Dead Space 2 Single Player Review
Visceral Games came out of know where when they released Dead Space two years ago and a year ago with Dante's Inferno. Dead Space came out in a time when EA was experimenting with new IP's. Dead Space didn't sell quite like EA hoped but they knew they had to give Dead Space another chance. Fast forward two years later Dead Space 2 is released and the marketing behind Dead Space 2 is more present, granted it is not the best idea but it get people talking even though your mom will hate this game. Does Dead Space 2 critique the gameplay that the first game offered or is it a step back for the series?
Isaac Clark returns and finds himself being interviewed by a therapist and in a straight jacket with no recollection of any time before that. He is on a space station called the Sprawl that is located near one of Saturn's moon. You soon find out that there is an outbreak of Necromorph's on the Sprawl. Not only that, but Isaac is plagued by visions of his ex girlfriend who died in the last game. Isaac is able to escape from the straight jacket and fight his way through the Necromorph's. He soon runs into a cast of characters throughout the Sprawl like people from The Church of Unitology who finds him very important to the church.
The story is better than the last game due to the fact that Isaac has a lot of dialog and you get to see his face. You feel more attached to him this time around. The same Dead Space story trappings are here. They use audio logs and text logs to help you learn what the Sprawl use to be like. They also use holographic video and audio to just like in the first one to help with character development.
If you have played the first Dead Space then you kind of know what to expect from the sequel. Dead Space 2 is a third person survival-horror game. The game tends to throw a lot of jump scares at you.. Jump scares do feel lame at times; I only jumped once while playing. The game relies more on atmosphere to send a chill down your spine. The game does set a dark and mysteries mood while you are playing but I thought the first game did a much better job at setting the mood. But I think that is due to the fact that I did not know what to expect when I was playing the first game.
The combat in Dead Space still remains awesome. I love strategic dismemberment; I never get tired of shooting the limbs off of a necromorph. Most of the same guns return from the first game including some new ones. In the first game you could play through the whole first game with the first weapon the Plasma Cutter. The plasma cutter returns in this installment but it is weaker this time around. You will have to rely on your other weapons to help you get through the game. Different enemy types die a lot quicker if you are using the right weapon. I still enjoy the combat in Dead Space 2 all the way to the end.
The zero g areas return but this time Isaacs' suit now has thrusters on it so you now can move through the space instead of having to jump from platform to platform. It makes for some interesting level designs. Visceral has added big set piece moments. These moments sometime come down to you pressing the A button repeatedly or have to aim and shoot while hanging upside down or being tossed around like a rag doll. There is also some where you are able to sit back in aww of how awesome it is. I loved these moments in the game and was always excited to see another one, even on my second play through.
The sound design in Dead Space 2 is amazing. Between listing to the found audio tapes and the orchestra background music that happens when something crazy happens or when you discover a gruesome pile of dead bodies, the games audio never lets you down. This game should be played on a surround sound or with headphones if you have them.
Dead Space 2 offers a lot to its players. Even if the single player campaign only takes eight to ten hours depending on what difficulty setting you set it on. The game offers a great deal of replay value with its new game + mode. This moves your current weapon upgrades and armor upgrades and everything in your safe to a new game. Also you are able to unlock new armor for Isaac and help clean up any of those over looked achievements.
Visceral Games has stepped up their game with Dead Space 2. The experience overall is amazing with its sense of atmosphere. I hope the next game Visceral will work on the story to help suck the player into the game more. If they get that down, everything else will fall into place. I loved the first game so much that I played it on the 360 and PS3, and Dead Space 2 has made the same impression on me as its predecessor did. This year for games is going to be great, with Dead Space 2 being one of the first “AAA” games to get released this year. I think it will be a great year for video games and I am witty with excitement as to what awaits us gamers.
