Ever since the release of Dead Space, several video games have attempted to replicate the atmosphere, setting, and vibe of the 2008 horror classic. Striking Distance Studios' The Callisto Protocol, for instance, was heavily inspired by the Dead Space series, from its overall story set-up to its melee combat system. It, however, wasn't able to live up to fan expectations; many derided it as a clunky, underwhelming horror game. Luckily, other companies, like Bloober Team, are also taking a crack at making a Dead Space spiritual successor. Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober's next project, seems to be a great example of this.
Cronos: The New Dawn is the first new game from Bloober Team following its release of the critically-acclaimed Silent Hill 2 remake. It was revealed during an Xbox Partner Preview event late last year, and it's currently scheduled to come out sometime in 2025. Although Cronos: The New Dawn doesn't take place in a derelict spaceship, like Dead Space does, it features many of the elements from the iconic game, such as its close-quarters third-person combat and futuristic setting. As exciting as the upcoming game sounds, though, it may face some strong competition in the Dead Space successor market.
How Cronos: The New Dawn Can Succeed Where The Callisto Protocol Stumbled
Cronos: The New Dawn has a real shot at succeeding where The Callisto Protocol failed, especially if it improves its combat and enemy diversity.
Displacement Could Be a Big Competitor to Cronos: The New Dawn
Displacement is an Upcoming Horror Game with Temperature-Based Gameplay Mechanics
Earlier this month, an independent developer by the name of Obelisk Studio revealed that it was working on a new original game called Displacement. This upcoming title is a first-person action-horror game that shares a lot in common with the Dead Space franchise and has a few similarities to Cronos: The New Dawn. Displacement takes place in a frozen polar station, where all of its inhabitants have fallen victim to a strange plague which has turned them insane. Players are placed into the shoes of a lone psychologist, who must make their way through this decrepit station and discover the source of this disease.
Displacement features a couple of interesting gameplay mechanics that set itself apart from other Dead Space-likes. For one, Displacement features a unique temperature system that it utilizes in multiple ways. Players have access to a special weapon that can burn or freeze enemies at will, which also has the ability to shatter obstacles, freeze locks, overheat weapons, and ignite traps. There are temperature-based puzzles in the game, as well. In some instances, players will have to redirect heat between rooms or thaw certain objects to progress through a level. Last but not least, gamers can also build their own makeshift heat sources in order to withstand the cold.
Combat in Displacement is Melee-Heavy, and the Game's UI is Very Limited
Similar to the Dead Space games, Displacement features melee elements in combat. The game contains 20 close-range weapons, many of which have their own gory execution animations. The environments in Displacement are also highly interactive; players can use a lot of the items they find in their surroundings as improvised weapons. Although the game is in first-person, unlike Dead Space and Cronos: The New Dawn, its UI is very limited and emphasizes immersion. The original Dead Space was, likewise, notable for its minimalist approach to UI design.
Although Displacement May Be a Ways Off, it Could Steal Some Thunder from Cronos: The New Dawn
The company behind Displacement, Obelisk Studio, has been involved with the production of several titles, like Far Cry 6, Love, Death & Robots, and Sons of the Forest, but it's never made a game of this scope before. On Obelisk Studio's official website, the company notes that its Alpha vertical slice of Displacement is almost complete. However, the game doesn't have enough funding yet and may not be completed without the support of fans. With this in mind, it's possible that Displacement may still be a ways off. Nonetheless, if it exceeds expectations, it could steal some thunder from Dead Space spiritual successors like Cronos: The New Dawn.
- Developer(s)
- Obelisk Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Obelisk Studio
