Bracing for the sci‑fi horror thrills: Is the 'Dead Space' Remake worth its price tag?

The essence of Dead Space remains intact. Isaac Clarke, a space engineer (whose name is a charming tribute to Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke), along with his team, respond to an S.O.S signal. It originates from the Ishimura space base. Upon arrival, they discover that almost nothing remains of the vast crew, except for copious amounts of blood, dismembered limbs, entrails, and other gruesome sights. At this point, it's worth noting -- Dead Space pulls no punches. It's unapologetically brutal, and the word "gloomy" can readily apply to every element of the game. For those with a weak stomach, consider this a cautionary tale.

At a certain point, Isaac must venture alone and courageously navigate his way through the dark corridors of Ishimura's industrial interiors. The unsettling sounds, moody music, flickering single lights, swaying shadows, and oppressive darkness are merely the opening act in a macabre theater of horror masterminded by the game's creators. Arrayed against us are numerous grotesque adversaries, each boasting exceptional resilience. Our most effective and savage solution? Dismemberment, aided by our trusty plasma cutter, which efficiently severs protruding limbs. Over time, the arsenal expands. Unlike the original game, we don't purchase additional weapons; we find them.

Here's a pro tip: flailing at the enemy's body isn't effective. Severing the legs and then stomping on them ensures your survival. Devotees of dark spectacle will find this game appeals to them. Each brutal encounter is accented with utterly satisfying sounds of carnage, complete with fountains of blood and gobbets of flesh. The game's opening hours are especially nerve-wracking. The oppressive darkness is often punctuated only by the slight glow of your flashlight, attached to the aforementioned cutter. And despite being familiar with the original, even mundane items like a mop bucket managed to startle me! Shadows work to great effect here, creating impressive visuals. The developers deserve praising for the new animations and creature designs.

Then there's the audio experience. Those brave enough to play Dead Space Remake at night, in a dim room, while wearing headphones are in for a shock. And preferably on the highest difficulty level. This ensures Dead Space bears all its frightful teeth. Unfortunately, as with the original, the steady onslaught of horror eventually numbs you, slightly reducing the tension. The operative word here is "slightly".

A few more innovations are present in Dead Space. The game is less linear now, and more analogous to a Metroidvania, requiring you to revisit previous locations to access new areas and parts of Ishimura. Side quests add depth to the backstory, revealing the fate of the former crew members. Some locales or containers can only be accessed after upgrading Isaac's exosuit, or RIG. Dedicated players must be prepared for occasional backtracking to fully explore every location and discover every collectible.

The new rendition of Dead Space completely eliminates loading screens, offering a seamless, one-shot experience like in God of War. The developers plan to pack in extra features at launch, such as a new game + mode, new necromorphs, and a new suit. And the cherry on top? A secret, alternate ending.

In addition to the marked improvements in audiovisual aspects, the underlying mechanics enhance the sense of playing a game made in this era. This feeling is particularly notable in sections set in zero gravity. A few hiccups, like the awkward landing mechanics and some bugs, dampen the experience a bit. Once, enemies turned invisible and were reduced to floating groins on the screen, another time, objects hovered mysteriously in mid-air. Thankfully a game reset remedied these issues, but let's hope such glitches get ironed out before the release.

A highlight of the remake is improved boss fights. Without spoiling anything, the limitations posed to previous developers no longer apply, resulting in more intense and challenging battles.

The original Dead Space sold just over 1 million copies worldwide – not exactly a blockbuster. Regardless, it acquired a devoted fanbase and is hailed as a cult classic in certain circles. The survival horror genre is quite niche. Games lacking familiar terms like "Resident" and "Evil" struggle to make a splash, let alone a smashing success. Thus, the logic behind revitalizing the series is clear. And, if the remake is successful, it might pave the way for a sequel or a reboot of other Dead Space titles.

Here's the catch: the pricing. Sony is charging about $73 for the Dead Space remake on PlayStation 5. You can check out the original version on the Xbox through Game Pass, for much less. Does a technological leap warrant such a hefty price tag when it's essentially the same tale? That's subjective. Personally, given the dearth of quality games in the genre, I see the reissue as reasonable.

The game was reviewed on a PlayStation 5 console. The screenshots accompanying this review were provided by the editorial team. The key for the game was provided by the publisher, Electronic Arts.