Dead Space | 2008

Dead Space

 Dead Space, a science fiction survival horror third-person shooter (TPS) game, was developed by Visceral Games, a subsidiary of EA, and released in 2008. Although sequels such as Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 were also launched, the first installment is often regarded as the most intense and terrifying. Players new to the series, especially those who started with the sequels, tend to quit halfway through the first game due to its chilling atmosphere.

The main story follows engineer Isaac Clarke as he fights off mutated creatures called Necromorphs to survive aboard the Ishimura. This storyline is a central theme in the Dead Space series. A unique feature of the game is that most of the weapons are tools, and Isaac's impressive ability to use these tools to sever the limbs of Necromorphs has made him a symbol of ingenuity, often referred to as "The Tool King" or "Isaac the Hero of Tools."

Despite being banned in several countries, including Japan, due to issues with gore, the game has gained a large following, with many playthroughs uploaded on Japanese video sites like Nico Nico Douga. Dead Space has often been compared to the Resident Evil series, with its combination of zombie-like creatures and the fear-inducing setting of a derelict spacecraft.

The game draws heavy inspiration from the Alien film series. The protagonist Isaac Clarke is based on Ellen Ripley, and many weapons, like the Pulse Rifle, are inspired by those seen in Alien. The concept of Necromorphs crawling through ventilation shafts also borrows from the Alien series. In addition, Dead Space incorporates elements from various horror games and films, including 1980s-90s dystopian sci-fi films, and the influence of Solaris is evident in its themes of psychological terror.

A mobile version of Dead Space, which covers the story just before Dead Space 2, was also released for iOS and Android. The game was made available in Korean for the first time in January 2011. Additionally, the game’s setting, the Ishimura, and the isolated spaceship motif were clearly influenced by the film Event Horizon, while the Necromorph designs bear some resemblance to the creatures from The Thing.

Dead Space was unexpectedly made free on Origin from March 28 to May 9, 2014, and again on February 14, 2018. A live-action trailer was also produced. During EA Play Live on July 23, 2021, a remake of Dead Space was announced, with the title updated on Steam to "Dead Space (2008)" to differentiate it from the new version.