A perfect balance of action and pure terror
I remember picking this game up because I was looking for something new. I loved the Resident Evil Series. I loved Doom 3. F.E.A.R. was interesting, but quickly forgotten. Now I needed something new to creep me out and cause me to jump off the couch in the wee hours of the morning. That something new was Deadspace.
You assume the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer aboard a rescue ship inbound for the USG Ishimura. The Ishimura is a huge space ship affectionately called a "planet cracker." The ship is, in essence, is a giant piece of mining equipment. While the Ishimura was mining its latest planet its radio antenna goes out and it loses contact with the outside. Now enter Isaac and his crew to repair the ship. As you board the Ishimura, you quickly realize, something has gone horribly wrong aboard the ship. The repair mission quickly devolves from a repair mission, to a rescue mission, to just surviving this bloody mess. You quickly discover the ship is infested with horrid mutations named necromorphs. Are they demons? Are they zombies? Are they genetic abominations? I'll let you play the game and discover that. Rest assured, this game provides you with a gripping storyline and memorable characters that will stay with you long after your shaking hands have stilled.
On to the technical details:
Storyline: Original, memorable, and well told. There are familiar elements from other games such as the space theme, but this game takes a whole new twist on the genre. You aren't a testosterone filled space marine with advanced weaponry...you're just a man, trapped in the middle of this chaos trying to survive. As you make your way through the ship you uncover more and more of the horrid truth and source of the necromorphs. The video and audio logs you find along the way only help to further freak you out and move the storyline along.
Graphics/Atmosphere: Very, very creepy. From the blood stained halls, to the horridly disgusting necromorphs, the game's graphics do not disappoint. The animations are very fluid. The game also lacks a HUD, instead, glowing parts of Isaac's suit and weapons function as your health and ammo meters. A great new concept that keeps you immersed in the game.
Sound/Atmosphere: The sound is very well done. The guns and mining equipment (turned weapon) are all crisp and powerful sounding. The echoes and distant screams serve to keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire game as your search for the light switch in your living room.
Gameplay/Controls: Very tight controls and fluid motions. The game play is a combination between a third person shooter and a survival horror game. It is not a run and gun game, but at the same time, it is not like the Resident Evil series where you have to plant your feet to shoot. Its very well done to make it challenging, but not make you feel completely helpless, nor unstoppable. The new zero gravity gameplay also adds a new level of challenge and innovation to the game. And one more thing...head shots don't work so well. No, in order to kill these baddies you must strategically dismember them by blasting off limbs, tentacles and all sorts of weird stuff.
Bosses: ...are freakin' tough! Yes, the bosses are actually challenging in this game. Defeating them will leave you with a sense of accomplishment. It may also cause you to jump off your seat and scream, "Yes! Die you @#$@!" at your TV or monitor.
Overall: This has been one of the scariest games I've played. If you enjoy survival horror, or just want a challenging game this is definitely worth your money.
