Dead Space
Dead Space is a survival horror game developed by EA for the PS3 and PC along with the Xbox 360 console. Dead Space is a third person game and the camera is shot over your characters right shoulder. A bit like the Gears Of War games. You take the role as Isaac Clarke (he has been named after two writers). The game starts in the year 2508 and Isaac is on the USG Kellion, which is a ship he and his comrades use to get to placesto do their missions. Another ship close by sends out a distress signal. So Isaac and his crew board the Planet Cracker Starship to see what the problem is. Once they get aboard the ship via the loading dock because the ship is huge, they discover that no one is on board. The crew and Isaac decide to look around. After a little looking around Isaac gets trapped in a separate room to his friends. Whilst Isaac is looking through a glass window his friends are attacked by something, this something turns out to be a deformed creature. After this Isaac is chased down by a few of these deformed creatures but he luckily escapes into an elevator. Now Isaac and his crew (whats left of them) decide to go back to their ship and get off this crazy hell hole. However things aren't that simple. Upon arriving at the loading dock Isaac and his crews ship is blown to pieces. Now Isaac and his team are stuck on this god forsaken ship. Can Isaac and his friends find a way of getting off this ship before they are turned into these mutilated creatures. Or is their doom inevitable.
Gameplay
The gameplay to Dead Space is simply fantastic. The game has so much to offer in terms of gameplay. Dead Space is one of my all time favourite games. You take the role as an engineer called Isaac Clarke and the game is set in 2508. Dead Space is gives the gamer a third person view all the way through the game. Also you only play as the one character but you do interact with many other characters. The basic camera of the game is shot over Isaacs right shoulder. There are 12 chapters to complete and each chapter can last well up to an hour. As you progress through the game you acquire many things. Some items that are scattered through the levels are audio logs. These audio logs are basically there to get you into the story and gameplay more. Also throughout the game you will find many other items such as Credits. Credits are found in containers, lockers and other places and can be used at the shop. Throughout each level you will come across many different shops. At these shops you can use the credits you've found to buy items, weapons and even a new suit for Isaac. Also at these shops you can store items in the safe. Isaac can only carry a certain amount of items and every time you get him a new suit he will be able to carry a few more. I do feel the safe is a good thing as it will help later on in the game.
As you progress further in the game you can find special items. These items include things for the shop. The shop only sells a limited number of items at the start but after finding these special items, more becomes available to purchase in the shop. Some special items include suits for Isaac and new weapons. Another great thing is when you acquire the ability to use telekinesis. This helps when fighting certain creatures. Some creatures can be tossed with this ability but some cant. The ones that cant can still feel the wrath of the telekinesis. All you need to do is find something worth throwing at them. Whilst this ability is fun it can be quite difficult to master at times. Throughout the 12 chapters you meet many different characters and you fight many different creatures. These creatures aren't your normal monsters from other games. They look more evil, they sound more evil and normal headshots don't make any difference to killing them. The best way to kill them is shoot their limbs off. Some enemies can still come at you without a head and they can even come at you with no legs. There are lots of different types of creatures and some of these can be really difficult to beat.
One of the best things about the gameplay to Dead Space is the fact that Isaac comes with an ability from the start of the game. This ability tells the gamer exactly where to go. All you do is click in your right analog stick in and it shows you. This comes in handy later on because of the huge levels. On some levels you enter a no gravity zone, which enables you to go flying round doing certain objectives to help you get off the ship. The game offers loads of surprises and also the game can be very scary in places. Dead Space is possibly one of the scariest games so far. The game offers shocks and some brilliant gameplay. One of the best bits about it is the ability to upgrade everything. Oh and after finishing the game you unlock impossible mode and a few other bits. Overall the gameplay to Dead Space is certainly one of the best.
Graphics & Sound
Dead Space was released back in 2008 and the game features some stunning graphics throughout each chapter and all the way through the game. Isaac is design really well. He wears a type of suit that makes him look like Robocop. The basic look of each monster is great. Whilst most look very similar they do have a fair few of different creatures. Also the bosses are brilliantly designed and make the game so much better in terms of graphics. Each level design layout is really similar but don't let that put you off because it does work to the games advantage. Overall the basic graphics to the game are great and definitely one of the best points to the game.Now the sound effects are by far the best I have heard for any game. Every sound effect brings the game to life and makes it much more enjoyable. The footsteps sound superb. The monsters make different sounds and let me just say you will know when one is coming. Also when your shooting at your enemies the sound effects really do sound that good. The best things about the games sound effects is when you least expect it they make an impact and can easily make you jump out of your seat. The characters are all voice activated and this does make the game unique and also the music to the game is the type of music that will make you on edge and nervous. Overall the sound effects are smashing and really do make the game brilliant!
Difficulty & Longevity
Now these are two interesting subjects about the game. The basic controls to the game are very simple and are very easy to get the hang of. The games difficulty ranges to be fair. If your like me an achievement hunter then your going to find any game easy up to a certain extent. The game starts off easy and pretty much ends easily. However after completing it the first time round you will unlock impossible mode. Impossible mode is basically story mode but on an extremely hard setting. I have just done this setting and it took me a little over 7 hours. That was my third play through. After starting it on normal I found it far to easy and I did actually go through it twice. Each time you go through the game you get the chance to carry all your weapons, items and stats across to a new game. The only problem is when starting impossible mode you have to start from scratch. Impossible mode does have a few different bits and it does also contain much stronger enemies and much less items. Impossible mode is designed for the more experienced gamer. The basic length of the game varies again. Whilst the game only offers 12 chapters, it does actually require you to go through them on more than one occasion. One playthrough should take about 10-12 hours. Overall the difficulty to the game varies and the longevity varies as well.
Good Bits
- Dead Space offers lots of variety in its gameplay and can keep you wanting more.
- Lots of different creatures to shoot, dismember and blow up.
- Learn new abilities, acquire new weapons and armor as you progress through your game.
- You most certainly have to play through the game on more than one occasion.
- Some of the graphics are great and the sound is phenomenal!
Bad Bits
- The game does have its scary moments all the way through it.
- It can become quite repetitive in some parts but it doesn't really let the game down.
- The basic story to the game is good but you can easily get lost in it.
- A certain monster is persistent and equally annoying and wont leave you alone.
Final Thought
Dead Space is one of my favourite games of all time and this is mainly due to everything it has to offer. Dead Space is a scary thrid person shotter game that offers thrills, chills and excitement all the way through it. The game does contain lots of blood and guts. It does contain parts that some people will take offence to. The game has a rating of 18+ and trust me this isn't because of fairies and butterflies. The amount of times I have played Dead Space and the game still scares me in places. It has so many different bits with monsters jumping out at you and its very hard to remember where they all are. The manual to the game is a simple one. It does explain almost everything in it but it doesn't help with understanding the story to the game. I would recommend this game but only to gamers that like a good scare and to gamers that love survival horror games. Dead Space is your typical survival game, you have to do everything you can to stay alive. Question is can you?. One of the downfalls to Dead Space is the lack of any multiplayer modes and it does also lack online play. Overall Dead Space is possibly the scariest game ever made so far to date. Do you dare play it?. I would recommend you give it a try. The game cost me £34.99 when it first came out. Luckily the game is much cheaper now and is selling for £17.99 on Amazon and thats brand new including postage. I do think its worth every penny as it was very thrilling to play. Overall I would give this game a very solid 9/10 almost perfect!Oh and there is now a Dead Space 2 out so you might want to check that out too.
Review also on dooyoo under the username: simon020187
Well reviewed. x