Dead Space’s original bench upgrades were helpful, but never essential to the player making it through the Ishimura unscathed. There are only a few times when a lack of oxygen is actually a concern that players should be mindful of, for example, and power nodes are often more useful when reserved for Dead Space’s locked loot doors. Motive’s Dead Space remake no longer makes players choose what to use power nodes on, and having them all reserved for bench upgrades is necessary since there is much more to each upgrade tree than ever before.
RELATED: Dead Space: The Biggest Differences Between the Original and the Remake
Dead Space’s Original Bench is Simple and Serviceable
In the original game, benches are simple and straightforward. Players look upon individual graphs for Stasis, Kinesis, the RIG, and each weapon. There are often multiple points where players can begin the graph, but looking ahead at which upgrades players want in the future is crucial.
The way these graphs work means that players can only slot a power node toward an upgrade stat if they already have an adjoining upgrade slotted. Players will then begin spending power nodes on subsequent upgrades in whichever paths they choose, but there is no way to upgrade RIG health or Plasma Cutter damage exclusively. Players will therefore gain upgrade stats that they maybe did not strive to obtain, but are in the path of the upgrades they do desire.
Moreover, one of the often frustrating parts of these graphs in Visceral Games’ Dead Space is that there will frequently be slots on a graph that do not offer any upgrades, but still need to be selected in order to progress. Either way, all upgrades are laid out for players to see and work toward once they have enough power nodes to spend.
The Dead Space Remake’s Bench Has More Complexity
In the remake, benches are similar enough to be recognized as Dead Space benches, but they have added features that make subsequent upgrades exciting. Graphs are now much more intricate with the addition of upgrade parts. Before players come into the possession of a weapon’s particular upgrades, there will be obscured parts of each graph.
Bringing these parts to a bench reveals individual sections, and the same goes for suit schematics that are purchased and worn in order to upgrade Dead Space’s RIG. However, weapon upgrades are incredibly important because they add completely new mechanics for each tool.
For example, the Ripper can gain additional ricochets, the Force Gun’s Gravity Wells can gain a greater radius, and the Plasma Cutter can gain an upgrade that lets punches knock enemies prone. Further, the remake’s bench graphs have no superfluous node slots that occupy space, meaning every node can meaningfully go toward an upgrade buff for the player.
Dead Space is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Dead Space Remake’s Reworked Turret Section is Still Not the Best Solution
