Dead Space 3 will feature permadeath mode and 'disturbing' DLC

Dead Space 3 is hoping to entice gamers into multiple playthroughs. Executive producer Steve Papoutsis has said the upcoming third-person adventure will feature four additional difficulty modes which unlock after players beat the game for the first time as well as "disturbing" post-launch DLC.

Two of the additional modes, Classic and Hardcore, have clearly been made with Dead Space veterans in mind. Classic mode is a single-player only affair that ditches the game's new crosshairs and resource management elements, which should make Dead Space 3 feel more similar to its predecessors.

Hardcore mode, on the other hand, only gives players one life for the entire campaign. Dead Space 2's punishing Hardcore mode allowed players just three saves for the entire game, but offered an immensely powerful weapon to its survivors.

There's also a classic New Game+ mode, as well as a Pure Survival mode where everything in the game has to be crafted. "Enemies ONLY drop resources, and there’s no ammo, health, or weapon parts to be found," said Papoutsis on the Dead Space blog. "You’ll have to choose what to craft every time you see a bench. Upgrade? Med Pack? Plasma Core? Think fast -- there’s a Waster right around the corner!"

Looking past the game's launch next week, Papoutsis teased some post-game campaign DLC. "The team is hard at work on a top secret additional story that will be coming in a few weeks," he said. "We're not saying much, yet - but think 'disturbing' to get your imaginations going."

Yesterday Papoutsis defended the PC port of Dead Space 3, saying developer Visceral Games was looking to create a "consistent" experience across all three platforms.

Dead Space 3, which also happens to feature Commander Shepard's N7 armour, will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on February 5 in North America and February 8 in Europe.