The upcoming release calendar has a lot in store for horror fans, including EA's Dead Space remake. After months of behind-the-scenes updates and news, the studio finally released the first full gameplay trailer for the remake of the now legendary 2008 survival space horror title. The Dead Space remake will need to prove its renewed appeal while preserving the legacy of the original, and what's been shown so far suggests EA Motive has managed to do just that.
The trailer showcased some iconic Dead Space moments as an ode to its loyal fan base, as well as showing off the updated feel sure to pull new fans into its terrifying world. With how much has been improved - from lighting, to models, and even small gameplay and story elements - this new trailer puts to bed any ideas that it may be a simple graphical upgrade, showing that it really could be a remake worthy of its next-gen status. The main changes being made seem like EA Motive has focused on alterations that amp up the game's already brutal fear factor.
The Dead Space Remake Is Making All the Right Changes
One of the main changes expected in remakes is visuals, and the Dead Space remake has some significant improvements that go far beyond a simple graphical update. The USG Ishimura has an almost entirely reworked interior, with huge amounts of detail added to every wall and corner. Additions like rivets, pipes, wires, and reworked particles like sparks and steam make the ship feel more like a real place rather than a video game setting. Developer update videos have also shown changes to environments such as new assets, like furniture and debris. These new environmental storytelling features add to the feeling that the ship was a real lived-in space where something horrifying has gone down.
That's also brought to life by the reworked lighting of the game. Lighting is a lot more realistic, with ray tracing and shadows adding to the depth of all those new assets and details of the ship. The recent trailer also shows how the improved lighting has added to the game's terrifying feel. Areas seem to be less brightly lit and shadows appear much darker than before, with greater contrast between the player's flashlight and the now almost pitch-black corridors. It's a great illustration of how EA Motive's work on the new lighting system will impact the tense atmosphere and fear of the unknown that makes the game so frightening.
The trailer also featured some of the new dialogue from Isaac Clarke, with the character being voiced by Gunner Wright, an actor who is reprising his role from Dead Space 2 and 3. Isaac's silence added to him being a relatable vessel for the player in the original, so the change was controversial for some fans. However, his psychological story becomes a major factor in the horror of the game. As such, giving him a voice could help explore this in a more impactful way, with the potential for some memorably terrified reactions from the character for players to empathize with.
Isaac's non-verbal reactions to the dreadful happenings around him are also changing. While it seems like a small deal, the developers say the new ALIVE system of the remake reworks things like his heartbeat and breathing based on contextual cues. It's an easy-to-overlook facet of horror media, but things like that convey fear and build suspense without interjecting dialogue, so a more immersive system for them is sure to add to the Dead Space remake's frightfulness.
Remakes and remasters don't always go down great, so questioning the value added in revisiting games is expected. That may have almost been the case here too. The original Dead Space has aged incredibly well, despite the fact it will be 15 years old when the remake releases. Everything from its sound design to its gameplay means it's gone down as one of the greatest horror games ever. Its visuals have also held up very well, especially on the PC version. Hopefully, these changes show how the game has improved on its already incredible formula by amplifying its horror.
The Dead Space remake will release on January 27, 2023, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
