10 Iconic Video Games You Had NO IDEA Were Originally Sequels
4. Dead Space
Originally: System Shock 3
System Shock 2 might not have sold like hotcakes, but it created a ripple effect across the industry, inspiring developers to rethink what a sci-fi action RPG could be - blending immersive-sim mechanics with blistering horror. In the eagerness to create a part three to that franchise, two classic games were born.
The first was a straightforward non-starter. Ken Levine, the lead creative behind System Shock 2, wanted to evolve the series further, but by that point, the rights had gone to EA, making it a no-go. Hence, BioShock was conceived as a spiritual successor with him at Take-Two instead.
Meanwhile, at EA, publisher-owned Visceral Games were huge fans of System Shock 2 and wanted to pick up the mantle. The publisher supported the idea, preferring to build on an established (if underperforming) IP rather than risk an entirely new one. Development began with the team studying the franchise closely - it was originally meant to be a first-person immersive sim in the style of the franchise.
And then Resident Evil 4 happened...
That landmark game essentially rewrote the rulebook for how a horror blockbuster should play and feel. Visceral made the case to keep System Shock’s atmosphere and setting, while shifting to a third-person perspective with tighter, more action-oriented controls - but to really work, it would need to be a new IP.
This was an uphill battle; Visceral had to convince EA, but the result was a perfect fusion of survival horror and sci-fi dread.