Impressive graphics with a setting reminding me of a number of games, like Doom 3. The isolation sense in space was well done, and there were some effective jump moments. Enemies were actually pretty good as well, except for the bosses.
It also is reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror movies including Alien, The Thing and Event Horizon, as all three seem to have a mixture of inspiration appearing in here. The graphics are immersive, the item management is something different, and it's satisfying to kill with your available arsenal and your almighty stomp kick.
But honestly, Dead Space's only weakness is that it has no soul. It's plot and characters are full of void. That needs to be fleshened out some more. The unusual controls were well done though. It's an above average third person shooter called Dead Empty Space, because the sense of isolation and despair is quite high.
Just as polished as the first one, in this sequel, the human spirit is more alive, and there is more action to be found. Upgrades in the graphics are especially of worthy whenever you fly outside the Titan base, or just when looking at the base itself across stained glass windows.
Too bad that there aren´t any real bosses like the other Dead Space games, plus a certain enemy was missing, a very swift one to be precise. They were only found near the end of the original game, but damn were they scary without Stasis Packs available, which lets you slow down enemies briefly.
I suppose they were replaced by the new ones in part 2, who like to hide and surprise. Multiplayer mode is also implemented, but I ain´t interested in that. Before I forget, Isaac himself now has a personality, plus he must traverse the Titan base and even some of the Ishimura space ship, while not only dealing with Necromorphs, but with dangerous hallucinations from the Marker itself as well.
This franchise continues to be stable regarding what it has to offer. This time, co-operation mode is implemented, but I concentrated on single player campaign. There are a few new additions, such as scavenger bots that search and harvest resources in order to be obtained at the various benches in the levels.
The weapon system has been changed, you can only carry 2 weapons at a time, but the guns can have customary secondary options available installing lower tools. Upper and lower tools can be upgraded with differentiating circuits, and you are able to build new weapons if you find their blueprints first.
It sounds all promising, but I only concentrated on 5 different weapons throughout the game out of like 30 available ones.
The Necromorphs have a few new species, such as a new variant of the very fast moving ones from the original Dead Space, and heads stuck on tentacles that can mutate dead bodies and control them. The story this time takes you to the Marker homeworld on a frozen planet, and it’s up to Isaac once again to stop a man of science this time.
Pretty much all three titles get a 8.2 from me.
Aside from the trilogy, there is also another spinoff game available. Dead Space Extraction is a rail shooter which acts as the prequel towards the first Dead Space. Together with a group of survivors, you will uncover the mystery surrounding the Markers for the first time.
It's a faithful rail shooter which is fun to play with a buddy, but it also manages to add plenty of plot and drama so that it becomes more than just shooting Necromorphs and other creeps, you might actually care about what's happening as well.
The final boss is a huge grotesque and mutated monster which you will have to battle in outer space. That took me a quite a while, but I remember the setting most of all being well designed. Extraction adds to the overall lore and offers different gameplay, just don't expect to replay it any time soon.
Rating: 7.5
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