Highlights
- EA Motive's successful remake of Dead Space showcases its ability to meet expectations and deliver a game with great graphics and gameplay mechanics.
- The linear progression and story-focused level design of Dead Space could provide inspiration for a potential linear Iron Man game.
- The use of armor and weapon progression, collectible skins, and dynamic flight mechanics could make for an exciting and immersive Iron Man gaming experience.
After delighting gamers with its Dead Space remake, EA Motive has proven it could deliver an Iron Man game that meets expectations, especially in light of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's fanfare. EA Motive masterfully executed the 2008 survival horror's remake, improving the graphics and gameplay mechanics and subtly enhancing the linear story aboard the USG Ishimura. With the apparent success of linear progression and story-focused level design in the title, even with open-world mechanics dominating the gaming scene, there's some wonder about what a linear Iron Man game would look like.
Dead Space featured a couple of changes from the original, using the Frostbite Engine and rebuilding all its systems from scratch, keeping the title up to date with the current video game landscape. The developer expanded on the settings of the USG Ishimura, featuring the traditional scary lighting and atmospheric elements with a few more subtle additions, like new textures. All these eerie elements in the spaceship set Dead Space's narrative up magnificently, making players feel like an Engineer on a survival mission as they uncover the mysteries of the Ishimura, and with official confirmation of its development, EA Motive's Iron Man could toe a similar line.
A Linear Approach to Iron Man Would Be a Refreshing Experience
EA Motive’s Iron Man would likely want to replicate the gameplay immersion featured in Dead Space, and with the aid of Unreal Engine 5, the developer has the chance to deliver an exceptional leveled experience. For instance, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has received numerous plaudits for its plot quality, as even with a simple gameplay design, the dialogue choices and levels kept players engaged. Iron Man could replicate these aspects of the game, with Tony Stark stuck in large facilities akin to the levels in the USG Ishimura and Guardians of the Galaxy. The facilities could make up an open-ended series of maps, allowing possibilities to backtrack to unlock collectibles and other rewards.
A linear approach to storytelling could feature Iron Man's origin story, something that hasn't been revisited enough in movies or comics, with players possibly watching him grow from an emotionally troubled young genius to a playboy and finally the hero he eventually becomes. The earlier parts of his life could be short prologues, adding some depth to Motive's portrayal of the hero.
Consequently, armor progression would also be a fine addition to the game. Similarly to the gradual upgrade system used in Dead Space for Isaac's armor, gamers could see Tony going from the Mark One armor to his more recent nanotech suit closer to the classic Iron Man design. The weapons progression could work linearly as well, with Tony unlocking new weapons as well as upgrading previously gained weapons; he could also have the ability to scale all attributes and skills with suit upgrades.
The game could feature collectible Iron Man skins like Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man, where Peter and Miles don multiple Suits. Motive's success with flying mechanics could also shine through in the Iron Man game, considering the fast-paced fights in Star Wars: Squadrons and the improvements in the zero-G gameplay in Dead Space. Motive has a history of making in-game flight mechanics exciting to use, and given the strengths of a character like Iron Man, it's imperative to get the dynamic right.
Clever levels taking Tony to the streets or even outer space could implement aerial dog fights where he has to face his enemies while flying, making for exciting gameplay for players. Aside from combat, there could also be specific in-game modes or levels that utilize the Iron Man suit's flight capabilities to solve puzzles and advance through tricky environments. Motive could go in several directions for the game as it is still in pre-production. However, given Olivier Proulx's presence on the team and his past connection to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, a linear Iron Man game is very possible.
Iron Man is currently in development.