Dead Space Review: The Ultimate Survival Horror Experience – A Next-Gen Remake That Delivers on Every Level

by Luis January 26, 2023

Dead Space, the latest release from Electronic Arts, is a remastered version of the 2008 sci-fi survival horror classic. Developed by Motive Studio, this remake is a fresh take on the classic game and offers a host of improvements and refinements to the original. This title is available for modern gaming PCs, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

For those unaware of the premise, Dead Space is a survival horror video game that takes place in the future on a mining spaceship called the USG Ishimura. The protagonist, Isaac Clarke, is a systems engineer sent to the ship to investigate a distress signal and find his girlfriend, Nicole. Upon arrival, he finds that the ship’s crew has been infected by a mysterious alien substance, turning them into mutated monsters known as Necromorphs. Isaac must survive against these creatures and uncover the truth behind the ship’s downfall while also dealing with the remnants of the crew and a religious cult known as the Unitologists. Through his journey, he discovers the origins of the Necromorphs and the evil behind the ship’s problems, leading to a climactic showdown to save humanity.

Dead Space’s presentation elevates the horror experience by using light and shadows to create an eerie atmosphere. The audio and visual effects, including the haunting music, sound effects, fire, smoke, and fog, all contribute to the overall immersive experience. Players can also expect a more intense experience with the game’s haptic feedback features through the DualSense controller.

But Dead Space’s gory gameplay is the real highlight which has received a stunning upgrade with the new dismemberment system. By strategically cutting off the limbs of Necromorphs, players reveal their weaknesses and increase their chances of defeating them. This graphic combat is satisfying and sickening and makes the gameplay even more engaging.

For fans of the original game, there’s little new in this remake besides the visual and audio upgrades. The game continues to rely too heavily on jump scares to scare players, and while this might have worked 15 years ago, it’s now a tired and overused technique. There are also moments where it fails to maintain its frightening atmosphere consistently, veering between suspenseful moments and mundane exploration sections, breaking the immersion and ruining the experience.

Still, Dead Space is a must-play for fans of the original and for anyone who loves a good horror game. The game is faithful to its source material while introducing gameplay improvements and enhancements. With its improved presentation and gameplay, Dead Space stands tall among its next-gen console peers. The game’s graphic flaying system, updated presentation, and amped-up haptic feedback make for a truly frightening experience.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0