Now that the most recent adventure of intrepid engineer Isaac Clarke has come to an end, it is time to consider the future of the Dead Space franchise. Starting out as counterprogramming to the Resident Evil crowd, Dead Space has now grown to include a vast lexicon of video game titles, comics, and movies.
Developer Visceral Games and publisher EA have already expressed interest in the idea of Dead Space as a series that would continue to scare gamers for more years to come, but it isn’t easy to “keep the ball rolling,” as they say.
By now a great number of gamers have had a chance to check out Dead Space 2, and they might be wondering where Visceral could go from here, so Game Rant figured we would explore three of the most feasible possibilities and present them to you.
Since this editorial does examine a future in the context of the events from the various games, it goes without saying that if you haven’t played both Dead Space 1 and 2, you should go out and play those first before reading any further.
#3. Isaac’s Quest
The obvious and probably the most feasible of continuations for the Dead Space series would involve Isaac’s quest to find and destroy more of the evil relics known as markers. Responsible for some, not all, of the terrible happenings in the Dead Space universe, the marker on Aegis VII started it all, but it wasn’t the first marker — it was actually a replica created from one found on Earth (more on that later).
While the Aegis VII marker may have been the reason for the events of the first Dead Space, and Isaac’s encounter with it the reason for Dead Space 2, a brief hint during the credits of that sequel indicate that there are many more marker sites now. Having grown into a more accomplished fighter, and having survived two Necromorph onslaughts, Isaac should be well prepared to search out these other marker locations and destroy them.
What makes this option the most feasible is how well it lends itself to a series that wants to continue on for years to come. With an overarching mission – destroy all of the marker sites – each future entry in the Dead Space franchise could introduce new locations, new characters, and new enemies with which Isaac can interact. It’s simple, easy to execute, and will ensure that gamers return for more, as they will want to see how it all pans out.
#2. New Faces
Option two, the second most likely option, borrows a little bit from the first option, but puts a unique twist on it. The previous sub-entries in the Dead Space universe, like Extraction and Ignition, have each been centered on one or several completely new characters instead of starring Isaac Clarke. While some of these characters have been connected to Isaac in one-way or another, the events they experienced shed light on the overarching storyline.
If Visceral still wanted to explore the idea of several marker sites, but wanted to move away from the character of Isaac Clarke, they could do so here, with the third title. Though Clarke, with his new characterization in DS2, became a character that gamers connected with, he experienced a very satisfying story arc between the two games. Moving from a game where he was ostensibly an extension of the player to becoming a broken man on a quest for acceptance, Isaac’s story, for all intents and purposes, came to an end with Dead Space 2.
Sure, it would be great to see Isaac carry on his Necromorph stomping duties, but Visceral has set up the Dead Space universe as not just being about Isaac. Visceral didn’t even see a need to include Isaac in the game’s upcoming Severed DLC, which says something about how the developer prioritizes story over character. Perhaps a new character, one that shares similar qualities to Clarke, but that has his or her own unique story to tell, could spearhead a new adventure or two, and bring along that sense of discovery that made the first game so memorable.
Most will probably have a hard time parting with Isaac, but in the interest of telling a story that is both compelling and doesn’t wane on its audience, perhaps Visceral needs to move on. It would be sad to see Isaac go, but that doesn’t mean he can’t pop up here and there, or maybe make a surprise return for the grand finale.
#1. Earth
The final, and least likely option — not because of its feasibility, but because of its end-game properties — is that the next Dead Space game takes players back to Isaac’s home planet of Earth. Since the very first game, players have figured that at some point the Dead Space series was going to have to make its way to Earth for several reasons.
First and foremost, as indicated by the information contained within the first game, we know that the marker that was created on Aegis VII is actually a replica of a marker found on Earth. That marker was built on Aegis VII in order to see what it is capable of, and now that we know it is capable of some very bad things, it has become a priority to destroy it.
On top of just eliminating the marker that started it all, taking players to Earth would be Visceral’s chance to design our home planet in the 25th century. Just getting a small glimpse of the futuristic world contained within the Sprawl should have got players thinking what Earth in this future looks like.
While coming to Earth is certainly in the cards for the Dead Space series, it might not be happening just yet, as destroying Earth’s marker is definitely the last act of Dead Space’s overarching storyline. It seems that with stories in which the first couple entries take place in the vast reaches of space, eventually the developers have to show the gamer what their version of Earth looks like. Still, an epic Necromorph battle on 25th century Earth would be the most fitting way to end the Dead Space series.
Obviously there are plenty of other storylines that the next Dead Space title could explore, and of course there are sub-plots within the Dead Space universe, like the mysterious origins of the cult-like Church of Unitology.
Now able to wrap their heads around the universe a little better, as demonstrated by Dead Space 2, Visceral has as wide a frontier as the vast reaches of space in front of them. Where they choose to take the storyline of Dead Space 3, if that is to be the title of the next game, is ultimately up to them, but we hope that whichever route they go down delivers a solid title with plenty of gory action and bone-tingling scares.
Where do you see the next entry in the Dead Space series going? Do you think Visceral will choose one of the three routes presented, or do you see them pursuing an alternate storyline?
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I wouldn’t mind new faces for the next one, but whenever they take the fight to Earth, its gotta be Isaac who faces the Black Marker
for sure, it can’t be any one other than Isaac.
I’m not sure how visceral might handle dead space but I think they will take a break from Isaac for awhile and add in some new characters. I like this idea the best because it helps to keep things fresh for example one of the problems that the Alien franchise ran into was that it always had to be about Ripley and so the stories of the sequels suffered because they had to find a way to justify her being in the story. So allowing for a few other characters to be a part of the Necromorph stomping party could really help the longevity of this franchise.
I really think option 2 would lend itself well to making games within a different genre. Something like destroying additional markers could be the premise for an FPS spinoff or even an RTS if Visceral was feeling especially bold. Any game where you take out multiple markers would probably have to be faster paced, and so I think the decision to stick with survival horror would definitely be one Visceral might reconsider.
On that note, it could make an excellent idea for a bridge game. Create a game that has the character or multiple characters taking on several other marker sites, while moving the story closer to Earth. A cliffhanger ending bringing the player and the horror to Earth could be the perfect way to tease Dead Space 3 and the return of Isaac as a protagonist. This third game could then focus on the Black Marker and whatever secrets its history holds.
All i know is that it’s going to be amazing no matter what direction they take it
I wouldn’t mind a multiplayer campaign following the 2 idea. Like in DS2 you and ellie are working together, I’d like to see her side or in a future DS3 if Issac is still in the picture have her as a 2nd player or if new characters have a 2player mode. Its just odd to see only 1 person alive thats fighting to survive as Issac did.
I’m almost positive Earth won’t be the finale to this; more the halfway mark of the franchise.
I believe the Markers aren’t evil “per se”; I think the original Marker was designed to protect from something far more sinister than the necromorphs. I think the Marker creates the necromorphs (and gives them the ability to take a beating) in order to protect the Marker from being destroyed and unleashing something far more evil…
The necromorphs can’t get to close to the Marker and, when the Marker is destroyed, they turn back into a DNA soup…waiting for a Marker to reconstitute them. Why, if the Marker were evil, would it create something like the necromorphs…but prevent them from getting near it? The necros act almost like any number of “hivemind” evils we’ve seen before and it seems as if they receive some sort of vague “guidance” from the Marker as well…but then it also seems like the Marker protects itself as well.
Maybe the Marker is creating lesser evil to protect itself from a greater evil we haven’t been made aware of yet?
Ooooh! I like it. A greater evil like a sci-fi ‘old one’. That would be cool.
Who says the Old Ones are scifi?
Imagine this, if you will. In most movies/games we see plenty of human interaction with aliens; usually we’re relatively “on par” with most races in some way or another. But in the REAL world, there are no aliens. No concrete proof aliens exist. Thousands of years and not an iota of proof that in all the known universe, there could be intelligent life.
What if there were a reason for that? Imagine if there WERE life out there and plenty of it, they just don’t come anywhere near our system.
What if Earth was considered a “prison planet” by the rest of the galaxy? A planet that imprisons the Old Ones via the original Black Marker.
That is also something that goes against my theory… why did the red marker keep them from coming near it… was that an idea the team scrapped when they created the whole reborn through the convergence event or is it something far deeper that we don’t know about yet… Hmm, I love a good story ;P
The Marker is a tool used to create a being. As you may have all remembered the giant marker in the 2nd game was triggering a convergence event were all the Necromorphs were gathering at the marker site for the marker to use to be “Reborn” <Isaac had to die for whatever being to be reborn as "Nicole" so helpfully screams in your face. The marker, as I see it now, is a tool created by a obviously dying race (Or perhaps, but not convinced yet, beings trying to create a new race through the marker.) to recreate them. Actually now that I think about it, the Black Marker put into people's heads that by follow its instructions or whatever that it would lead them on the path to transcendence. Making my less convinced theory a little more believable but I digress… Oh and think about this if your saying "Why were the Necromorphs creation ingredients imprinted on the black marker then?", all these creatures do is kill reanimate the dead then kill some more… they seem like a perfect way of gathering the necessary bodies to create the being the marker wants to create through the convergence event. Because I don't know about you but I wouldn't willingly want to be converged into something that I don't even know would become.
I personally think they need to do something a little different than Dead Space and Dead Space 2. The necromorphs really need to evolve into something different or new. I found throughout DS2 that I wasn’t scared at any particular moment, I think I jumped twice throughout the whole game, and while this is an amazing way of showing how you as a player grew strong like Isaac did, it won’t work for a third installment. DS3 should really introduce more than just two other main characters (Ellie and Stross, Kendra and Zach). I think it would make a lot more sense to see people really fighting, and not just getting owned by necromorphs.
Going with the idea of more than the 4 mains. Maybe have them fighting right by your side helping you murder those nasties. If they do back away from Isaac, he can’t die. When I played severed and Gabe died I pictured Isaac dying and it brought a tear to my eye. We’ve connected to him too much for him to disappear forever this early. Also the original marker is under water in a crater. How exactly could they get to that yet? I think Dead Space anywhere near water would feel awkward. At least at this point.Or maybe make a re-make of extraction in third person. Or at the crater as Altman.
oh yeah dead space is very nice game