Dead Space fans were cautiously optimistic while heading into last week's EA Play Live, and thankfully, the survival horror saga is being graced with a new game. However, it is not another chapter following the events of the original trilogy, but instead is a remake of the first installment. Not only is this big news because the franchise has not been supported in years, but the upcoming Dead Space remake will likely have a lot to show with the graphics and performance of the next-gen consoles - and that's without factoring in the controllers and what they can provide. There's a fair chance that Dead Space will not simply come back with its remake, but also pave the way for more games within its universe, be it prequels or stories taking place after the original trilogy.
While there is a lot going on with the Dead Space remake, EA's Motive Studios shouldn't miss a huge opportunity to bring back a very important feature from Dead Space 2 and 3, and that's letting Isaac talk. In the first game, all Isaac does is make sounds based on what is happening to him, but he never really speaks nor even talks to himself, which is something that changed with Dead Space 2 so Isaac could be more involved in the story. As such, now would be as good a time as ever to make the main character talk during the original Dead Space.
Breath of the Wild and Destiny 2's Silent Protagonists
The idea of having a silent main character in video games is not exclusive to the first installment of Dead Space of course, and there are plenty of other relevant examples where the protagonists never really have any line of dialogue. One fine example of this logic is what happens with Zelda games, where Link is completely silent throughout the story, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild actually explains why this is the case. Link has to focus on the events and remain as vigilant, stoic, and strong as possible, which means that he is not supposed to let his energy go to waste.
Another example is from a very different game from Breath of the Wild, and that is Bungie's Destiny 2. In Destiny 2 there are many Guardians, or chosen fighters who wield the powers of the Traveler's Light. However, there is one main Guardian who is at the center of the events in the game, and that's the player's character. The Guardian was always silent in every single cutscene, making them seem like someone who happened to be involved in this chain of events with no real connection to the story, though things did change when the Forsaken expansion dropped.
There are many more examples out there, and while some eventually changed things around by adding proper voice acting and scripted dialogue to their protagonists, others never did - and that can be okay, too. Still, with the way Isaac's character grew over the span of Dead Space 2 and 3, it would be beneficial to have him talk during the events that unfold in the first game as well.
Why Isaac Talking in the Dead Space Remake Would Be Beneficial
With things taking a horrific turn quickly in Dead Space, Isaac ends up having close encounters with the terrifying Necromorphs, and it doesn't take long for him to manifest symptoms of psychosis. Isaac often finds himself in dire situations and he suffers from hallucinations, and this fact alone would be a great explanation for this hypothetical chatter being added to the remake of Dead Space. Talking to oneself can often be beneficial for those who suffer from a fractured psyche, and it can provide a safe and sound grip on reality, even if Isaac simply talked to himself about what is happening. It helps separate what is psychosis and what is concrete, and it offers much more than having a silent main character.
Isaac is merely an engineer who becomes the hero of the story, not by choice, but because he was caught up in the events and boasts the skills and knowledge to survive. Despite him meeting a few characters in his journey, with one of them being a hallucination of Isaac's girlfriend Nicole, the engineer still remains silent. Isaac's dialogue makes a lot of sense in Dead Space 2 and 3, and it comes in the form of different scenes, also including the protagonist's hallucinations and the way he relates to other characters.
Isaac talking in Dead Space 2 for the first time marks the point where the game becomes more emotionally intense than the first one, and the reason for this is that the engineer's relationships matter so much more - to him and to the audience. It's no coincidence that Isaac's face was not really shown much up until the very end of the first game, and that makes the experience different. Before Isaac is revealed, the series can be seen as more immersive because it's easier to identify oneself with a silent character whose face wasn't revealed. This was no longer the case with Dead Space 2, and that's when Isaac's own personality emerged and his fractured mind became more relatable. There was a proper explanation for it all, starting with Isaac's guilt over pushing Nicole to accept the job on the Ishimura, where she died.
As such, gradually getting there in a single game could feel a bit rushed, which means that Isaac talking in the first installment of Dead Space could also be beneficial and share more insight on what he felt and thought in that game. It's not routine to get on board a ship that's infested with zombie aliens who are being controlled by a hive mind, so letting Isaac voice his concerns and fears could make for an even more compelling narrative. Whether this will be the case remains to be seen, however, as there is no official confirmation on the matter at this time.
Dead Space is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.