Being of the horror genre, theDead Spacefranchise isn’t exactly for the faint of heart. Viewers are subjected to dark areas, eerie sounds, and violence the likes of which can compete with even the goriest pieces of media. Though the franchise previously shifted from survival horror to action horror, the upcomingDead Spaceremake looks set to bring players back to the slow and steady scares.
One of the scenes inDead Space 2draws the line between tension and horror almost perfectly. It is the infamous eye machine sequence involving Isaac, the hallucination of his dead girlfriend Nicole, and a very pointy needle.Those who have playedDead Space 2will remember the scene off the top of their heads, likely because of how close and personal the experience is.
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Memory Is A Terrible Thing
Putting things into perspective, the sequence takes place during the game’s final act. Having accepted that the hallucination of Nicole is a part of himself, Isaac willingly follows her instructions and steps into the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine. The machine was used by Titan Station’s science division to extract Marker information from subjects affected by the strange artifacts withthe intent of creating a Marker of their own. Having been subjected to numerous tests and drugs by the same scientists, Isaac has forgotten most of what the Marker has shown him. Thankfully, the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine allows him to access all the information regarding the Markers, including how to destroy one.
As soon as Isaac positions himself, the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine hums to life and forcefully straps him down. Once Isaac is in place, it begins to lowera very long and thin needle toward Isaac’s eye. The point of the needle (no pun intended) is to puncture Isaac’s lateral geniculate - the part of the brain where the Marker information is stored. Isaac begins to panic and the real-time cutscene ends.
Stick A Needle In Your Eye
It is here where the needle controls are handed to the players. They have to carefully lower the needle into the center of Isaac’s pupil - a task that isn’t exactly easy considering how much he is moving. As the needle gets closer, Isaac’s movements, grunts, and heart rate become more erratic; making it harder for the operation to succeed. Failing to line up the needle’s laser or allowing Isaac’s heart rate to get too high will trigger a gruesome death animation wherethe eye machine malfunctions and impales Isaacthrough the eye.
The tension the player feels is compounded by multiple factors. Aside from Isaac’s irregular movements, there is a distinct lack of music. This emphasizes the heartbeat monitor’s beeping noises, which get more frequentthe closer the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine’s needle getsto Isaac’s eye. The act of lowering the needle is also a factor, as bringing it closer lowers the margin for error and zooms the camera inwards. Since all their attention is focused on this one task, both failure and success are met with heightened reactions. Dying can make players scream or curse while successfully completing the operation results in them breathing a sigh of relief.
For a sequence that has no combat or dialogue, the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine scene is one of the tensest parts of anyDead Spacegame. It is a moment that can only work in the video game medium; as putting the control of such a delicate machine into players' hands is what compounds the tension. Afterputting players in the shoes of Isaacfor most of the game,Dead Space 2shifts perspectives by allowing players to control the machine that decides his fate. It isn’t a pretty sight, but it is effective at keeping players on the edge of their seats.
Dead Spacewill release on Jun 17, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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