REVIEW: Dead Space Remake improves on the original in every way

In 2008 I had a fantastic experience with my first horror game, Dead Space. Set in a space station affected by a bizarre plague, the game masterfully mixed what Resident Evil 4 had conquered four years earlier with a complete modification of the rules of combat with grotesque creatures, and the title became a true classic.

Having two sequences that didn't conquer the public so much and that also gradually abandoned the horror of the series, Dead Space ended up lying dormant for a long time – until EA announced a remake of the first title, which generated a different kind of fear in players: that they would ruin a title that was still quietly functional.

But it is with a huge smile on my face that I say that this did not happen, with the remake de Dead Space released a few weeks ago for the Xbox Series X / S, PC e PS5Anyway, it is a fantastic and excellent experience. Check out our review:

It's never been so beautiful to be afraid as in Dead Space Remake

Anyone who played the original will be right at home in remake de Dead Space. Even though the technologies used in the game have been modified and updated, and the game rebuilt from scratch, the space station environment USG Ishimura remains familiar, but now impressively detailed, which goes a long way with the vibe of the title.

playing the remake No. Xbox series s – the version with less polished graphics – the impact comparing the new title with the original is quite absurd, starting with the model of the protagonist, Isaac, who has the iconic space engineer outfit now much more detailed, making the original look like a version made of cardboard.

The lighting is also excellent, even without the Ray Tracing available on the console we used to test the game. I was mostly amazed by one of the simplest things about the title: how the light from the menus, emitted by Isaac's clothes, serves to slightly illuminate the places where the character is. It's a silly detail, but it shows the technical quality of the game.

However, the beauty of the game is not only present in good places to see. You necromorphs, iconic enemies of the series, are now much more grotesque, with all parts of the bodies having details such as bones piercing the skin, necrotic tissue or inflammation that make looking at them uncomfortable, cooperating with the feeling of discomfort that a good game of terror must cause.

Gameplay improvements are also present

The graphical improvement is impressive, indeed, but the reality is that it is not the only way in which the remake de Dead Space improves on the original: the gameplay, which was far from bad, manages to border on perfection in the new one.

In general, the call gun play (term used to define the player's interaction with weapons and against enemies) is similar to the original, with the rules of combat against necromorphs identical to the originals: aim at the creatures' limbs, not the head – which must be trampled on when they are immobile – and the small variations depending on the monster's class, such as freeze or the like, are also present.

What has changed, and a lot, is the player's interaction with the USG Ishimura. In the original, the space station was extremely linear, with the moments when it was most open being those composed by the zero gravity sequence, much more due to a limitation of the mechanics itself than the design of the phase. 

Now at remake, while all places have familiarity compared to the original, they are expanded, allowing for more exploration; in addition, exploration of the space station regions is not only limited to the focus area of ​​the chapter in which the player is, with Isaac being able to use the transport stations to return to previously visited places, something completely non-existent in the original.

This creates a certain dynamic of thinking that, by obtaining new items, it is possible to open new paths, just like a metroidvania. Honestly, this is much more for game secrets, with the development of the plot following practically 1:1 what we had in the original, but it is still a good addition for fans, eliminating the need for a second campaign to find collectibles, for example. 

However, the most important and positive change in the game is in the zero gravity sessions. Forget the frustrating straight-line progression of the original, Isaac can now be fully controlled during these sequences, eliminating dissatisfaction and making the overall game experience more memorable, with no commentary highlighting the parts that, in the 2008 title, were commentary. common in all reviews as horrible moments. 

story expansion

But the improvements don't end with the gameplay: it's amazing what the remake de Dead Space manages to do with the story of the first adventure in the franchise with the simple addition of speech for Isaac. Now, the engineer reacts to the shocking moments happening around him, and that goes a long way in helping to sell the player on the tension of exploring the USG Ishimura.

In addition, Isaac's journey to find his wife, Nicole, gains more prominence, with an optional mission completely focused on the experiments and research that the scientist was doing before the outbreak of Necromorphs began on the space station - making the famous ending of the game more justifiable, with a more palpable background.

Conclusion

The remake of Dead Space it's the first great game of 2023, and it deserves that title. It's amazing how all my initial fears with him were lost in just over an hour. The campaign follows the standard 12 hours of the original, but I guarantee it was one of the most fun I've had this year so far.

Available to Xbox Series X / S, PS5 e PC, the new Dead Space it's a fantastic experience and recommended, even for those who aren't fans of horror games, as the title's action can keep people scared but still engaged. If you get a chance, play it.

See also other features

REVIEW: Hi-Fi Rush, an Xbox exclusive game