How Dead Space's Scariest Scene Almost Killed the Game

Twenty years ago, Electronic Arts released Dead Space, a sci-fi horror game that would go on to become a cult classic. But there was one scene in particular that almost killed the game before it even had a chance to start. In this War Story, we revisit the terrifying moment that came close to derailing the entire project.

Dead Space's scariest scene is undoubtedly the infamous 'Watershed' chapter, where players are forced to navigate a cramped and claustrophobic ship filled with grotesque alien creatures. But what many people don't know is that this scene was almost cut from the game altogether due to its intense psychological impact on the development team.

'We were all convinced that we'd go insane,' says James Nordstrom, one of the game's designers. 'The atmosphere was so tense and unsettling that it started to affect our mental health. We had to take breaks every hour just to calm down.'

According to Nordstrom, the scene was originally designed to be even more intense than what made it into the final version. The team wanted to create a sense of utter hopelessness and despair, where players felt like they were trapped with no escape from the horrors that surrounded them.

'We pushed ourselves to make it as scary as possible,' recalls Nordstrom. 'We added creepy sounds, disturbing visuals, and even experimented with psychological manipulation techniques to make the player feel uneasy.'

However, as the team delved deeper into the scene's development, they began to realize that it was taking a toll on their mental health. The constant exposure to horror and stress started to affect their work, making it harder for them to focus and produce quality content.

'We were all getting burned out,' says Nordstrom. 'We knew we had to make changes or risk losing our sanity – or worse, our jobs.'

In the end, the team decided to tone down the scene's intensity, opting for a more balanced approach that would still deliver on the game's horror promise without sacrificing their own well-being.

Looking back, it's easy to see why Dead Space's Watershed chapter remains one of the most iconic and terrifying scenes in gaming history. The sheer terror and unease it evokes is a testament to the power of storytelling and atmosphere in video games – and the lengths developers will go to create an unforgettable experience for players.

How dead space's scariest scene almost killed the game | war stories | ars technica