by Resident Evil 4, taking elements of the control scheme and camera angles from that game. Of course, there are other elements taken from the classic survival horror franchise as well. The emphasis on atmosphere, resource scarcity, and engaging combat are all staples of the genre that Resident Evil helped establish. Taking those inspirations, Dead Space went on to innovate features and mechanics of its own. Things were taken even further with the Dead Space remake, where entirely new systems were engineered to help craft a unique and memorable experience every playthrough. Among these systems is the Intensity Director, a system that Resident Evil should pay attention to.
What Resident Evil Could Learn From Dead Space Remake
Dead Space's Intensity Director is a dynamic system that the Developers implemented in order to adjust a player's experience in real-time. It essentially tracks the peaks and valleys of the "intensity level" of the game in order to engineer a satisfying yet terrifying experience for every player. It does this by controlling everything from the atmospheric elements like steam, to sound effects and enemy encounters. The aim is to time everything perfectly so that players don't get burnt out from constant stress but also don't feel they are overly safe and secure for too long.
Due to the real-time processes of Dead Space's Intensity Director, each play session or subsequent playthrough will be slightly different. The Intensity Director is basically taking enemy AI to the next level. This differs from the traditional alternative which would require expertly crafted experiences that are perfectly designed to generate the feeling of fear from a player. Of course, Dead Space is a well-designed game outside these systems, but the Intensity Director adds to the experience by adding a layer of unpredictability.
Resident Evil has had substantial updates and innovations over the years to make encounters feel unique and terrifying. But a system like the Intensity Director would add to Resident Evil's already superb survival horror gameplay. The Intensity Director is described as a "content organization, spawning, and pacing control system", which helps make each playthrough unique. As Resident Evil games promote multiple plays, a system like this could ensure the game always stays fresh.
A system like the Intensity Director would be well suited for a future Resident Evil game like the rumored Resident Evil 9. Especially if rumors prove to be true and the game takes a more open approach that has the player interacting with NPCs. It would be interesting to see an Intensity Director system managing an environment with NPCs and multiple paths to choose from. Resident Evil served as the inspiration for Dead Space, so it would be only fitting if RE took some inspiration from Dead Space now.
Dead Space is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
