The Dead Space franchise is one of the most iconic horror properties in video games for a few reasons. Brilliant sound design and art direction brought the USG Ishimura and the locations featured in the sequels to life, while Isaac Clarke stood out for his eye-catching RIG suits and engineering background. Unique weapons and some great lore helped too, but above everything, it was the Necromorphs that made Dead Space such a success.
While the lineup of Necromorphs in the original Dead Space is solid, many more foes were introduced in the sequels, and a few of these stand out as the most fun enemies to fight in the entire franchise. EA Motive has shown that it is willing to make changes to the original game if it improves the experience, like having Isaac talk in instances where it makes sense for him to respond. As such, the developer should continue using its creative freedom to expand the Necromorph lineup in the remake.
Necromorphs From Dead Space 2 and 3 That The Remake Should Include
Instead of taking a risk and designing some fully new Necromorphs, EA Motive should focus on bringing back some of Visceral Games’ later additions to the Dead Space series. In particular, it would be exciting to see the Stalkers once again, as the capabilities of next-gen consoles would allow this enemy type to become more horrifying than ever before.
It takes one look at what Naughty Dog did with the Stalker fights in The Last of Us 2 to realize how great these enemies would feel to fight on newer consoles, as EA Motive could take full advantage of the new technology to make these encounters more memorable. 3D audio would give gamers a better chance to figure out if one of the Stalkers is lurking in the darkness, while the haptics of the DualSense controller could allow gamers to feel the Stalkers moving around them.
Unfortunately, these creatures did not make their debut until Dead Space 2, meaning that there is a good chance fans will not see them in the remake. However, EA Motive can and should surprise fans by including a few Stalker fights within its remake, either adjusting existing arenas or adding some new locations to house these battles. It is hard to top the fear of being hunted in a horror video game, and even if Isaac has several tools to protect himself, some well-designed AI would ensure these enemies are a proper challenge.
Alongside the Stalkers, the Pack are another fun enemy group that would fit well into Dead Space Remake. Like their name suggests, these infected children attack in groups and attempt to swarm Isaac, jumping onto him and clawing at his helmet viciously. If players are not careful, they can easily be overwhelmed. Similarly, the Crawlers can kill players who are not quick to react, as they explode and knock down Isaac. Even more unsettling than the Pack since the Crawlers are infected babies, EA Motive could bring both of these foes back by including a nursery and child section on the Ishimura.
If EA Motive wants an enemy type that is less dark than The Pack and does not require the addition of a children’s area, the similar Feeders could be a good addition. Other Dead Space 3-exclusive foes like The Hunters and Alien Necromorphs could also be fun to fight, as could the legged heads that were dubbed Creepers. The disgusting Pukers and their deadly acid attacks would also be welcome addiitons to the lineup. Right now, there is no telling if Dead Space 2 and 3 will be rebuilt, so EA Motive should allow fans to fight the best Necromorphs from every entry in the series within its upcoming remake.
Dead Space will release on January 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.