Although the over-the-shoulder look is very much in right now when it comes to scary games, someone has given the remake of Dead Space a more isometric perspective, which gives the game a very different vibe. While the OG 2008 release has gone down as one of the most celebrated horror titles of the 2000s, helping to revive the genre at a time when it was experiencing an identity crisis, the recent remake of Dead Space has more than proven its worth, almost bettering Visceral Games' original.
EA Motive's revamped iteration of the beloved horror game has not only received high praise from fans and critics alike, but it's caught the attention of the speedrunning community. Recently, a player managed to complete the Dead Space remake in under two hours, setting a new world record. This is impressive, not only because a casual playthrough takes around 12–13 hours just to get to the end credits, but also because it shows that some people can become desensitized to the horror.
Another thing that can dial down the terror factor of a game like Dead Space is the camera angle. As spotted by DSO Gaming, the YouTube channel Flurdeh has released a clip which shows the game from a different perspective. Using a technique known as tilt-shifting, they've managed to give the game a more isometric look, which makes it seem like Isaac Clarke and the surrounding environment is actually a miniature world. It still retains the oppressive atmosphere and overall visuals, but this shift in perspective makes the otherwise scary remake almost adorable.
This is also not the first time Flurdeh has done something like this. Last year, the channel also put out a video which showed what Elden Ring would look like from this isometric viewpoint. Again, it really alters the feel of the game, making everything look tiny and less threatening. It should be pointed out that such videos are just concepts that utilize the tilt-shifting technique and do not appear to represent any mods that are available or being worked on. As the channel itself says, the aim is to see "the scenery and worlds of video games from a completely different perspective."
With the new version of Dead Space, plus remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill 2, not to mention new entries in the Outlast and Layers of Fear franchises, there's a lot going on in horror gaming at the moment. Many would agree that the genre has been experiencing something of a renaissance these past few years.
Dead Space is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: DSO Gaming