In a year that is chock-full of remakes, especially remakes for horror games, EA Motive’sDead Spacestands out for not only being among the first major releases in 2023 but remaining one of the best in a year filled with great games. Although theDead Spaceremake had some performance issues, the remake of the 2008 classic not only stood as a faithful recreation of its source material, but improvements in gameplay, structure, and narrative have it work as an incredible game in its own right. It was also a great showcase of how EA Motive had the potential to create its successor toDead Spacein a way that understands why that game worked so well.
An attempt to make a successor had coincidentally launched the month prior calledThe Callisto Protocol. There was genuineexcitement building aroundThe Callisto Protocolbefore its release in December, but it was largely seen as underwhelming with its simplistic gameplay and technical issues at launch. One advantage it did have overDead Spacewas not being tied to an established series, leaving room to experiment in areas that would have felt out of place within that series. If EA Motive had the same chance at a new IP, it may be able to deliver an incredible game.
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Although theIron Mangame is EA Motive’s current priority, the studio has the potential to return to sci-fi horror in its next game. Its handling of theDead Spaceremake showed a lot of reverence for the original game and had enough of its own creative flairs that have it work independently and can transfer to a wholly original title.
A popular theory as to what’s next for the studio is aremake ofDead Space 2or something related toDead Space. Although it arguably holds up better than its predecessor, it would be fascinating to see how EA Motive would remakeDead Space 2and make changes that would give it its own identity, but something arguably more interesting would be to have the team create something separate from the franchise.
While creating an entirely new IP presents a whole set of challenges, like designing a universe players would want to explore, it is also liberating since it would provide a significant amount of freedom for the team to present more unique ideas that might not even be considered when working on an established property.TheDead Spaceremake is an incredible work of sci-fi horror, but another remake or even a sequel would have to adhere to the core mechanics associated with the series since straying too far could make the game feel like a new installment in name only.
Something to praise aboutThe Callisto Protocolis that it attempted to take a concept similar toDead Spacebut have the gameplay focus more on melee encounters. Its primary issue is that the gamedoes not hold up well againstDead Space, but that doesn’t mean Striking Distance Studios shouldn’t get another chance to learn from its previous mistakes and release a title that better effectively executes its core ideas. Still, EA Motive could be the best choice to make a new IP similar toDead Spacework if given the creative freedom to do so. Focusing on melee combat likeThe Callisto Protocolmight not be the best direction since that game already exists, but shifting perspectives and improving upon the stealth concepts fromAlien: Isolationcan potentially be a winning formula.
Even taking theSystem Shock 2direction and blending sci-fi body horror with RPG elements could work in a game similar toDead Space, but probably not inDead Spaceitself. Regardless of whether EA Motive ever works on theDead SpaceIP again or creates a similar game, it would be a shame if the studio never gets a chance to take a crack at the horror genre again.
Dead Spaceis out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
