Following the success of EA Motive’sDead Space Remake, fans have speculated whether the original’s two sequels will get a similar treatment. The first twoDead Spacetitles are amongthe scariest games of all time, but the third,Dead Space 3, was a massive departure from the tried-and-true formula of its predecessors. While the title’s gameplay deviated primarily into cooperative action, its biggest problems came from its storytelling and atmosphere.Dead Space 3simply wasn’t scary, as it swapped claustrophobic corridors for the frozen planet of Tau Volantis and featured convoluted character relationships that overshadowed the plot. If EA Motive ever remakesDead Space 3, it should be sure to scrap one thing that fans especially hated - the love triangle.
Dead Space 3was released in 2013 to mixed reviews. Continuing the story of Isaac Clarke after the events ofDead Space 2, fans expected a honed and effective horror title. What they received, however, was a cooperative third-person action shooter with horror elements. The narrative sees Isaac forcibly recruited by secondary protagonist John Carver and EarthGov officer Robert Norton to help find Ellie Langford, Isaac’s ex-girlfriend and ally fromDead Space 2,with whom Norton now shares a relationship. This strange dynamic sets up one of the most distracting elements ofDead Space 3, a love triangle.
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Dead Space 3made plenty of mistakes, but none were quite as distracting as the love triangle between Isaac, Ellie, and Norton.Dead Space 2introduced fans to Ellie Langford, a CEC pilot with whom Isaac allies during the outbreak on the Sprawl, an EarthGov station on Saturn’s Titan moon. Though her allegiance with Isaac is unstable during the events on the Sprawl, Ellie ends up saving his life towards the end of the game, and the two become close. FollowingDead Space 2’s conclusion, the two enjoyed a romantic relationship and lived together on Luna.
Over time, a division grew between the two, as Ellie tried to get Isaac to confront and move beyondthe events ofDead SpaceandDead Space 2. His failure to do so saw Ellie leave and take a job on Haven Prime, where she meets and ultimately begins a relationship with Robert Norton. The two worked with a woman named Damara, who was experimenting with the Markers. However, things go awry and Damara is killed before Ellie flees the planet, blind-jumping to Tau Volantis. The narrative ofDead Space 3sees Isaac recruited by Norton and Damara’s husband, John Carver, to find Ellie. Once located, a significant portion of the subplot is devoted to the love triangle between Isaac, Robert, and Ellie, with Isaac never once experiencing a happy relationship on-screen.
Dead Space 3will be the hardest entry to remake, as the original suffered from fundamental issues. However, EA Motive could continue a trend fromDead Space Remake, one which is growing in popularity within the larger remake space.Dead Space Remakefeatured a host of changes to the gameplay and overall narrative, including changes to major characters and an alternate ending. Carrying these changes forward through a potentialDead Space 2remake, EA Motive could set the stage for aDead Space 3narrative that avoids overcomplicated relationships and recontextualizes Isaac’s adventure on Tau Volantis.
In place of the original’s narrative pitfalls, primarily its love triangle, a remake could lean further intothe thingsDead Space 3did better than its predecessors. The title featured deep lore, an effective weapon crafting system, and improved side-missions, all of which could elevate its potential remake. While unconfirmed, EA is rumored to be exploring the idea of futureDead Spaceremakes. Fans of the series' later entries will need to wait patiently though, as EA Motive is giving its full effort to developing itsIron Mantitle for the foreseeable future.
Dead Space 3is available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
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