Dead Space Remake has been fully revealed by EA to be a massive return for the survival horror series. Fans have hoped for a revival of the series after its publisher EA was reported that it wasn't satisfied with the sales numbers of Dead Space 3 2013. EA had remained silent about the series for years until rumors began to circulate that a Dead Space Remake was being developed earlier this summer. The game was later revealed at the end of EA's EA Play Live event in July with a brief teaser.
More information about Dead Space Remake came out after the event through interviews with the developers and official press releases. The developers revealed that it would be a full remake of the first game, and would even include some planned content that had to be cut from the original. New features were also described, such as Dead Space Remake's enhanced limb dismemberment. However, one new camera feature coming with Dead Space Remake sounds like it is taken straight out of PlayStation's 2018 blockbuster, God of War.
God of War's Single Shot Presentation
God of War took great strides to reinvent the franchise. The game gave Kratos a new iconic weapon, a son, and a whole new pantheon of gods to kill. The game also put more of an emphasis on its story. It followed Kratos and his son Atreus as they traveled to spread the ashes of Kratos' recently deceased wife. Of course, there was still plenty of violence and killing throughout the game, but its story also explored the complicated relationship between Kratos and his son as he tried to grapple with his past and having to be a father. One of the standout ways that God of War delivered this narrative was by presenting the game entirely in a continuous camera shot that never cut. While it did hide some small easter eggs in God of War, it also helped fully immerse players throughout their entire playthrough.
While the player is in control of Kratos the camera is fixed over his shoulder, while for cutscenes it smoothly swings out to provide other viewing angles and highlight the action. Then, at the end of the cutscene, it gently glides back over Kratos' shoulder before the player is given control. Not only does this make the game absolutely beautiful to play, but it also keeps the player completely invested in the game. There are no loading screens for players to pull out their phones or start thinking about something else, as the game is constantly moving and showing them new things. It also set God of War apart from other similar titles and helped make it a unique experience.
Presentation in Previous Dead Space Games
Previous Dead Space titles have also featured a third-person perspective over Isaac's shoulder and featured some iconic HUD elements that put the player's health on Isaac's back so that there weren't health meters clogging up the screen. The games also feature special death animations for Isaac that were seamlessly played whenever Isaac died. Without a loading screen or cut of any kind players had to watch as he was brutally dismembered, eaten, or turned into one of Dead Space's iconic Necromorphs that he tries so hard to fight.
The series also had many of its cutscenes and instances of dialogue in the game being presented with the player still in control of Isaac and the camera still in that third-person combat position. This allowed the game to stay immersive throughout its exposition and kept Dead Space in suspense as players can still get attacked. However, the games did eventually start having cutscenes that featured camera cuts as well as loading screens that were often disguised as opening doors or riding in elevators. The cutscenes with camera cuts or hidden loading screens were not bad, but it has been confirmed that Dead Space Remake will follow in God of War's footsteps by featuring no loading screens and a one continuous camera shot.
How a Single Shot Presentation Could Impact Dead Space Remake
Dead Space Remake committing to a single shot presentation as well as no loading screens will have a big impact on the player experience. The camera never cutting will work to keep players more immersed and focused on the story of the game while also maintaining the tension of combat and fear. Assuming that the remake will follow in the footsteps of the original Dead Space and keep players in control of Isaac during cutscenes there is always the chance that something will suddenly happen to interrupt it and require the player to react. This will keep players focused on the screen at all times, just in case something happens, especially during Dead Space Remake's expanded story content.
The lack of loading screens or pausing for the next section of the map to load could also help the game maintain its tension. In the original Dead Space, players can quickly recognize when they are waiting for the game to load and know that they are safe during that time. If there is no visible loading, however, players will not ever feel safe and they will always be open for attack. This could help make Dead Space Remake even scarier than the original and could help make the experience feel new even for longtime fans of the series.
It will be very interesting to see what other improvements or small changes are made in Dead Space Remake. There are hopes amongst fans of the series that Dead Space Remake will spark a revival of the series, and it would be great to see the survival horror series come back in full force. Hopefully, Dead Space Remake will be successful enough to convince EA that the series is worthwhile so more of the iconic franchise might come in the future. Fans have waited years to step back into the shoes of Isaac Clarke, and are undoubtedly more than ready to face the Necromorphs yet again.
Dead Space Remake is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.