Since the originalDead Spacetook inspiration from 2005’sResident Evil 4, it is only natural that the remakes of both games are very similar to each other. The 2023 releases ofDead SpaceandResident Evil 4still feature the over-the-shoulder camera and tight gameplay their original counterparts were known for while modernizing the controls and graphics for the modern generation. Thanks to Motive Studio and Capcom respectively, the remakes are the definitive way for players to experience the games.
One of the reasons whyDead SpaceandResident Evil 4’s enemies are so scary and unique is that they subvert player expectations. Traditional third-person shooters generally have players fighting humanoid foes with obvious attack patterns and behaviors.Dead Space’s Necromorphs andResident Evil 4’s Los Iluminados' unique anatomies require more strategic thinking, particularly when it comes to shooting them in specific areas.
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The Necromorphs inDead Spaceare mutated corpses that have been reshaped and reanimated by an alien genetic code that stems from the Markers. The code can affect the dead tissue of any organic being but the majority ofNecromorphs found on the U.S.G. Ishimuraare the reanimated remains of the crew. Because of this, most of the enemies Isaac Clarke fights in his first adventure have human anatomies.
Players learn very early on thatshooting Necromorphs in the headdoesn’t affect them. Since Necromorphs are technically reanimated tissue, the only way to ensure they can’t harm others is by cutting off their limbs. Legs, arms, tails, and tendrils - these are some of the targets players should aim for if they want to stop a Necromorph’s deadly advances. An armless Leaper cannot pounce on Isaac, nor can a Slasher attack him without its bladed appendages. Strategic dismemberment has always been at the core of theDead Spacefranchise and the remake gives players more ways of targeting body parts that aren’t the head.
Resident Evil 4’s Los Iluminados Are Pretty Normal Up To A Certain Point
WhileDead Space’s Necromorphs strike a balance between mixing fiction with the real, most ofResident Evil 4’s Los Iluminados retain their human features. They still possess some mental functions and can talk, walk, and attack in a human-like manner. Most of them even look human on the outside. At the start of the game,Leon Kennedy can easily take out villagersby performing headshots that deal the most damage possible.
Things take a turn for the strange eventually, however. Should players deal enough damage to a Los Iluminados member, there is a chance thatthe Plaga inside them will eruptfrom their head to defend its host. It is then that a large parasite emerges, either with a bladed tendril to slash at nearby threats or with multiple rows of sharp teeth that can kill players with a single pounce.
Since a Plaga has a chance to emerge from any enemy, players must be cautious. They need to keep their distance when attempting headshots, lest they want to deal with the emerging Plaga at close range. When multiple Plaga have emerged from various grouped-up enemies, players can use a singleFlash Grenade inResident Evil 4to eliminate them all. Headshots can also be avoided altogether, as players can aim for other body parts like the legs and arms to reduce the Los Iluminados enemies' mobility and ability to attack respectively.
While theDead SpaceandResident Evil 4remakes discourage headshots in different ways, the methods for dealing with adversaries are quite similar. Aiming for other body parts and reducing enemies' capabilities is the name of the game as these tactics canincrease Isaac and Leon’s crowd control capabilitieswhile allowing them to save on precious resources. It is in this manner that both games still retain a sense of horror while playing them organically.
Dead SpaceRemakeis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
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