Released on October 13, 2008, the survival horror video game Dead Space made a splash in the medium and established a major horror franchise. More importantly, Dead Space felt like the natural evolution of the two series that created modern survival horror: Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The game took the controls and presentation of the successful Resident Evil 4 and the psychologically terrifying edge of Silent Hill while pulling its twist by setting the game in space. After its release, Dead Space sold over one million copies, produced spin-offs and original animated movies. With the much-anticipated release of the original game’s remake, I decided to look back at Dead Space and the legacy of the franchise.
The game’s story follows Isaac Clarke, an engineer in the year 2508 who explores the USG Ishimura to discover what happened to his girlfriend Nicole and the dead residents of the ship. Immediately after docking their ship, the Kellion on the Ishimura, Isaac and chief security officer Zach Hammond, computer technician Kendra Daniels, and company are attacked by necromorphs, the undead infected corpses of the ship’s crew. For most of the game, the player controls Isaac as he attempts to find a way off the Ishimura, where Nicole is among the carnage and monsters. No one else can save Isaac; he must rise to the occasion or die.
While replaying Dead Space, I was amazed at the level of detail and world design executive producer and creator Glen Schofield and Visceral Games achieved in 2008. Compared to similar games during that time and console generation, the studio maximized what was possible with that hardware. Although it pales compared to what modern systems can achieve today, the lighting elements and environmental details still impress me. The studio crafted a perfect moody and foreboding atmosphere on the USG Ishimura. Along those lines, the game’s art direction immerses the player in the world. Similar to Alien or Event Horizon, the areas of the ship have a familiar but alien practical/mechanical aesthetic with a splash of gothic. The world feels lived in and quite terrifying thanks to the team nailing the tension and horrific atmosphere. Even though I played Dead Space before, I still felt my nerves tense up during my current playthrough, due in no small part to the lighting and the environments. You never truly feel safe on the USG Ishimura and slowly creep forward, awaiting the next pack of necromorphs to lunge forward or crawl out of the air vents. Unlike similar games with a distinct and visual heads-up display (HUD), the HUD for Dead Space occurs naturally in the game. Isaac’s health bar is displayed as his suit, and ammo count is presented within the weapon. Even the in-game menu is a projection from Isaac’s suit. The in-game aspect of these elements further engrosses the player in the game world.
A vital aspect of the game lies in the protagonist Isaac Clarke. Compared to the experienced military and police characters in series like Resident Evil, Isaac is an everyday engineer thrust into the horror on the ship. With no formal combat training, he must utilize his engineering skills to overcome the problems in his path, survive, and find Nicole. Even his “armor” is his engineering suit which provides essential protection, and his trusty weapon, the plasma cutter, originated as a mining tool. Isaac is a silent protagonist and would not speak until the sequel, Dead Space 2. Ultimately, the developers wanted Isaac to be a surrogate for the player, allowing them to stand in his shoes to adequately experience the game’s horror. Isaac’s ordinary and scrappy nature helped propel him into a modern-day icon and the face of the franchise. Based on his design and memorability, I would place him in the upper pantheon of horror video game characters.
Another one of Dead Space’s most significant assets lies in its innovative sound design. Whether it be the sound of the weapons, necromorphs, or the creaky nature of the ship itself, the sound helps craft the game’s horror. More specifically, even if no enemies are visible, the sound still forces the player to be aware of their surroundings, prepared for the variable hell to break loose. Much like any great horror movie, the sounds play in service to the scares and heighten the atmosphere and terror. Sound designer Don Veca and his team’s work, along with Jason Graves’ incredible score, elevates a great game into a fantastic one. Ever since I first played, I cannot get rid of the necromorph’s guttural cries and screams, and I cautiously await them each time I replay.
In survival horror video games, the main focus lies on resource management and surviving against hordes of brutal enemies. Dead Space’s gameplay takes vast inspiration from Resident Evil 4 with its third-person over-the-shoulder camera. Unlike Resident Evil 4, Isaac does not need to stand still to attack but can move and attack simultaneously. Because of his background, Isaac differs from similar heroes in combat since there is a much more deliberate weight to his attacks. Apart from the tank nature of his engineering suit, his melee attacks, punches and stomps have a longer wind-up time leaving you in a greater timespan of danger. While playing the game, you have limited inventory spaces and must choose what items to carry and which to leave behind. It never feels unfair but forces the player to prioritize. Do you need the extra ammo, or will the medical pack be more useful in the future?
When it comes to combat, the design of the necromorphs plays a significant role. Unlike similar games where you fire at the monster to kill, Dead Space focuses on dismembering the necromorphs limb by limb. As a result of the infection, the corpses’ limbs break and jag out of the body into new and twisted shapes. This change adds strategy to combat and forces the player to focus on accuracy and target specific body parts. The difficulty increases when a swarm of necromorphs charges and players must think on their feet, deciding how to take out threats without being killed. I never felt that my death occurred cheaply or unfairly, but I needed to be much more intelligent and faster when dealing with the threats.
Dead Space’s recognition as one of the greatest games of all time cannot be understated. Besides carrying the survival horror torch, it also established a successful franchise among the other major ones. As beloved entries like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 received the remake treatment, it was no surprise that the first Dead Space would also be getting one. Even if the original came out a little over a decade ago, hopefully, the remake will modernize it for current audiences without losing the horrific edges and unique elements that made it beloved in the first place.
Dead Space 2023 is now available.
