Dead Space Review

Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: horror survival

As mentioned many times by now, I don't like horror games but I try some of them from time to time and many times I was surprised to actually like the game (like Sillent HIll Shattered Memories, Cryostasis or Clive Barker's Undying). Now, that Dead Space 2 is out and the series generated a lot of hype I gave it's predecesor another shot.

So ... Isaac Clarke is on his way to the USG Ishimura to repair ... something. Anyway, once you crash-land on the Ishimura you'll be presented with the actual situation. The ship is just a wreck floating in outer space, all of it's crew is dead and blood is omnipresent on the walls or floors. Of course you are separated by the rest of the crew (4 people .... 2 killed in the first cutscenes) and have to carve your way around the Ishimura doing mostly maintenance stuff.
Although the first 9 chapters are mainly repair-this, repair-that or go get this so we can repair that ... the story gets some interesting twists and it kinda sucks you in.

Basicly you start looking for a way to leave the Ishimura but, usually some non-sense happens and you have to go to a certain area of the ship (via a a tram system) and do the necessary repairs or adjustments. A notable mention would be that the necromorphs, the new inhabitants are gonna try to ... well ... eat you i guess. These are the former crew-members with some extra limbs. Early in the game you are told to shot the limbs for extra-damage ... so happy limb-shooting. This gimmick tends to be really cool if you're using the first weapon in the game a.k.a. the plasma-cutter. It shoots 3 rounds of ... plasma I guess either in a verstical or horizontal line. I cannot tell much of the other weapons because I was going for a achievement that makes you finish the game with the first weapon only but they seemed interesting, there is flamethrower, assault rifle and so on. Also, Mr. Clarke can use stasis to slow down object or enemies and kinesis to take up big objects or get them out of the way.

The atmosphere is pretty creepy and all, but It wasn't quite a jump-of-your-seat-experience (except for the ending but I was kinda expecting that). there were a lot of unused ooportunities. Like ... you're using a lot of small elevators in the game and yet there was not a ambush in any of them or anything. There are times when you have to get out of the Ishimura. Then you are timed by a oxygen-meter and there is no gravity at all. To move in zero gravity, you can walk or you can target a place and jump to it (even if it's on wall or ceiling).

From time to time you get to a store which is used to buy medpacks, ammo or new armour or weapons (if you found the needed schematics) or a workbench where you can upgrade your equipment.

Theese being said ... I enjoyed Dead Space more then I though I will ... and I'm actually doing a New Game + (i don't usually do them).

the bad: repetitive repair-something objectives
the good: setting, atmosphere, cut-off-their-limbs