Dead Space 3 Wishlist

The original Dead Space was a tough act to follow, but Visceral Games succeeded by making improvements across the board for Dead Space 2. The problem? Now the team has set an ever higher bar for the inevitable Dead Space 3. As good as Dead Space 2 was, EA and Visceral are probably already looking into a follow-up – along with aspects of the gameplay and story that could use some tuning. The form Dead Space 3 takes is anyone's guess at this point, but here are some things we hope are on the team's radar as the series moves forward.

NOTE: The following article contains SPOILERS for Dead Space and Dead Space 2. If you haven't finished the games or plan to play them, we suggest you do so before reading our wishlist.

Answers
Yeah, we get it: The marker is mysterious. After two games of cryptic references and vague mumbo-jumbo, it’s time for some answers. That isn’t to say that every little mystery should be explained, but in Dead Space 3, Visceral needs to stop answering every question with another question. Who built the markers? Why do they make people crazy? What is Isaac’s significance? Give us some concrete info to fuel our speculation!

Zero-G Combat
Dead Space 2 took the concept of zero-gravity gameplay and made it more interesting, allowing Isaac to maneuver in 3D space. That is an improvement, but it didn’t go far enough; Zero-G sequences involved more navigation than combat, which didn’t exactly leave players on the edge of their seats. In Dead Space 3, we want these segments to be more threatening, delivering scares instead of shooting gallery encounters. It’s a tricky request, since zero-gravity combat could be terrible if handled incorrectly, but we have faith in Visceral.

Isaac the Ripley
After surviving two Necromorph outbreaks, Isaac isn’t just some hapless engineer with a plasma cutter. Like Ripley from the Alien series, he has become the galaxy’s foremost expert on dealing with hostile abominations. It would be nice to see an acknowledgement of this fact in the Dead Space universe. Yeah, the government is trying to cover up the whole necromorph thing, but at some point people have to recognize that Isaac is the only dude who knows what’s going on. Dead Space 3 would be a great place to start that process.

Still Demented
Isaac’s mind has been changed by the marker, and he no longer has a firm grasp on reality. This was a key element of the story in Dead Space 2, and we don’t want that going anywhere. Seeing the world through the eyes of an unstable protagonist adds a lot to the atmosphere, since his hallucinations make you question the reality of events. As hard as life is for Isaac, we hope the marker’s effects don’t start to wear off.

More Enemy Variety
Necromorphs twist their host bodies into forms that barely resemble humans, but they theoretically should be able to repurpose any life form. With so many things in the animal kingdom, it would be great to see more creatures repurposed to the necromorphs’ needs. The stalkers in Dead Space 2 are a great step in the right direction; slashers are fine stand-by enemies, but after two games, we’re getting a little tired of the same song and dance.

The Return of Ellie
Isaac’s allies primarily serve as cautionary tales, showcasing the gruesome ways humans can die at the hands of the necromorphs. Ellie, on the other hand, survives the events of Dead Space 2. We hope that means that the team at Visceral is going to build on Isaac and Ellie’s relationship in future installments. Not that Isaac needs a sidekick or love interest, but having consistent characters is more interesting than introducing a brand new cast for each sequel.

Expanded Multiplayer
The ability to control humans and necromorphs in Dead Space 2’s multiplayer is a nice touch, but the online options could use a shot of creativity. The game modes are pretty standard, and none of the objectives get the blood pumping. A more inventive frame around the human-versus-necromorph combat would serve Dead Space 3 well, as long as the matches retain the fast-paced action and high kill/death ratios.

It Begins…
He may a necromorph-killing machine, but Isaac primarily sees the aftermath of the necromorph invasion. Apart from some early scenes in Dead Space 2, we don’t get to see the early stages of a location’s downfall. By the time Isaac is exploring, most of the people are dead and transformed. We want Dead Space 3 to put players in the middle of the descent into chaos, with events spiraling out of control before everything and everyone is overcome by madness.

What would you like to see in Dead Space 3? Discuss your ideas in the comments below!