Dead Space is anything but another run of the mill action/horror game. It’s one of the scariest yet on the seventh generation of gaming. Released in 2008 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows computers with Electronic Arts being the developers and publishers, the game puts you in the control of Isaac Clarke who boards an interstellar mining station whose entire crew has been slaughtered and reanimated into creatures known as “Necromorphs”. The game is played from an over-the-shoulder third person perspective which is similar to games like Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube and PlayStation 2. But don’t be deceived that it’s just another Resident Evil 4 clone; it has a lot of originality.
For one, the game features no heads-up display and instead places all information that is relayed via holographic projections from Isaac’s Resource Integration Gear (RIG) spacesuit and the weapons ammo counter is holographic. The health meter indicating Isaac’s condition is integrated into Isaac’s suit on the spine. The player can access the RIG at any time to view a 3D map, the inventory screen to manage items and checking your mission objectives. However, the game still progresses in real time so only access the RIG when you’re certain that the room is clear of enemies in order to prevent yourself from getting harmed.
Believe it or not, shooting your enemies in the head isn’t the effective way to eliminate them. Instead you must cut off the limbs of the Necromorphs to defeat them whereas shooting them anywhere else will have very little effect. There are a variety of enemies but the game revolves around shooting off their limbs which will weaken them, slow them down of even kill them. Never before in my life have I played a video game where I had to shoot off the limbs of so many monsters, I did plenty of games in the chest and head, but never the limbs. The enemies prove to be fast, deadly, scary and it is very satisfying to kill them. This game also happens to be very violent and bloody, if you’re looking for a gore fest, then this is the game for you. You can even shoot off the limbs of human corpses you find laying on the ground and you can even decapitate them. I know it sounds sadistic, but it’s pretty fun to do this.
The weapons are surprisingly original and most of them are improvised mining tools such as a plasma cutter (for horizontal and vertical slicing), rotary saw, a hydrazine torch (also can be used as a flamethrower), a high-energy contact beam and a force cannon that emits powerful shock waves. The only firearm available in the game is a military grade automatic rifle. Every weapon also features a secondary function so the weapons are actually very unique and fun to use. I especially love the rotary saw and that weapon is very useful in defeating small and fast enemies.
Like in Resident Evil 4, the game has a lot of ammunition and items lying around the ship and even dropped by Necromorphs when they are killed. The game also features a store where you can buy and sell items or store them in a safe for later use. The player can also upgrade Isaac’s suit and weapons with “power nodes” which again is something we see a lot in Resident Evil 4. There’s also a melee attack but it kind of sucks and I never found the right time to use it.
Isaac is also equipped with other tools to help him survive, solve puzzles and combat enemies more effectively. Isaac has a Stasis ability which can be used to slow down enemies and objects temporarily and a Kinesis module which allows Isaac to pick up items and throw them which is like the gravity gun in Half-Life 2. There are also times when Isaac has to proceed in the vacuum of space and zero gravity which allows Isaac to stick to walls due to his boots being magnetic. The suit prevents Isaac from suffering from radiation like in real life, but his oxygen supply is limited and he will suffocate which forces the player to get done quickly.
The music and audio quality is also very good and got several awards for best audio and sound design. The flaws with this game are kind of minor such as the fact you can hear sound in the vacuum of space which is an impossibility in real life, the 3D map kind of sucks and doesn’t really let you explore it, the puzzle to solve are too easy and the fact the game can tell you at any time where to go by activating a blue beam of light for a couple seconds which points you in the right direction, but it’s still a very good game. I know this game was made by Electronic Arts and they’ve recently developed a reputation as being one of the worst companies in America, don’t let that stop you from trying out this game. If you are into survival horror and action, this game is a must have. It’s one of the best survival horror action games out there. It has both action and intense scares and not for the faint of hard. There are even some mini games such as a shooting range and some kind of futuristic form of basketball in zero gravity. I’d say this game is a combination of Doom 3 and Resident Evil 4 and a very epic game. And no, I don’t side with EA, I think they are terrible, but they got everything right with this game, I promise.
RATING: 9.5 out of 10
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Reviews with images
Submit a report
A few common reasons customers report reviews:
- Harassment, profanity
- Spam, advertisement, promotions
- Given in exchange for cash, discounts
When we get your report, we'll check if the review meets our Community guidelines. If it doesn't, we'll remove it.
Sorry, there was an error
Please try again later.Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2010
Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Rin
Item as Described
Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
グチオ
リスペクト…プレイしたら感じました。
Reviewed in Japan on March 21, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
mathieu collerette
Very good condition
Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Great Game
Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2021Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
Arturo HG
Muy bueno
Reviewed in Mexico on September 25, 2018Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Verified Purchase
