Dead Space 2

Dead Space 2 is not a horror game. Sure, the enemies are gooey and gross, the lighting is dim, and the ammo is scarce. But Silent Hill 2 (or even the first Dead Space) this is not. In EA and Visceral's sequel, jump scares and pulse-pounding action are the order of the day. The sense of foreboding that the original game did so well, that calm-before-the-storm feeling that made the hairs on your arms stand on end, is rarely, if ever utilized. And while a shrieking monster bursting from the wall when you least expect it is good for a shock or two, it's not truly frightening. There's no buildup, no sense of catharsis when the monster finally strikes. It just... happens, and then it's over. So no, I wouldn't call Dead Space 2 a horror game in the traditional sense. I would, however, call it a damn fine action game.
Isaac Clarke's latest adventure begins a good while after the ending of the first game. After a quick montage designed to catch up new players, we join Isaac as he is interrogated by a psychiatrist about the events of the last game. The relative peace of this scenario is quickly shattered, however, and before you can say "necromorph" Isaac is on the run yet again. This is in stark contrast to the first game's opening, which took its time in developing a sense of tension before revealing the enemies for what they really were. Sure, players are already accustomed to the necromorphs by now, but throwing them at us in the first seconds of the game isn't the best way to establish them as truly threatening enemies. Still, as I said before, Dead Space 2 is really more of an action game this time around, and this introduction is nothing if not thrilling.

The following levels are some of the most masterfully designed I've played in a third person action game. Memorable setpieces punctuate the action in a big way, especially in the beginning and end of the game, and new weapons, suits, and enemies are introduced at a solid pace. The architecture of the levels is much improved from the first game, which, while atmospheric, eventually began to feel redundant. Unlike the endless greyish-brown ribbed corridors of the Ishimura, Dead Space 2's Sprawl is home to numerous environments, including a day care, a church, and a shopping mall. These new settings inject some much needed visual variety into the franchise, and give the sense that the Sprawl has existed for years prior to the game's events. 

As Isaac, you'll be tearing these environments up utilizing many of the same weapons that were featured in the original game. The classic Plasma Cutter is back, along with the Pulse Rifle, the Flamethrower, and all of the other nifty implements of dismemberment you remember so fondly. New weapons are also plentiful, though. The Detonator, for example, fires out proximity mines, while the Javelin Gun shoots electrified javelins and the Force Gun functions much like a shotgun. At this point, it seems like the developers have abandoned the whole "all of our weapons are just modified utilitarian tools" stance that they staunchly promoted for the first game, which is fine by me because frankly I just can't envision any of these guns actually being used for mining, as they supposedly were. The new guns present numerous options for engaging enemies, and are supported by a bevy of new suits. Isaac quickly obtains his original mining suit, but before long you'll have ditched it in favor of some sleek new designs. 

The shooting and strafing feel just as smooth and natural as they did last time around, but all of Isaac's actions have been significantly sped up. Again, this pushes the pacing of the game more towards action than scares, but when the controls work this well, that's just fine. From a pure gameplay standpoint, Dead Space 2 is easily in the top tier of third person action games. Unfortunately, the game is often derivative and is horribly balanced. There are many moments, especially towards the end, which seem pulled straight from the first Dead Space. It's almost as if the developers just ran out of good ideas, and decided to steal some from their past work. Familiarity does not breed fright. Further killing the moody ambiance, the first five or six levels are pathetically easy, as ammunition and health packs are scattered about everywhere. There were so many helpful items lying around, I couldn't even fit them all into my inventory and had to leave them lying where I found them. This is in stark contrast to the ending levels of the game, which throw so many enemies at you that you're better off running past them. The final level in particular leaves you with virtually no ammo, throws dozens of enemies at you, and then tosses you into an annoying boss fight. Expended most of your ammo on the aforementioned dozens of enemies before the boss fight? That's just too bad. Guess you'll just have to punch it to death. Watch out, though, because if it touches you, it's an instant kill. (Yes, that was my experience with the final boss.) It's only natural for a game to get progressively more difficult, but the fact that Dead Space 2 begins so easy and ends so hard is inexcusable. It's just not good design.

The game might be schizophrenic when it comes to difficulty, but at least the production quality is consistently amazing. Dead Space 2 continues the series' tradition of fantastic lighting and sound, which really contribute to the feeling of exploring a living, breathing, and slowly dying environment. The character models are immaculately detailed, which goes a long way towards selling the deeper narrative the the game establishes. Isaac is no longer a silent protagonist, and while this sudden change makes the first game seem a little weird in retrospect, it is a change for the better. Some people have complained that Isaac's reaction to most events is now basically just, "Oh, fuck," but I would be reacting similarly in his shoes, so I think it's a pretty believable performance. Plus, Isaac's encounters with other characters are far more believable when he's not just taking orders from them, but actually responding with his own input. 

In a surprising move that reeks of corporate interference, Dead Space 2 adds a full multiplayer suite to engage you after the story is over. The only problem is that the online play is only supported by a few maps, and while a Call of Duty-like leveling system is in place, most players will probably tire of the online play and its sub-par objective based modes long before they reach the maximum level. Instead, if you want to wring more value from your purchase, I recommend you play through the campaign again. Sure, it's not the greatest campaign ever, but all of your weapons and suit upgrades will carry over to your next playthrough, no matter what difficulty you choose to start on. There's also a Hardcore mode for the truly insane. This new mode limits you to three saves, and squelches the helpful checkpoints found in other difficulties. If you die in this mode, you'll be losing hours of progress. A tantalizing reward lies at the end of Hardcore mode, though, so for truly devoted players it could be worth it.

Dead Space 2 can often seem like a betrayal of what made the original game so special. It eschews real scares for cheap shocks, the difficulty curve is nowhere near as solid as it was the first time around, several of the setpiece moments are pulled straight from the first game, and the addition of multiplayer does nothing for the franchise. That said, the perfect controls, stunning graphics and audio, intriguing story, and high replay value make this worth a play. It might not keep you awake at night, but it'll keep your adrenaline surging and your hands tight on the controller.