I stopped.

I've had Dead Space 2 since it's launch date I believed, and when I picked it up, I felt incredibly confident in my skills. I had recently S-Ranked it's predecessor, leaving me on a high from the Hard playthrough. Now, with my initial experiences with this game, I did exceptionally well. I managed my inventory and ammo, used melee appropriately and not like a suicidal maniac -- I played it pretty well.

Judging from my achievements, the last time that I played this game was in February of last year.

As with all games that you don't play for a long period of time, I've clearly gotten rusty. I'm not even playing on Zealot -- just on Survivalist. But I have died more in the single chapter I am on than I ever remember doing in the rest of my time with the game.

I'm not even sure what it is. Was it my upgrade path? Have I just gotten that truly godawful? If I had an agenda or some kind of method to my madness in the power node placement on my weapons and RIG, it's been a long time out of mind. I don't remember any of these characters or why they're important (or tremendous dicks). And it's a shame really. I won't restart my game, because I'm a prideful son of a bitch, but it's led to a sort of souring of my experience as well. Not that I'm having an awful time. Just that I'm not having as good of a time as I know I would have, had I not put it down and been so hesitant to come back to it.

I stopped.

I've had Dead Space 2 since it's launch date I believed, and when I picked it up, I felt incredibly confident in my skills. I had recently S-Ranked it's predecessor, leaving me on a high from the Hard playthrough. Now, with my initial experiences with this game, I did exceptionally well. I managed my inventory and ammo, used melee appropriately and not like a suicidal maniac -- I played it pretty well.

Judging from my achievements, the last time that I played this game was in February of last year.

As with all games that you don't play for a long period of time, I've clearly gotten rusty. I'm not even playing on Zealot -- just on Survivalist. But I have died more in the single chapter I am on than I ever remember doing in the rest of my time with the game.

I'm not even sure what it is. Was it my upgrade path? Have I just gotten that truly godawful? If I had an agenda or some kind of method to my madness in the power node placement on my weapons and RIG, it's been a long time out of mind. I don't remember any of these characters or why they're important (or tremendous dicks). And it's a shame really. I won't restart my game, because I'm a prideful son of a bitch, but it's led to a sort of souring of my experience as well. Not that I'm having an awful time. Just that I'm not having as good of a time as I know I would have, had I not put it down and been so hesitant to come back to it.

Gets harder around 11. They just start whippin shit tons of dudes at you.

I thought Dead Space 2 was not only insanely easy, but also insanely dull and boring. Want some extreme gameplay spoilers?

There will never be a single instance in the entire game where there is nothing behind you. Whenever the music ques up or you see something in front of you, turn around. Every time. Every single time.
 
I've noticed that upgrades don't really matter much. I went through 99% of the game with the Plasma Cutter and did just fine. Whenever I died it was my own fault and I deserved it.
 
The story is pretty good though, and you're really missing out.

@N7 said:

The story is pretty good though, and you're really missing out.

The story of the space janitor who goes around to different space stations fixing generators, turning on gravity tethers and replacing curcuit boards?

@N7 said:

The story is pretty good though, and you're really missing out.

The story of the space janitor who goes around to different space stations fixing generators, turning on gravity tethers and replacing curcuit boards?

@N7: That's basically what I've learned thus far. Hear a stinger? Did a lot of machinery just kick on to mask the squealing of the enemies? Turn around. It's there. It won't charge you. It's always behind you. And as far as upgrades go, I've basically just been pumping up the Plasma Cutter. It was my favorite weapons in the first game, and it's proven it's usefulness now as well.

As far as the story goes, again, man. I really wish I remembered enough. I've picked up from Chapter 8, and there's this girl Ellie who seems important or like she had story at some point? And Strauss, who seems crazy, and the chairman, who is evil with no currently discernible reason or motive. I can't remember nearly enough about Unitology to know what's going on, other than the Marker is bad, and Isaac is hallucinating about his dead girlfriend.

The game doesn't seem so much challenging as I am ignorant of how to play it effectively. More than one enemy will overwhelm me pretty frequently, I forget that Stasis is a combat ability as well, I can't aim for the limbs nearly as well, and I am apparently the ancestor of a Viking Berserker, given my inherent need to curbstomp everything to death.

@N7 said:

@Grissefar said:

@N7 said:

The story is pretty good though, and you're really missing out.

The story of the space janitor who goes around to different space stations fixing generators, turning on gravity tethers and replacing curcuit boards?

You play as Space Mike Rowe. What's the problem?

Mike Rowe showed up randomly at some Giant Bomb party in the office.

@N7 said:

@Grissefar said:

@N7 said:

The story is pretty good though, and you're really missing out.

The story of the space janitor who goes around to different space stations fixing generators, turning on gravity tethers and replacing curcuit boards?

You play as Space Mike Rowe. What's the problem?

Mike Rowe showed up randomly at some Giant Bomb party in the office.

I loved the first Dead Space but something about the second one just didn't click for me. I think I'm about 80% through the campaign but I doubt I'll go back to it. With so many great games this year it was one of my casualties.

This is why I try so hard to not put a game down if I'm enjoying it. I rarely bother to go back to a game if I take a break from it.

@Brodehouse said:

Gets harder around 11. They just start whippin shit tons of dudes at you.

This. So much this. Especially at the end. Eventually, the enemies turn black and become more difficult (with extra abilities and durability), and you end up seeing up to a dozen guys at a time. Then at the end, you run into literally what feels like at least 100 fucking dudes. It gets much, much more challenging. Lol

Blah blah blah. Dead Space 2 is amazing. That's the final verdict, no arguing about it. Go buy Dead Space 2.

Take this advice in both in Dead Space 2 and in life:

"Sometimes you've got to vomit and keep rowing."

a quotation kindly taken from The Rum Diary

Dead Space 1 and 2 aim to that gut feeling you have when you're fighting and baddies just continue to pop in. There can't be any time wasted, you have to act quickly, and advance rapidly through each scenario. Especially in DS1, and DS2 in chapter 11.

@Chris86 said:

I loved the first Dead Space but something about the second one just didn't click for me. I think I'm about 80% through the campaign but I doubt I'll go back to it. With so many great games this year it was one of my casualties.

I agree...Dead Space 2 just didn't give me that "WTF??!!" moments like the first Dead Space. My guess would be that they made it too much an open area style game instead of the closed corridors/hallways like the first.

@xxizzypop said:

As far as the story goes, again, man. I really wish I remembered enough. I've picked up from Chapter 8, and there's this girl Ellie who seems important or like she had story at some point? And Strauss, who seems crazy, and the chairman, who is evil with no currently discernible reason or motive. I can't remember nearly enough about Unitology to know what's going on, other than the Marker is bad, and Isaac is hallucinating about his dead girlfriend.

Explaining Dead Space's story to someone who has never played Dead Space is a real pain in the ass, I've found. Oh, and Ellie has got to be one of my favorite new side characters in recent memory.

Sounds like Dead Space 3 is more like 2 than the outstanding DS1 :/