Dead Space Remake: How to Unlock and Survive Impossible Mode

Many horror games reward players who try to brave their terrors multiple times on different difficulty modes. Each entry in the Dead Space franchise, for instance, features a new, even harder challenge that is unlocked whenever someone completes the game on Hard mode. The Dead Space remake is no different.

Like the original Dead Space, the remake includes several difficulty levels: Story, Easy, Medium, Hard, and Impossible. Most of those settings are unlocked at the start of the game, with “Impossible” being the sole exception. In order to unlock the Dead Space remake’s version of Impossible mode, you need to beat the game on Hard mode. As you probably guessed based on the name, that ain’t easy. Isaac Clarke is much more fragile in Hard mode, and enemies can take a lot more punishment. Still, if you make it out of this difficulty mode alive, you will earn the chance to play the “Impossible” mode. If you thought Hard mode was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Before starting Impossible mode, the game gives players a warning. The damage Isaac and the Necromorphs both give and receive is still set to Hard mode levels, but the main difference is the game disables autosave and players have only one save slot. More importantly, gamers only get one shot at Impossible mode.

If they die, the save file’s difficulty resets to Hard mode. The only way to “continue” on Impossible mode is by restarting the game from the beginning and learning from your mistakes. That or you can save scum your way to victory by quickly pausing and exiting the game before you die, then reloading your save file, which should still be set to Impossible if you did it fast enough. Some sites (such as Powerpyx) also recommend save scumming with cloud saves, which can overwrite your save files and revert them to Impossible mode. Just make sure Auto-sync is disabled first. Otherwise, the death will overwrite the cloud file, which obviously defeats the purpose.

So why would anyone brave Impossible Mode in the Dead Space remake? Bragging rights for starters. Players who manage to do the impossible (pun intended) will earn the achievement/trophy “Untouchable,” as well as the Burnished Suit and the Hand Cannon for New Game Plus runs.

Anyone who beat Impossible mode in the original Dead Space will be in for a shock if they go into it expecting the same nigh-unwinnable experience, though. Enemies are technically easier in the remake’s version of Impossible since it doesn’t nerf item drops (though some dispute that claim), but the mode is harder as a whole due to its “you only get one try” nature. In order to stand a chance, many players recommend only using the Plasma Cutter, Pulse Rifle, Force Gun, and maybe the Line Gun. This way, players are more likely to upgrade their loadouts to 100%, as well as sell spare weapons for a quick buck. Also, Impossible mode players should use kinesis and stasis liberally and always look for environmental hazards that will help give them an edge.

That’s everything you need to know about the Dead Space remake’s Impossible difficulty mode. If you plan on challenging it…well, best of luck to you. You’ll certainly need it.