The fact Dead Space 3 came out ten years ago makes me feel old. I still remember playing 2008’s original like it was yesterday. And the reputation that game built has certainly stood the test of time. Dead Space is a bonafide survival horror classic. And this week, fans finally get to jump back into Isaac Clarke’s boots once more. But many are asking is Dead Space a remake or remaster?
By now, most gamers are used to the terms “remaster” and “remake”. But sometimes they are used interchangeably – and that causes a lot of confusion.
A remake is when a video game has been rebuilt from the ground up using modern technology.
Graphics are completely overhauled, and gameplay systems are updated to meet present-day standards. Sometimes, a game’s story is reworked to fill any plot holes or to make it more coherent.
Examples of remakes include Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and The Last Of Us Part I.
Remasters simply enhance a game’s look and feel by improving things like resolution, lighting, and audio. They’re akin to making a classic movie available in HD.
Examples of remasters include The Last Of Us Remastered, Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy.
But which category does 2023’s Dead Space fall into? Is it a remake or a remaster?
What Is Dead Space About?
2023’s version of Dead Space follows the same story as the acclaimed 2008 original.
Players once again join protagonist Isaac Clarke on the doomed Planet Cracker mining ship the USG Ishimura.
Isaac is a crewman on a repair ship that receives a distress call from the Ishimura’s medical officer, Nicole Brennan. Nicole also happens to be Isaac’s girlfriend.
When Isaac and his crew arrive, they discover that horrific creatures, known as Necromorphes, have overrun the ship and killed most of its crew.
Separated from his crew, Isaac must fight to find his girlfriend and get off the Ishimura alive.
Is Dead Space A Remake Or Remaster?
We know that 2023’s Dead Space has the same story as the original. But the original game was released 15 years ago, so what can fans expect from the game itself?
Is Dead Space a remake or remaster? 2023’s Dead Space is a complete ground-up remake of the 2008 original. It will include entirely new graphics, improved audio, and expanded gameplay mechanics.
Gameplay improvements in the new remake include optional weapon modifications, zero gravity sequences that allow free movement, the addition of side-quests, and puzzle redesigns.
Perhaps most impressive, though, is the now seamless spaceship that can be explored at will.
Original voice actors also return. Gunner Wright will reprise his role as Isaac Clarke, and Tanya Clarke returns as Nicole Brennan.
Overall, 2023’s Dead Space remake aims to capture the essence of the beloved original while bringing it up to modern standards with vastly improved graphics and gameplay.
Will you be picking up the Dead Space remake when it releases on 27 January? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
