All Changes, Differences, and New Features

As a remake of the original 2008 game, the Dead Space Remake (2023) has plenty of new features and changes not included in the first installment. Check out the new features in the Dead Space Remake (2023) and differences from the original that will make you want to revisit the USG Ishimura and its memorable crew.

New Features in Dead Space Remake

List of New Features
Intensity Director Reworked Exploration Mechanics Unlockable Secret Ending

Intensity Director Ensures a Truly Terrifying Playthrough

In the original Dead Space, rooms you've cleared of enemies during a Chapter will stay cleared, allowing you to explore without fear before moving on the the next level. In the Dead Space Remake, this isn't the case.

The developers over in EA Motive have pioneered a new stress management engine called the Intensity Director. In-game, it effectively generates randomized encounters and scenarios that are designed to keep you on your toes no matter how geared you may be.

Intensity Director Explained

Exploration Mechanics Reworked to Allow Backtracking

While Dead Space 2008 had Isaac progressing through the isolated levels of the USG Ishimura, the Remake expands its focus by allowing the entire ship to be interconnected. Gone are the days where you take the tram from one deck to the next. In the Remake, players will be able to hoof it between decks, allowing for a much more seamless (if not more terrifying) exploration experience.

Unlockable Secret Ending for New Game Plus Players

Without spoiling anything, players should know that there is a Secret Ending for the Dead Space Remake that can only be obtained by beating the game once and completing New Game Plus. Once unlocked and viewed, veterans of the franchise will come to agree that it still functions as a nice tie-up to the events of Dead Space 2.

How to Get the Secret Ending

Gameplay and Quality of Life Changes

List of Gameplay and QoL Changes
No More Weapon Schematics Suit and Weapon Upgrade Reworks Better Controls and Responsive Input Improved Zero-G Gameplay Unforgiving Impossible Mode

No More Weapon Schematics

The act of finding weapons in the Dead Space Remake is much more organic than its 2008 predecessor. Instead of having to find and take schematics back to a Store in order to unlock a weapon for purchase, the Remake allows players to find the actual weapon as they explore the Ishimura.

Rather than staring at a Store interface and hoping to scrounge up enough credits to buy a weapon, players can now simply progress through the story and find the weapons as they go along.

All Weapon Locations

Suit and Weapon Upgrade Reworks

On top of making your equipment easier to get, EA Motive has also gone a step further and expanded the upgrade trees for both Suits and Weapons. Now, weapons will have more upgrade paths including updated alt fire modes that better fit within the grisly setting of Dead Space.

Suits have gotten a major overhaul, merging its Bench upgrade tree with that of the Kinesis and Stasis Modules. This quality of life update ensures that you do not need to split your Power Node upgrades between different equipment especially when playing on higher difficulties.

Better UI and Controls

Another big quality of life change has been to the UI and controls of the Dead Space Remake. Compared to the original, EA Motive has ironed out everything considered last-gen about it. Now, Isaac is equipped with a better map as well as more responsive controls. Gone are the days where you had to ADS in order to reload. Much like the level design, the UI and controls of the Remake are nothing but seamless.

Improved Zero-G Gameplay

Players looking for better zero-g gameplay need not look further. The Remake has taken notes from both Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 by doing away with the old system and adapting a much more dynamic zero-g gameplay style.

Instead of having to hop from surface to surface in maglocked boots, Isaac can now use his suit's thrusters to jetpack away in zero-g. This makes confusing zero-g areas like the ones you have to take in Hydroponics less of a headache than they were originally.

Unforgiving Impossible Mode

Of course, Dead Space would not be what it is without the punishing challenge difficulties. In the Remake, Impossible Mode makes its return, this time even more unforgiving than before despite being available at the very start of the game.

Taking notes from the Hardcore Mode of Dead Space 3, dying in the Remake while on Impossible difficulty will be a permadeath. You can either restart a brand new game save or continue but only on Hard Mode.

Impossible Mode Rewards and Changes

Exploration Changes

List of Exploration Changes
Emphasis on Backtracking Removal of Power Node Doors Random Emergency Scenarios Elimination of Loading Screens

Emphasis on Backtracking

Unlike the original, the Dead Space Remake likes to emphasize backtracking and optional area exploration. With this in mind, the USG Ishimura has been turned into a large, interconnected level that allows players to backtrack to earlier areas of the game.

Weapon upgrades, side mission objectives, and even collectible logs are all tied to backtracking. In this way, the ship feels much larger than it is, with haunted halls that you must continuously revisit if you ever want to 100% the game.

Removal of Power Node Doors

The developers have also removed one of the more difficult mechanics of the original game. Rather than having to spend precious Power Nodes to open locked doors, the Remake instead has Isaac collect the appropriate Security Clearance in order to open them.

Random Emergency Scenarios

One of the biggest changes to exploration is the introduction of the Intensity Director. By using a system that generates random encounters to amp up the terror, the Remake is all-gas, no-brakes compared to the original.

Rather than the quarantine scenarios that spawn enemies, one of the better stand-out moments is when your Tram gets stopped mid transit. Players expecting it to be a safe area are given a reality check as they cower under red warning lights and the sounds of Necromorphs nearby.

Elimination of Loading Screens

The primary reason behind locking the Dead Space Remake to next-gen systems is perhaps its commitment to getting rid of loading screens. Moving from area to area in the Remake is seamless, and the only time you are faced with a loading screen is if you die or load up a save.

Enemy and Boss Changes

List of All Enemy and Boss Changes
Peeling System that Expands Combat Reworked Leviathan Zero-G Fights

Peeling System that Expands Combat

A brand new Peeling System has been introduced in the Dead Space Remake, allowing players to peel at the different layers of Necromorph flesh until they hit bone. Use this to your advantage as now, you can injure a Necromorph enough to leave it limping but still alive.

On higher difficulties, this system is amazing as it allows you to eyeball how fights are going without having to count the shots you sink into each enemy.

Reworked Leviathan Zero-G Fights

One stand-out change has been to the Leviathan boss battles in zero-g. Previously, it was a clunky affair especially when replayed using today's upgraded systems. The Remake's better zero-g traversal system makes these fights so much smoother. Instead of the slogs that they were, boss battles now feel fresh and smooth enough to warrant repeat playthroughs.

Characters and Story Changes

List of All Character and Story Changes
Fully-Voiced Isaac Clarke Fleshed Out Supporting Cast New Side Missions and Story Sections Reworked Logs for Better Immersion

Fully-Voiced Isaac Clarke

Unlike the original, the Remake now features a fully-voiced Isaac Clarke. However, long-time fans need not worry, as the same voice actor for Dead Space 2 and 3 Isaac has returned to reprise his role as our central protagonist.

Instead of cheesy voicelines, the voiced Isaac lends a lot more polish to the setting since it actually feels like we are reacting to the horrors around us rather than simply trundling along like it was a regular Monday.

Fleshed Out Supporting Cast

The supporting cast that is Zach Hammond and Kendra Daniels have also received makeovers. With updated visuals and much more natural-sounding voice lines, EA Motive's commitment to a better experience shines through in how much polish and backstory was given to our supporting cast.

New Side Missions and Story Sections

In an effort to flesh out the characterizations of off-screen characters like Nicole and Mercer, the Dead Space Remake introduced optional side missions that allow you to learn more about the characters. Revisit old areas of the ship and find out what truly happened before your team crashed in the Ishimura.

On top of these are updates to story sections that better polish the narrative of Dead Space. Small changes like Hammond meeting you outside the Captain's Nest or Mercer immobilizing you with Stasis are great touches that set the Remake apart from our original, hands-off experience with some of the cast.

List of Side Missions and How to Unlock

Reworked Logs for Better Immersion

The developers have also gone the extra mile and reworked the entirety of the audio, video, and text logs you find on the ship. Instead of all doom and gloom, some of these will focus on worldbuilding, opening up and connecting the world of the Remake to the rather expansive canon of the Dead Space franchise.

Graphics and Visual Changes

List of All Graphics and Visual Changes
Full Graphical Overhaul of the Ishimura Updated Character Models Improved Atmospheric Effects

Full Graphical Overhaul of the Ishimura

The Remake did not pull its punches when it came to overhauling the graphics of the original game. The new USG Ishimura is both familiar yet unrecognizable with how visualy stunning it is. From the opening cutscene to the final boss battle, the Dead Space Remake is sure to remind new and returning fans that this title is next-gen at its core.

Updated Character Models

Our favorite characters have also gotten a makeover, particularly the much younger-looking Isaac Clarke. On top of the updated models, facial expressions have also gotten much better, often conveying the terror each character feels whenever they reach out to us via video.

Improved Atmospheric Effects

Another feature of the previously mentioned Intensity Director is its ability to manipulate the environment effects. These can range from truly dark areas that require you to ADS in order to see, to foggy corridors that promise danger with every step.

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