Dead Space (Xbox 360) Review

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.11.2008

Journey into deep space for a horrifying tale of a repair mission gone wrong…just don’t turn off the lights!



Don’t you just hate it when routine missions go awry? Well in this case, you’ll love it in Electronic Arts’ newest IP, Dead Space. The story kicks off with you as Isaac Clarke, engineer, along with your two likewise companions traveling into deep space on a routine repair mission. Your goal is to board the USG Ishimura, a mining vessel, and fix the communications blackout that has plagued it. Sounds like a simple mission right? Wrong; oh so very wrong! As you board the Ishimura, you quickly find out that it has been overrun by the Necromorph, an unknown infection and that’s when the shit hits the fan.

Gameplay

Your realization quickly turns to fear after an explosion causes you to get stuck on the USG Ishimura. Of course your mission must stay the course so you and your partners must work together to fix the communications blackout and get the hell out of there. As Isaac, you’ll be thrown into various missions to help in getting communications back online but unfortunately will have to deal with the insanely creepy creatures that walk about the vessel. You won’t have your typical weapons that are found in other survival horror games but rather instruments for mining that Isaac will use with full force. As you progress through the game you will pick up credits that will enable you to purchase new weapons via the Store which has setups throughout the vessel. You will also come across nodes that can be used to upgrade your weapons and your suit. Speaking of the suit, or “Rig” as its called, it serves many different purposes. For one, as the game has no HUD, the back of the suit will show you some status meters that refer to your health, air supply and stasis levels. Also the front part of your suit has a holographic projector that enables you to communicate with others on board. If you press the back button on the control, you’ll gain access to your inventory, mission objectives and a map along to name a few. These screens don’t force you to pause the game as your projector will display them in front of you, even letting you continue walking along – a fine idea. As mentioned, your rig can be upgraded with nodes letting you enhance your armor, air supply, and inventory slots. You’ll actually see your Rig go through some minor physical changes each time you do a full suit upgrade.


This can't be good!

As for the combat, well…let’s just say that you’ll be on edge for almost the entirety of the game. As you set your weapons to be mapped to a direction on the d-pad, you’ll encounter some honest to God creepy creatures around the ship. Most of us have also come to expect a headshot to do the trick when playing these types of games but EA has throws us a curveball by requiring that you dismember the creepy crawlies you encounter. Things gets frightening when you’re running out of ammo and you realize that what you think just died, has begun to regenerate. You soon figure out that you’ll have to blow off limb after limb to make sure they don’t come back after you. With a cool variety of weapons that allow you to blow, saw off or torch away flesh, you’ll have to think things through to make the most of what you have. Depending on the difficulty level of the game, you’ll also have to be very weary of your ammo as even buying them from the store can get expensive. You’ll also be able to swing your weapon or stomp on the ground if you’re forced into a melee but you may piss on yourself when the room suddenly gets overrun by the infected.

The game itself is broken down into various missions, which have you traveling around the USG Ishimura via a tram. After you’ve completed your objectives, you get back on the tram and make your way to your next destination…assuming you’re still alive. But it’s not just all about shooting your way around the ship, you’ll also have to solve some puzzles using your ability to slow down objects as well as use telekinesis to move them around. In some instances, you’ll jump into areas with zero gravity in which you can move around to try and get some repair work done. You’ll no doubt come across some creatures looking to rip your face off so battling with that in zero gravity can be quite a test.

Graphics

Dead Space features some very nice visuals that are akin to what you’ve seen on Bioshock or Mass Effect. The fact that there isn’t any HUD as previously mentioned makes the game more immersive and really brings you into the experience almost as if you were watching a movie. The game really isn’t for the feint of heart or those with a weak stomach as you’ll encounter some grotesque enemies that look even worse when blown to bits. This game is gory, plain and simple. Whether you’re decapitating or dismembering something or falling victim to it yourself, the game isn’t letting you forget it. One of my favorite deaths was being overtaken by this slimy son of a bitch that decapitated my head. It looked like a walking sting ray that then jumped onto my shoulders and infested my body. I then walked about with a sickening new head, aimlessly looking for somewhere to go. It’s equally disturbing when you walk into a room with zero gravity and see arms, legs or heads floating about.


The smallest of creatures could do some serious damage

The level design is also top notch. Though you’re confined to the USG Ishimura, the corridors and various rooms all look relatively unique. Even places you’ll have to revisit seem fresh while threat of attack is ever present – regardless if you’ve cleared it out previously. No, that doesn’t mean enemies respawns, but be weary of those air vents…they make for great traveling paths.

Sound

You know the audio team has done one hell of a job when the sound alone creeps the hell out of you. Though the visuals are more than gruesome, it’s the sound that really puts it all together. Mind you I played with a dedicated surround sound and if you don’t have one, you absolutely must get one to play with this game. Walking down dark corridors only become more nerve wrecking when you keep hearing things in the vents and on the other side of doors. I found myself plenty of times stopping in my tracks to look around at what I thought was inevitable doom, only to realize that I was simply hearing things. The USG Ishimura definitely comes alive with all of the different sound effects. There are many functioning mechanics on the ship and it’s a nice touch to not only see but hear everything in motion.


Not something you want to walk in on

Though the story party unfolds in your communication with your crew, there are plenty of audio logs that you’ll find that gives you an insight as to what the previous members of the ship were going through. Sure you can get through the game without picking them up but it’s an excellent addition that makes the experience even more unsettling as you come across more clues into what exactly went on.

Fun Factor

If you like to be scared, then Dead Space is for you. I’m one of those gamers that enjoys a good scare and loves games such as Resident Evil, Eternal Darkness and Silent Hill. This one’s a game that plays with your head and I’m all for it. The weapons are fun to use and since they have alternate firing modes, it’s cool to figure out when and how to use them. The game isn’t just about blowing off body parts, it’s about learning how to use your abilities and working with what you have. When playing in the easier difficulty levels, you’ll find much more ammunition and health so the game take on more of an action feel, but in the more difficult settings, you’ll need to manage your ammo and health making things a little more hairy. I will say however that this game just screams of co-op, especially with two other members of your crew which would’ve been awesome. Picture each member trying to fix different parts of the ship – all working together for the common goal. Using your 360 headsets to communicate with each other or being forced to meet up to destroy a large boss. That could’ve been sweet but alas, the single player game is good enough.


The visuals from space look amazing

Lasting Appeal

You’re probably wondering by now if there is any type of online mode as I have yet to address it. The answer is no. There is no only mode whether its co-op, leaderboards or anything of the kind. Still the game has a decent amount of length without feeling like there’s anything tacked on for the sake of making the game longer. You’ll encounter new weapons that you can unlock after beating the game and you can also toy around with the other difficulty levels. Playing it on hard is quite a challenge and scary as hell. We’ve also gotten word this week that EA is planning on downloadable content for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions which also include some console exclusive stuff. So that alone could entice some players to give it another go.

The 411

Dead Space is a winner. Though we’ve played plenty of survival horror games, there’s plenty of things in the game that make the experience seem very fresh. The design is top notch, the story enthralling and the setting and mood is exceptional. Kudos to EA for taking a chance on a new IP and one that appears to be garnering critical acclaim.

Simply put, Dead Space is a definite buy!

Graphics	10.0	Excellent detail, gory and gruesome visuals and a movie-like presentation with no HUD.
Gameplay	9.0	Great use of weapons and abilities. This game is pretty scary! Could've used a method of turning around 180 degrees though.
Sound	10.0	I can't praise the sound enough. It really does feel like you're watching a movie.
Lasting Appeal	7.5	You can replay it with new weapons but there's no other modes.
Fun Factor	9.0	You'll want to play this one at night and perhaps with a friend or relative standing by. Intriguing story and bloody killings make this a blast
Overall	9.1   [  Amazing ]

Screenshots
All 8 Dead Space Screenshots