Buy the Dead Space remake if you want to see what the PS5 controller can do
That’s gonna hurt
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I’ve been playing theDead Spaceremake on PS5, and found that it uses the console’s controller in ways I’ve not seen from any other release on the platform. If you want to see why theDualSenseis special, then you should play EA Motive’s sci-fi horror game.
Ahead of release, EA Motive wasn’t shy about saying theDead Spaceremakewould utilizeDualSensefunctionality, but nothing could have prepared me for how it would actually feel in my hands. ThePS5controller features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers; the former is a kind of high-fidelity vibration and the latter describes how the gamepad’s triggers can become harder or easier to pull depending on the action you’re performing in-game. They’re both put to exceptional use aboard the claustrophobic corridors ofDead Space’s USG Ishimura here.
The adaptive triggers stand out when you get to grips with hero Isaac Clarke’s weaponry. The pulse rifle, a rapid-fire, triple-barrelled gun that wouldn’t look out of place in the hands of one of the space marines inAliens, has incredibly aggressive recoil. As I fire the weapon, the adaptive triggers violently kick against my fingers, selling its unwieldy power.
The kick of the triggers does more than convey the power of the gun, it also tells you the weakness of the wielder
The kick of the triggers does more than convey the power of the gun, it also tells you the weakness of the wielder. Clarke isn’t a soldier, he’s an engineer caught up in a fight against monsters that could tear him limb from limb. It makes sense that he wouldn’t be able to control the military weapon. You feel each round leaving the chamber thanks to the haptic feedback’s localized vibrations. It means when your rounds do hit monstrous flesh, you can believe the damage they wreak on your enemies.
Where Clarke excels in combat is with the Plasma Cutter, the series’ defining weapon of choice. Designed to cut through metal, you turn this engineering tool into a laser scalpel, carving your enemies’ limbs from their bodies. It’s far more manageable to control than the pulse rifle, letting you be surgical in taking down the reanimated corpses that populate the USG Ishimura. You feel the plasma energy surging in the triggers when you’re aiming, buzzing under your fingers, and when you fire, you also feel the bolt release and re-chambering come through the PS5 controller. It makes landing a perfectly timed line of plasma particularly satisfying.
Environmental Hazard
TheDead Spaceremake’s subtle implementation of haptic feedback is continually impressive. You feel the pressure changes as airlock doors open, as well as when Isaac’s boots magnetize to the floor before taking off with the thrusters. It may sound like a small inclusion, but the attention to detail makes the zero gravity moments engrossing.
I’ve also been appreciating the little touches, such as when your oxygen supply is low. Not only will Clarke take deep breaths as a visual indicator, but you can feel his heartbeats through the gamepad, adding to the sense of urgency. If you don’t get to safety, the sound of a flatlining heart monitor plays through the built-in speaker on the DualSense. Chances are you’ll be hearing it quite a bit asDead Spaceis far from forgiving – even though some of theoriginal game’s more challenging sections have been redesigned.
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Many of thebest PS5 gamesmake strong use of the DualSense’s functionality, but none so well as theDead Spaceremake. The last time I was this impressed by the DualSense was playingAstro’s Playroomin the early days of the console. EA Motive has shown what’s possible with theSonyhardware, using vibrations and trigger pulls to steep me in the horror-filled corridors of the USG Ishimura.
Aleksha McLoughlin is an experienced hardware writer. She was previously the Hardware Editor for TechRadar Gaming until September 2023. During this time, she looked after buying guides and wrote hardware reviews, news, and features. She has also contributed hardware content to the likes of PC Gamer, Trusted Reviews, Dexerto, Expert Reviews, and Android Central. When she isn’t working, you’ll often find her in mosh pits at metal gigs and festivals or listening to whatever new black and death metal has debuted that week.
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