Dead Space Review
Dead Space is a kick-in-the-pants survival horror video game set on a very large, very creepy spaceshipAs the main protagonist named Isaac Clarke (2001 fans take note) you are a part of the salvage and repair teamA seemingly innocent enough job, showing up to derelict vessels and getting them running again so they can return to portHe's an engineer, but that's just the fancy way of saying he's a grease monkey, a mechanicAnd nothing in his job description has prepared him for the kind of double-barrel shenanigans he's neck deep in.
As a fan of horror movies, books and (of course) games, I look at the genre with a very suspicious eyeWhat is considered horror to some is merely suspense to othersLikewise some people equate gore to horror, that's only because the sight of blood is frightening to someI imagine some ER nurses and doctors would yawn their way through the Saw moviesI, on the other hand, like to be scared and appreciate a good amount of blood, but jumps and atmospheric music play a big part of getting scaredAnd, if you really get into the things that go bump in the night, you will play games like this in a completely darkened room and with no one else around so you can get the game's full effects
So I suppose it's no wonder that I really did enjoy this gameI had played it back in Octand Nov on the PS3, so I knew what to expect, but played the game from a purely fun perspective, rather than as part of my normal reviewing rotationRegardless, I dove into this version with the same aplomb and found that while the game makes good on all the atmospheric qualities and spooky situations that really made this game a stand-out entrant in the survival-horror genreNow since this is an entirely new (hopefully) franchise, EA has gone all-out to make sure this game gets all the love and attention fans could possibly clamor for It is safe and secure to Buy EQ2 Gold from usComic book and an animated movie tie-in are not necessary to see but add to the overall story that is Dead SpaceAnd this is where I think the game succeeds, due to its strong story-telling elements.
"Man, these Phi Beta Epsilon parties are just too muchI gotta change fraternities."
As the story goes, the Earth has been used up as far as the natural resources go, since the game takes place in the far future, giant planet-cracking freighters roam the universe destroying planets to break down useful elementsThe top ship in this category is the Ishimura, a ship with a long history of successful planet cracksBut then, the Ishimura goes silentThinking its nothing more then a communication issue, Isaac, as a member of the repair crew, is dispatchedTwisting in Isaac's gut is the cryptic message from a special someone in Isaac's life who is on the IshimuraNo sooner does the repair crew arrive does the repair vessel get destroyed and a vicious attack on the crew by a group of mutilating aliens called NecromorphsThey haven't left much of the Ishimura crew and now they haven't left much of the repair crew either
Separated from the other survivors and now shipless, Isaac begins the long and sometimes painful task of trying to fix the Ishimura and help out the other survivorsBut Isaac is no warrior, he is a brainAnd in this case being smart is the only way to make it out aliveIsaac uses his knowledge to create weaponry and improve it as time goes alongLearning more about his enemies as he goes, firing mining equipment that has been retrofitted to fire projectiles is only half the challenges; most of the Necromorphs cannot be killed in standard head/torso shotsRather, you must concentrate on blowing off limbs in order to defeat the enemies who seem to get faster and faster as the game goes on.
As if translating the fact that Isaac is not a soldier, there is no heads-up display when shooting; you need to get really good if you want to survive and to make matters worse, Isaac doesn't have a quick turn hotkeyIf you see a monster lumbering towards you from behind (the game is viewed third person) you will need to run in the direction you are facing and then turn around or be prepared to take the hitHealth is viewed from the backpack on Isaac's back and danger is seen around almost every turnInterjected cut scenes help move the action and story along as well.
Dead Space has a very claustrophobic and uncomfortable feel to it, which is entirely appropriate because you are, quite frankly, the only one who can get yourself out of this messDark shadows and creepy body-filled corridors help add to the graphical nightmareI can't say the PC version is better looking than the PS3 version, because it isn't, but it still does look every bit the horror movie it isThe displayed gore of limbs flying and blood flowing comes across tightly, lighting effects pierce the almost-always-dark corridors and the grotesque forms of the Necromorphs and their pirated body parts have a great effect on you when they manage to sneak up on you.
The A.Iis pretty good, but in its favor is the need to shoot specific body parts, and they know it; so when you find yourself surrounded by several and they start hacking at you, you know you are in troubleHowever, they do move around pretty sneakily and make good on using the game's natural hiding spots and coverA well-executed game with many little nuances correctly applied to make this a truly scary game.
Now there is a healthy amount of noise in the game, but sometimes I found the ambient music that sometimes comes up to be more frightening than the excellent voice acting or creepy visualsIt happens to be a well-scored game that takes advantage of the frightening sounds that can make a person's hair stand on edgeLike I said, I live in a house filled with scary books, movies and games and this score had my arm hair standing on end more than onceLooking to Buy FFXI Gil? We provide instant game currency & accounts for saleI don't care who you are, if you are playing an intentionally scary game and the scares still work, then you have found something special