EA Motive’s Dead Space remake recently launched, and as with any remake or retelling, it is exciting to see what has changed, improved, or been kept the same. Dead Space is an atmospheric survival-horror game with psychological and action-oriented influences, and that ambiance is established throughout the USG Ishimura. Claustrophobic corridors are made horrific with sudden necromorph sightings, but protagonist Isaac Clarke is hardly deterred while he wields the iconic Plasma Cutter.
Few survival-horror games have the weapon diversity of Dead Space, not to mention how satisfying its Stasis and Kinesis modules are in combat. Motive’s Dead Space implements Dead Space 2’s Kinesis as well as its zero-gravity flight system, and a wide catalog of other quality-of-life changes are also integrated to make this remake the definitive Dead Space experience. But while there is a lot to experiment with in terms of weapons, the Plasma Cutter is still the only tool players need.
Dead Space’s Plasma Cutter Reigns Supreme
Like Bloodborne’s Saw Cleaver or Halo: Combat Evolved’s M6D pistol, Dead Space’s Plasma Cutter is a force to be reckoned with. Among the games whose starter weapons are instantly the best one that players get their hands on, this tool is multifaceted and unique in its strategic potential.
The Plasma Cutter is introduced during an iconic moment where players see the words “Cut Off Their Limbs” painted in blood on the wall, explaining the combat mechanic that Dead Space is best known for. The Plasma Cutter fires plasma energy in three narrow beams that cut as a short, straight line, which can be rotated to slice vertically or horizontally.
This is used to hack at necromorph limbs until their flesh degrades and the limb is severed. Severing two or three limbs kills most necromorphs, though others are more formidable. The weapon’s strength has not been diluted in Motive’s Dead Space remake, if anything it is made stronger through subsequent upgrades that were not present in the original.
Players are able to find three unique upgrade mods for the Plasma Cutter: the Cartridge Rack, which greatly increases its ammunition capacity; the Heat Accumulator, which gives its plasma energy a damage-over-time effect; and the Weighted Blades, which strengthens players’ punches enough to knock enemies prone.
Motive’s Dead Space Still Has Great Weapon Variety
To be fair, Dead Space has wonderful weapon diversity beyond the Plasma Cutter. Each firearm is inventively unique and has its own advantages in combat, but there are several reasons why the Plasma Cutter is still the only weapon players need. The Ripper, Flamethrower, Force Gun, Contact Beam, and Line Gun offer interesting gimmicks in terms of their creative firing types, but cleaving necromorph limbs is simply too straightforward and satisfying with the Plasma Cutter.
Moreover, players also run the risk of oversaturating their inventories with ammunition for multiple weapons if they choose to have them all out of storage. Using multiple weapons will spawn myriad ammunition from each type, but that also makes it more difficult to find ammunition players actually need at any given time. This could leave players picking up contact energy exclusively, for example, when they would like to find more plasma energy. Instead, players can carve their way through Dead Space with only the Plasma Cutter so long as they always have an abundance of plasma energy on-hand.
Dead Space is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.