Remakes seem more commonplace in the past two generations than any other.

Whether it’s a lack of new ideas, an overwhelming desire to revisit games we once loved, or something else entirely, regardless, they’re here in abundance.

And when they’re of the quality of a Dead Space or a Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, that is absolutely more than ok with me.

Dead Space seemed to be…well…dead. A franchise lost to time after a strong initial showing but followed with sequels that failed to recapture the magic.

The games understood the very nature of horror, how to build an atmosphere, create a genuine threat and put it in a sci-fi setting that stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Alien.

But it also made it entertaining for the player by using a series of unique weapons like a Plasma Cutter and the Ripper, which feed into the game’s whole concept of tearing your enemies apart, limb from limb.

We’re not just shooting guns here, we’re systematically breaking down our enemies, weakening them, immobisiling them, then stamping on their heads when they’re vulnerable to finish them off.

Dead Space had a level of brutality about it nobody had seen at the time, it was as refreshing as it was cringeworthy, which is little wonder why it went on to be such a cult hit.

I always wondered why it took so long to revisit the franchise. The sales of the third game definitely scared EA, no question, but on this level of hardware, in 4K, at a silky smooth 60FPS, with 3D Audio, the potential is vast.

And that’s exactly what this remake proves. Motive have completely nailed the assignment here, bringing this legendary franchise back the way you remember it, but updating it to suit modern platforms, working with mechanics and features that were introduced in later games to keep it up to date, and even adding in new content to compliment the experience.

This is the very definition of a good remake. It plays identically to the original game of fifteen years ago with the save terminals your only means of keeping progress, your suit telling you how low your health is and Isaac fighting through dark, murky corridors filled with god knows what.

But this remake also humanizes Isaac, regularly seeing the character with his helmet off, talking with his crew mates in person and over intercoms. We explore his past and his relationships, we hear the fear in his voice as he starts to learn more about these abominations. All things we never got the first time around.

The remake introduces Side Missions as a result, so you can spend time exploring additional rooms, looking out for logs of crew members and learning more about what happened on Ishimura.

Of course, it’s all presented in glorious 4K, with the lighting more vibrant and dazzling than before, smoke pilfering rooms, and atmospherically lingering as the music changes and a threat nears. Characters are more expressive than ever, as they try to survive in this high-stakes, action-packed, thrill ride where disaster happens around every corner.

And it all runs seamlessly, with not a single loading screen in sight and the action never breaking for an instant at 60 FPS. With the original, strong core gameplay loop ever intact and everything running without a hiccup, Dead Space plays like a butter and because of that, is more immersive and intense than ever before.

Don’t get me wrong, that also makes it all the more enjoyable. I loved learning more about the characters, I felt more connected to them than ever before, and I found myself really wanting to spend time wandering the station, looking for more. Even if that meant putting myself in a tight spot and narrow corridor with the stuff of my nightmares.

Everything about this remake feels polished to perfection, from the transition between chapters, the introduction of new weapons and enemies, puzzle solving and the regular use of a variety of mechanics. Even the plot points, old and new. I was glued to my controller from the word go and could not put it down.

This feels different to the Resident Evil remakes too. That franchise never really lost its way, it kept going, despite one or two entries not hitting the mark and in some ways, you could argue those remakes were more necessary as the games were older. Getting another Dead Space game in 2023 was never a sure thing, especially when it was going up against the new face of fear, The Callisto Protocol.

And considering this isn’t a vast difference, save for some new missions and a new lick of paint, it wasn’t always guaranteed an audience. But the confidence of making sure Dead Space sticks to its Plasma Cutters and maintains the identity that set it apart all those years ago is what makes this such a good remake and exactly the lifeline this franchise needed.

The horror is never too over the top or grotesque, unlike Callisto. The action always follows a stable, steady rhythm, and anyone can dive in and find a game they can connect with on some level.

Dead Space is a brilliant return for Isaac Clarke and despite being a fifteen year old game, considering there isn’t a drastic change in mechanics, this doesn’t feel dated or old in anyway. If this isn’t the beginning of exciting new things for this franchise, it never will be.

I did not think I could enjoy this game any more than I do, but I was so utterly wrong.

Verdict

Dead Space is a world class remake that thrives on next-gen and remains absolutely horrifyingly brilliant. The gameplay hasn’t aged a day, it looks, feels, and plays better than ever, and the new content make this a must-buy, whether you’re new to Dead Space or you’re back for another trip to the Ishimura. I always thought Isaac Clarke deserved better and thankfully Motive’s efforts have given him a well-deserved lifeline and hope for a very promising future indeed. 

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Pros

Dead Space is out now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox 

Played on Xbox Series X

Code Kindly Provided by EA