So with the potential revival rumors floating around I thought about how the best evolution for Dead Space might be to go deep underwater. In Dead Space 3 they already tried to mix things up with the snow storms, probably trying to evoke feelings similar to the Thing but as we all know that didn't exactly work out. I think compared to space, a snow storm also just isn't scary enough.
What makes water in comparison such a perfect substitute is that deep sea exploration has so many similar elements to deep space. Both space and the deep sea are inherently deadly environments for humans, everyone needs to wear heavy gear when outside, one crack in your helmet is enough to kill you, movement is inhibited and slow, but at the time you're not bound by gravity. When going inside you have to pass an airlock and you're confined to small bases or ships with the threat of death constantly looming outside. A deep sea breach is not unlike a vacuum breach, though even deadlier and quicker. One aspect that makes the deep sea even scarier is the constant darkness, no starlight or sun to illuminate surfaces just pure darkness and human made beacons. There's also a more real, primal fear that makes us scared of what might lurk at the bottom of a deep dark trench
The recent movie "Underwater" basically already delivered a perfect example of what I could imagine an underwater Dead Space to look like.
There's of course also Soma which already made fantastic use of the setting. Particulary the descent into the real deep sea
And of course none of this would mean that there's no space sci-fi, the game could be split into parts, one more classic, above planet and another where the player is forced to deep into an ocean.
Honestly, I'm not sure if there's much to discuss, just wanted to throw this idea out.
What makes water in comparison such a perfect substitute is that deep sea exploration has so many similar elements to deep space. Both space and the deep sea are inherently deadly environments for humans, everyone needs to wear heavy gear when outside, one crack in your helmet is enough to kill you, movement is inhibited and slow, but at the time you're not bound by gravity. When going inside you have to pass an airlock and you're confined to small bases or ships with the threat of death constantly looming outside. A deep sea breach is not unlike a vacuum breach, though even deadlier and quicker. One aspect that makes the deep sea even scarier is the constant darkness, no starlight or sun to illuminate surfaces just pure darkness and human made beacons. There's also a more real, primal fear that makes us scared of what might lurk at the bottom of a deep dark trench
The recent movie "Underwater" basically already delivered a perfect example of what I could imagine an underwater Dead Space to look like.
There's of course also Soma which already made fantastic use of the setting. Particulary the descent into the real deep sea
And of course none of this would mean that there's no space sci-fi, the game could be split into parts, one more classic, above planet and another where the player is forced to deep into an ocean.
Honestly, I'm not sure if there's much to discuss, just wanted to throw this idea out.
