When the original Dead Space was released in 2008, it was part of a resurgence of survival horror in AAA video games, and with the highly anticipated Dead Space remake set for a 2022 release, there’s reason to believe that a similar video game horror resurgence could happen in the near future. This first major horror game renaissance was defined by titles such as Bioshock, Left 4 Dead, and Dead Rising. All of these were unique takes on the genre that would be emulated by other titles, with each helping to set a new standard for the horror game genre.
The Dead Space trilogy was a trio of survival horror sci-fi titles that were both innovative and unique. While the game was heavily inspired by Resident Evil 4, the developers managed to create a premise and atmosphere that was unprecedented in the genre up until that point. All of this isn’t to say that there aren’t currently any good horror games. The newer Resident Evil games, the Dark Anthology, and Dead by Daylight are all great examples of modern horror titles that are sure to shock and delight. However, Dead Space did something completely different.
What Dead Space did that many other horror games didn't is that it pushed the genre forward by taking risks. Isaac Clarke’s horrific journey was complemented by the design team’s choices to remove the heads-up display and remove set spawn choices for enemies. Both of these choices heavily contributed to the immersive nature of Dead Space. What’s even more impressive about Dead Space’s success and its beloved horror series status is that it was accomplished with hardware limitations. They were graphically and technically impressive, but there were clear RAM limitations and graphical constraints to contend with as well.
Modern horror games have a significant amount of polish, and while it may make for beautiful horror experiences, it can also take away from some of the charm that the original Dead Space so carefully cultivated. Sure, the game was still buggy and doesn’t look as graphically impressive today (hence the remake), but for the time, none of that mattered. Dead Space was still a truly unique horror experience. Whether the Dead Space remake can maintain the original’s charm is a whole different question, but there is certainly something to be said for the ways that the original managed to resonate with players.
Ideally, the re-release of Dead Space would serve as a return to form for AAA horror games and motivate more publishers to pursue the genre. If the remake is successful, it could also act as a gateway towards the sequel that fans have been clamoring for since Dead Space 3 released in 2013. Regardless, the return of Dead Space is a good sign for the future of horror video games, as if successful, it could encourage more big-budget horror titles.
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