I usually play Dead Space on the hardest difficulty setting (except the "limited saves" mode), but it's been a while so I started up Dead Space 3 on the second hardest mode. While I die quickly, it's not all that hard.
So what all is the difference between the difficulty modes? How significant is each step up? Is it just that you pick up less ammo and necromorphs take/deal more damage (which I believe was how the first games work)? Does difficulty affect those all-too-precious resource drops?
41 Answer
In short, each level (causal, normal, hard and impossible) increases the threat level of enemies and the availability of supplies. Higher difficulty means enemies will deal more damage and can endure more punishment before dying, and the amount of resources you find is lessened (e.g. a stack of ammo is only 3 on impossible, whereas it's 4 on hard and 6 on the easiest difficulty setting).
In addition, for New Game Plus
Classic mode: In this mode you are restricted to building weapons available in dead space and dead space 2 from blue prints. Building weapons from parts is disabled. This mode also feature 'classic aiming' and a reduced number of inventory slots to begin with, increasing as the player acquires RIG suits. This mode has it difficult level set to hard. Finishing this mode unlocks the Devil Horns
Pure Survival mode: In this mode enemies do not drop supplies. This mode has it difficult level set to hard. Resources must be used to craft all items at a bench. You also won't find any weapon part, circuit, frame throughout the game (which means you can't acquire the unique frames such as the S.C.A.F. frame, Weller's frame, Hammond's frame, etc.).
Hardcore Mode:
Dying once in hardcore mode will delete the save entirely and thus ending the game, forcing you to start over from the beginning. Unlike in Dead Space 2, saves are unlimited.
