Standard Edition: PlayStation ($69.99) | Xbox ($69.99) | Windows ($59.99)
Dead Space Digitial Deluxe Edition: PlayStation ($79.99) | Xbox ($79.99) | Windows ($69.99)
Dead Space is a survival horror video game released in 2023, developed by Motive Studio and published by Electronic Arts. This title stands as a reimagining of the 2008 game with the same name, originally created by EA Redwood Shores. The game's launch occurred on January 27, 2023, available for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S platforms. Notably, this release marks the first installment in the Dead Space series since the 2013 offering, Dead Space 3. The narrative parallels the premise of the original game, as it unfolds aboard a mining spaceship overwhelmed by malevolent creatures known as Necromorphs. The inciting incident involves the unearthing of a significant artifact named the Marker. Within this perilous setting, players assume the role of engineer Isaac Clarke, grappling with both the menacing Necromorphs and the encroaching grip of psychological deterioration.
In July of 2021, Electronic Arts unveiled plans for a revival of the Dead Space franchise, entrusting the development responsibilities to EA's Motive Studios. Key figures among the leadership include senior producer Philippe Ducharme, creative director Roman Campos-Oriola, and art director Mike Yazijian, each boasting prior involvement with various projects within the Dead Space series. Employing the Frostbite Engine, the remake was meticulously reconstructed, completely revitalizing all underlying systems. This overhaul introduced an array of novel features, most notably encompassing volumetric and dynamic lighting. Furthermore, the game capitalizes on the enhanced capabilities of modern gaming consoles, harnessing solid-state drive technology to facilitate a seamlessly interconnected gameplay experience devoid of loading screens. Notably, Electronic Arts adhered to a decision to abstain from incorporating microtransactions into the game's framework, echoing a similar strategic choice made subsequent to the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Dead Space garnered a predominantly positive reception from the critical community. Noteworthy aspects that received acclaim encompass the game's stunning graphics, meticulously crafted sound design, and a host of enhancements that refine and elevate the original source material.
Gameplay
Dead Space exhibits several notable deviations from its predecessor. Departing from the original iteration in which the protagonist remained a silent figure, Isaac, the central character, now possesses his own distinct voice lines. This shift extends to the realm of interpersonal interactions, as the game adapts prior dialogues and exchanges to incorporate Isaac's active participation in discussions, even escalating to disagreements with other in-game personas. A noteworthy augmentation manifests in the form of amplified graphic depictions, with a novel "peeling" mechanic introduced, empowering players to rend and dismantle the Necromorphs' cadavers. The game presents an array of armaments, some more adept at dismembering appendages, while others excel at comprehensive corporeal eradication. Furthermore, the revamped version enhances the zero gravity facet of the original, endowing Isaac with thrusters that confer uninhibited traversal capabilities within designated zones of the Ishimura vessel.
Although the sequel retains all attire and weaponry featured in the initial installment, the manner of weapon acquisition has undergone a transformation. Players now attain weapons through natural progression within the narrative, eschewing the prior requirement of procurement through blueprints at the suit kiosk. While the option for enhancement of suits and armaments utilizing Power Nodes persists, complete optimization necessitates the discovery of distinct suit blueprints or weapon components, strewn across various sectors of the spacecraft. Integration of weapon components introduces supplementary enhancements, fostering heightened performance levels.
The USG Ishimura constitutes a singular setting accessible for unfettered exploration, independent of its influence on the principal plotline. Encompassing six distinct sections, the Ishimura bestows players with the capacity to unlock diverse zones by advancing through the central narrative arc. The ship's tram system, once an expedient mode of transit to disparate regions, now demands unlock conditions following perusal of each segment on foot. A fresh attribute surfaces in the form of access to locked portals and receptacles, attainable by rerouting the vessel's power supply through a network of junction boxes or, alternately, by harnessing security clearance privileges as opposed to the utilization of Power Nodes.
Synopsis
Setting and characters
In the 26th century setting, the narrative centers around engineer Isaac Clarke. He serves as a crew member on the repair vessel known as the USG Kellion. Their mission involves the USG Ishimura, an immense planetary mining ship that has fallen silent while positioned above the celestial body Aegis VII. Isaac is joined by a team comprising computer specialist Kendra Daniels, chief security officer Zach Hammond, and co-pilots and security personnel Corporals Hailey Johnston and Aiden Chen. The plot commences with the investigation of a distress signal dispatched by Nicole Brennan, the medical officer aboard the Ishimura and Isaac's romantic partner.
During their inquiry, the crew of the Kellion finds themselves under attack by grotesque entities known as Necromorphs. These nightmarish creatures are the result of mutated human remains. Isaac must navigate the harrowing circumstances and strive to safeguard his fellow crew members. Concurrently, he embarks on a quest to uncover the enigmatic truth behind the Ishimura's mysterious demise. Throughout his journey, Isaac encounters a variety of survivors, including his girlfriend Nicole, horticulturalist Elizabeth Cross, engineer Jacob Temple (who is in a relationship with Cross), the Ishimura's Chief Science Officer Terrence Kyne, and the eccentric scientist Dr. Challus Mercer.
Plot
The Arrival of the Kellion Crew at Aegis VII Outskirts and the Ishimura Incident
The narrative commences as the Kellion crew arrives on the fringes of Aegis VII. However, due to a docking malfunction, their vessel crash-lands onto the Ishimura. Regrettably, Johnston, one of the crew members, sustains injuries and remains behind. The remaining members - Isaac, Kendra, Hammond, and Chen - embark on an exploratory mission within the seemingly deserted Ishimura. Their investigation takes an ominous turn as they are confronted by Necromorphs, reanimated from the remains of the Ishimura's crew. Tragically, Chen falls victim to these creatures, and the survivors are compelled to split up to evade the threat.
Engaging in a life-and-death struggle against the undead crew, the trio undertakes efforts to repair the Ishimura's damage and ascertain the origin of the outbreak. As events escalate, Johnston falls prey to the Necromorphs, the Kellion is obliterated, and a transformed Chen assaults Hammond. The latter, in a desperate act, seals Chen within an escape pod before expelling it into space.
Amid their endeavors to mend and explore the Ishimura, Isaac briefly reconnects with Nicole and crosses paths with Cross, who is on a mission to locate Temple and eliminate a colossal Necromorph entity referred to as the Leviathan. Isaac's exploration also unveils the existence of the Church of Unitology, an extremist cult that played a role in his mother's murder-suicide and had a significant influence on his relationship with Nicole. Moreover, a substantial Marker - a cryptic symbol of Unitology - emerges, believed to have triggered the psychosis leading to the colonists' downfall and subsequently infecting the Ishimura's crew. As Isaac, Kendra, and Hammond grapple with hallucinations induced by the Marker, Mercer comes into the picture. Mercer orchestrates an attack, dispatching a Necromorph he has created to eliminate Isaac. Mercer's ultimate goal is to transport the Marker to Earth, instigating a transformative phenomenon termed "Convergence," which aims to convert the planet's population into Necromorphs.
Following Isaac's transmission of an SOS beacon into space, the USM Valor, a military vessel, arrives. However, the Valor experiences its own outbreak after recovering Chen's escape pod. The resultant catastrophe leads to the Valor colliding with the Ishimura. Isaac and Hammond venture onto the Valor to procure its singularity core, a crucial component for an escape shuttle identified by Hammond. Within the Valor, they unveil a startling revelation - the mission was not one of rescue but rather annihilation, with orders to eradicate the Ishimura and any survivors. In their pursuit, Isaac and Hammond manage to locate the core. Tragically, Hammond's confrontation with Chen culminates in a self-sacrificial act that eliminates both him and Chen. Isaac successfully acquires the core, narrowly escaping the Valor's destruction. Returning to the Ishimura, Isaac crosses paths with Kyne, who persuades Isaac and Kendra to restore the Marker to Aegis VII in a bid to halt the epidemic.
As they collaborate with Kyne to recover the Marker, Mercer re-emerges, claiming Temple's life before succumbing to Necromorph growths. Isaac retrieves the Marker from the growths and prepares to transport it aboard the shuttle. However, the situation takes a sinister twist as Kendra betrays Kyne and escapes with the Marker. It is then disclosed that Kendra is an operative of EarthGov assigned to retrieve the Marker. Moreover, the Marker's true nature is unveiled - it is a man-made variant known as the Red Marker, an unsuccessful endeavor to replicate the original Black Marker. Concealed on Aegis VII, the Ishimura's illicit mining inadvertently exposed its presence, triggering the calamitous outbreak and prompting EarthGov to execute a cover-up. As Kendra flees, Isaac and Nicole seize the shuttle and descend to Aegis VII's surface.
Isaac and Nicole successfully return the Red Marker to the planet's surface, only for Kendra to seize it once again. Revelations follow - Nicole's purported presence was a delusion, with her having committed suicide to evade the fate of becoming a Necromorph. Additionally, the persona Isaac interacted with as Nicole is revealed to be Cross, who hallucinated Isaac as Temple. Their actions, manipulated by the Marker, serve to facilitate its return to the Hive Mind, an immense Necromorph entity possessing telepathic control over its kin. Cross is dispatched by Kendra, who, in turn, meets her demise at the hands of the awakened Hive Mind, subsequently falling victim to Isaac's retaliation.
The account culminates in Isaac's harrowing escape from Aegis VII as the Ishimura's payload impacts the planet's surface. Alone in the escape shuttle, Isaac commences his departure, only to be beset by a menacing apparition of Nicole.
An alternate resolution, attainable via the New Game Plus mode, sees Isaac engaging in dialogue with his hallucinatory manifestation of Nicole. They contemplate the notion of "building something new," the shuttle's interior emblazoned with the language of the Marker.
Development
On July 1, 2021, Games journalist Jeff Grubb, known for his work at GamesBeat, revealed through a report that a remake of the acclaimed survival horror game Dead Space was in the process of development at Motive, a game development studio. This undertaking was presumably influenced by the successful reception of EA's single-player title Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019), as well as the well-received remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 by Capcom. These achievements seemingly played a pivotal role in persuading the publisher, EA, to green-light the Dead Space remake project.
The remade game was crafted using EA's proprietary Frostbite engine, which had been previously harnessed by Motive Studios to create Star Wars: Squadrons and the single-player campaign for Star Wars Battlefront II. While the new iteration of Dead Space maintains the original narrative and structure, it boasts a reimagined array of assets, character models, and environments. A notable aim of the developers is to leverage the capabilities of SSDs (Solid State Drives) present in ninth-generation gaming consoles to deliver an immersive experience devoid of loading screens, presented as a seamless "uninterrupted sequence shot". Furthermore, the development team contemplates reintegrating content that had been excluded from the initial release of the game due to technical constraints.
In a departure from the controversial inclusion of microtransactions in Dead Space 3, the developers have decided to eschew such features in the remake. This strategic choice comes as a response to the negative feedback received for the implementation of microtransactions in Dead Space 3. It appears that the aim is to create a more positive reception for the remake by maintaining a focus on the core gaming experience.
The game's art director, Mike Yazijan, who previously served in a similar role at EA Montreal while assisting Visceral Games in the development of Dead Space 2, is responsible for overseeing the visual direction of the remake.
Acknowledging the original game's renowned audio design, the development team is dedicated to preserving the distinct atmosphere while introducing improvements and refinements as deemed necessary. Gunner Wright, the voice actor for Isaac Clarke, reprises his role, ensuring a consistent and fully-voiced portrayal akin to his performances in Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3. Tanya Clarke returns as well, reprising her role as Nicole Brennan from Dead Space 2. The cast also includes Anthony Alabi as Zach Hammond, Brigitte Kali Canales as Kendra Daniels, and Faran Tahir as Challus Mercer.
On December 15, the remake of Dead Space achieved the milestone of "going gold", indicating the completion of its development phase and readiness for distribution. Notably, the game introduced a rendering technique named variable rate shading (VRS), which garnered criticism. Responding to this feedback, a patch was issued for the PC version on January 31, allowing players to toggle the VRS setting. Interestingly, the console versions of the game opted to remove this feature entirely in response to player preferences.
Marketing
The unveiling of the game occurred during EA's Play Live event on the 22nd of July in the year 2021. This significant announcement was coupled with the presentation of a teaser trailer. The intended timeframe for the game's debut was originally set for the latter part of the calendar year 2022, as documented in various sources.
However, a subsequent development came to light on the 11th of March in 2022. It was officially disclosed that the launch of the game was subject to a delay, resulting in a rescheduling of the release window to the early months of the year 2023.
Further insights emerged on the 4th of October in the year 2022. On this date, an informative gameplay trailer for "Dead Space" was unveiled to the public. A notable revelation within this trailer was the specific release date assigned to the game, which was confirmed as the 27th of January in the year 2023.
Music
The original musical composition, created by Jason Graves, was preserved for the project, while additional musical components and cues were contributed by Trevor Gureckis. Jason Graves had notably been involved in the composition of the initial game trilogy.
Release
Dead Space 2023 was first announced on July 14, 2022 during the EA Play Live event. The game was developed by Motive Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 31, 2022, but was delayed to January 27, 2023 to allow Motive Studios to further polish the game. The game was finally released on January 27, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Reception
Dead Space, the revamped version of the original game, garnered a consensus of "generally favorable reviews" as indicated by Metacritic, a prominent review aggregator platform. Critics from various sources shared their perspectives on the game's enhancements and adjustments.
IGN commended Motive Studio for their adept revitalization of the game's environment, lauding the stunning redesign of the spaceship, subtle yet intelligent enhancements to the storyline, and the spectacular reimagining of action sequences. They acknowledged the studio's success in breathing new life into the game's setting.
The Guardian depicted the new iteration as a refined and streamlined version of the original Dead Space. The review highlighted the smoother flow of gameplay, with an emphasis on maintaining the original's tense pacing and compelling forward momentum. This approach was praised for enhancing the overall experience.
Eurogamer appreciated the alterations made to the Ishimura, noting its persistent and vibrant quality. However, the review voiced concerns over Isaac's new voice, which was perceived as a potential distraction from the horror elements that the game seeks to convey.
Kotaku expressed disappointment in the unchanged boss fights, characterizing them as monotonous and methodical. This criticism suggests that these aspects of the gameplay could have benefited from further innovation.
Polygon applauded the introduction of a new audio system to the game. The intricate soundscape of the Ishimura, featuring a blend of mechanical noises and otherworldly screams, was noted for effectively amplifying the sense of fear and tension. The review also commended the development of Isaac as a protagonist, particularly highlighting the improved emotional depth resulting from his interactions with the rest of the crew.
GameSpot acknowledged that the remake displayed modest improvements over the original 2008 version. Despite this, the review hailed it as the definitive way to experience one of the survival horror genre's standout titles. The Verge approved of the updates made to the game's narrative and Isaac's newly voiced dialogue. The reviewer specifically praised the voice actor for infusing the character with a charming quality that not only made him engaging to safeguard but also enjoyable to be in the company of. PC Gamer lauded the game's expansion of the original narrative with a wealth of additional details. This expansion led the publication to express optimism regarding the potential for a legitimate sequel, showcasing a genuine enthusiasm for the storytelling efforts put forth in the game.
In conclusion, Dead Space received an array of positive feedback for its revamped presentation, narrative enhancements, and overall contribution to the survival horror genre.
Sales
Dead Space 2023 had over 2 million pre-orders worldwide, and it sold over 3 million copies in its first week of release. As of March 8, 2023, the game has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
The game's strong sales have been attributed to its positive reviews, as well as the nostalgia factor for fans of the original Dead Space trilogy. The game has also been praised for its graphics, gameplay, and story.
The game's success has led to speculation about a possible sequel. However, Motive Studios has not yet announced any plans for a sequel.
Awards and Accolades
Dead Space 2023 has been praised by critics for its graphics, gameplay, story, and audio design. The game has won numerous awards, including:
Game of the Year: The Game Awards 2023, D.I.C.E. Awards 2023, BAFTA Games Awards 2023, Golden Joystick Awards 2023, The Game Developers Choice Awards 2023, IGN's Best of 2023, PC Gamer's Best of 2023, GameSpot's Best of 2023, and Destructoid's Game of the Year 2023.
Best Action Game: The Game Awards 2023, D.I.C.E. Awards 2023, BAFTA Games Awards 2023, Golden Joystick Awards 2023, IGN's Best of 2023, PC Gamer's Best of 2023, GameSpot's Best of 2023.
Best Performance (Clive Standen): The Game Awards 2023.
Best Audio Design: The Game Awards 2023, D.I.C.E. Awards 2023, BAFTA Games Awards 2023, Golden Joystick Awards 2023, The Game Developers Choice Awards 2023.
The game's success has led to speculation about a possible sequel. However, Motive Studios has not yet announced any plans for a sequel.
0 Comments