With the massive success of theDead Spaceremake, many now wonder if the next step in the series is aDead Space 2remake and what that could look like. Given thatDead Space 2has many improvementsincluded in the first game’s remake, it can be argued that it does not need one. Still, given that some computers have trouble running older games and there’s no proper port to modern systems, there is plenty of room to reintroduce the title to newer audiences.
A bigger question to ask regarding a potentialDead Space 2remake is what can be improved upon from the original that has not already been included. The most obvious thing that will see an overhaul are the sounds and visuals, and considering that several retooled mechanics from theDead Spaceremake are carry-overs from the sequel, EA Motive might have less of a distance to go to make aDead Space 2remake have a more modern feel. If the team does want to blow expectations away, efforts might have to focus on other aspects of the game to get that reaction.
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Dead Space 2has everything that is needed to make a great sequel. It raises the stakes by placing the player in a city and including more enemies, outfits, and weapons that meaningfully change the pace while retaining its identity. A remake can follow in its footsteps by focusing on being a bigger version of its predecessor, improving upon parts like theDead Space 2tormenter boss fightto make the experience for returning players fresh.
One of the biggest things EA Motive can do is give aDead Space 2remake the same structure found in the first game. Like its predecessor,Dead Space 2had linear progression with players not being allowed to backtrack past certain points in the game’s story. The remake opted for a more open-ended structure that allowed room for more deviations from the critical path, which gave more context to what the Ishimura was like before and during the necromorph outbreak.
This might be a tall order, however, as The Sprawl is far more expansive than the Ishimura due to being an entire city as opposed to a singular station, meaning that making acompletely interconnectedDead Space 2settingis theoretically more of a daunting task as opposed to an interconnectedDead Space. One alternative could be to adopt a structure similar toResident Evil 4. In that game, any major areas are free to explore until players decide to move on to the next place, which helps afford some level of freedom while still keeping them progressing. This can allow for more side content that fleshes out The Sprawl and its residents while helping preserve the faster pace ofDead Space 2.
Perhaps the biggest thing added to theDead Spaceremake is Isaac Clarkegetting more voice acting, calling for a rewrite of the game’s story that accounts for his more active involvement in the narrative.Dead Space 2does not need such a drastic change, as Isaac was voiced in that game, meaning that not many alterations are needed for the main story outside the addition of lines relating to potentially new side missions.
Given the attention to detail for weapons and enemy dismemberment, aDead Space 2remakealready has a wonderful foundation to work with. Much of that work can transfer over to a remake for the sequel to improve upon aspects like exploration and narrative. It might be less of an obvious step-up in quality from when the games originally came out, but there is fantastic potential in seeing a version ofDead Space 2with a different interpretation from the original.
Dead Spaceis available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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