Motive Studios’ ground-up remake of the iconic 2008 space horror video game “Dead Space” releases later this morning, but reviews are already up, and the reaction has been superb.
Depending upon your platform (PC, PS5, XSX), the title has clocked in with scores between 87-90 out of 100 on Metacritic. That’s right on par with the original and puts it in the same league as last year’s “The Last of Us Part I” (88/100) and 2020’s “Final Fantasy VII Remake” (87/100).
It’s also within reach of the ‘best’ remakes thus far, like “Demon’s Souls” (91/100) and “Resident Evil 2” (92/100). Reviews have unanimously praised the graphics and audio overhaul, all seem to really like the quality of life improvements, and the little bits of new additions were welcomed.
In fact, the few criticisms seem to be tied to issues with the original game itself and how it plays fifteen years later. Here’s a sampling of quotes from various outlets:
“A game that a lot of horror developers can learn from when it comes to creating suspense and a feeling of dread in its players. And as far as remakes go, Dead Space has me thoroughly pining over a decade-old series. That’s a success, if you ask me.” – VG247
“Dead Space is an unmitigated classic, one of the best survival horror games ever, and this remake is on a par with the Resident Evil 2 remake. Not only the graphics, but also the gameplay mechanics, story and overall presentation are quite improved, in a subtle and sometimes rigorous way. Everything that was already brilliant (and that is a lot) has been left intact.” – Power Unlimited
“The Dead Space remake is exactly what a remake should be. Quality-of-life improvements help the game flow better and meet modern standards, while the updated graphics bring the terror to life in vivid detail, providing a grotesque beauty to the nearly non-stop carnage. Despite the years which have passed since the game’s initial release in 2008, Isaac’s trek through the USG Ishimura remains as enthralling and terrifying as ever.” – Gaming Trend
“Rather than reinvent the wheel, Motive made Dead Space look nicer, play better, and preserved the core of the experience. Its new flourishes add to that enjoyment instead of subtracting. This remake respects and polishes up my memories of Isaac’s first encounter with the necromorphs without making me miss the original version. It also acts as the perfect entry point for newcomers since it feels on par with today’s titles.” – Game Informer
“Motive Studio has done the unthinkable with Dead Space. It has turned this iconic, incredibly memorable survival horror game from fifteen years ago into an even more immersive and engaging experience. This isn’t just a simple graphical upgrade, but an overhaul on a significant portion of the mechanics and storytelling, crafting a better and more gratifying universe to dive into.” – Hardcore Gamer
“The work that Motive has done in bringing Dead Space back to life is exciting not just for the ability to play an idealized version of a classic game on new platforms, but also in the promising groundwork it lays for the franchise’s potential future.” – Polygon
The game unfolds in the 26th century as engineer Isaac Clarke, a crewman on a repair vessel, boards the massive planet-cracking mining ship USG Ishimura which has gone silent.
After his crew is attacked by mutated human corpses that can only be killed by dismembering them, Isaac is forced to fend for himself as he tries to save his surviving crewmates and learn the truth behind the loss of Ishimura, which ties to a mysterious artifact.
The “Dead Space” remake will hit shelves today and be released on digital this morning.
