Could the Dead Space remake’s changes hint at more in the sequels?

The original Dead Space, engineer Isaac Clarke is silent. The back of Clarke’s head is visible. We can hear his raspy breathing through his helmet. He cuts and stomps his way through Necromorphs. The video is available at Dead Space remake, Isaac’s arc hews closely to the original template, but he’s no longer a silent protagonist — he not only vocally reacts to the events on the USG Ishimura, but offers more context for each of the game’s tense chapters. Now, Isaac feels more like a character — and he feels more in line with the fully voiced Isaacs of Dead Space 2 Dead Space 3.

The original Dead SpaceIsaac can be described as a cypher. You are free to project whatever characteristics you’d like onto him as his crewmates Kendra Daniels and Zach Hammond explain the plot and give him orders. In the intro of the remake, however, he makes a suggestion that saves the crew’s life. Isaac is made to feel part of the story through a simple voiced message of sympathy that he shares with Hammond.

It could have gone wrong; there are times when a talking protagonist threatens the game’s collapse with their story. The 2018 game was too difficult for me to play. Vampyr because Dr. Jonathan Reid wouldn’t stop talking about every last thing he saw, instead of just letting me take it in with my own two eyes. One common complaint is about God of War RagnarökAtreus, however, is very small. TooIt is helpful to offer suggestions and hints during puzzles, before frustration sets in.

This is an especially difficult balance to achieve with horror. A protagonist who talks too much can cause tension. It is simple to have a silent protagonist. This worked very well in the original. Dead Space. Motive Studio was able to see the future and make the right decisions for the remake.

Image: Motive Studio/Electronic Arts

Unitology is mentioned throughout the campaign. This happens much sooner in the remake. Soon, it becomes obvious that our protagonist has a past with this group. Not Scientology. He was raised by parents who were in the faith, and that’s a source of trauma for him. If you find Hammond’s notes on his colleagues, he writes that it’s probably safe to talk to Isaac about politics — but avoid religion.

The rest of the sci-fi universe will feel richer if there is a more fleshed out protagonist. While I’m still not a huge fan of the graffiti, the interactions that Isaac has with the rest of the crew and the few Ishimura survivors gives him personal stakes and goals outside of silent survival. Isaac’s dialogue and presence extend all the way to a new alternate ending, which is much more unnerving and worrisome than the original finale.

Hear Issac talk in Dead Space 2It was shocking at first. It was only natural, though, that he would be more involved in the storytelling (many of the stories were about his personal journey). Now, seeing how well Motive has retroactively given the first incarnation a voice, I’m extremely curious as to what other series pillars the developer might topple.

The Dead Space remake still feels very self-contained, and nothing of the original experience was lost in the attempt to build the franchise’s future (unless you require a silent protagonist in all of your games). But I’m still intrigued to see what Motive Studio is doing with the Dead Space franchise, and this new foreshadowing has me equal parts chilled and thrilled for Isaac’s next big, terrible adventure.