

The original Dead Space needed those changes, so its sequel made them. Those changes are all excellent, but it just means that EA Motive hasn’t made a case for how it could push Dead Space 2 forward with a similar treatment.

For instance, the zero-gravity sections have been reworked to function exactly as they did in Dead Space 2, Isaac’s kinesis RIG has been upgraded to allow the player to use it more aggressively in combat, Isaac is fully voiced by Gunner Wright to give his character a bigger part in the narrative, and the whole game follows Dead Space 2‘s lead of being one sequential, uncut shot. However, Dead Space 2 already did that in 2011, so most of the major changes that are featured in the remake simply bring it up to speed with its sequel. On nearly every level, the Dead Space remake innovates on ideas present in the first game to make for a snappier, more engaging title. While that helps modernize the aging 2008 original, its sequel doesn’t stand to gain much from the same refresh. Its new colors sure look nice, but they’re all pulled straight from Dead Space 2‘s palette. While I was a big fan of the remake, it feels like a fresh coat of paint rather than a new foundation. There is a lot to love about the way that the Dead Space remake reimagines the 2008 survival horror classic while also staying true to its roots.
