Dead Space™

Dead Space got released after Resident Evil 4 and was initially viewed as a simple attempt to cash in on the success of that over the shoulder "survival action" part of Resident Evil franchise. That's how I viewed it too, initially. But the more I played, the more I understood how wrong I was. Classic survival horrors were loved for many same thing classic metroidvanias and modern Souls games are loved - intricate level design, smart enemy placement, "thinking" methodical action, more emphasis on gameplay with story being more ambient. In addition, classic survival horrors tended to have very "in the game" user interface ideas, to fully immerse you. And that's what Dead Space attempts to accomplish in it's obviously more action-focused attempt at survival horror. Levels are interconnected with constant promise of optional backtracking and exploration, button prompts, health indicator and other UI things are all part of the game world, story is told in a very quite, ambient way, sometimed without using words and even the action itself, despite over the shoulder view and ability to move and shoot, tries to be strategic via the "cut the limbs" idea and using those limbs and other garbage around you as possible weapons for ammo preservation. Game has very distinct feel, very stylish looks, that desspite being clearly outdated, still looks great. Fantastic sound design that uses sounds to help or confuse, scare or relax the players. Really smart update on the Resident Evil control scheme, making it more TPS-like, yet still more slow and "heavy" to use. Actually interesting take on HL2-like physical puzzles. And tons of replayability options. Dead Space is an amazing game that had more drops of classic survival horror beauty in it than most modern games that call themselves survival horror or survival action. It's a definite must try for anyone who likes horror and survival horror/action games or just wants to see how to make a good third person game about space.

Phenomenal. That's the word that comes to mind for this game. I got it thinking it'd be just a fun action oriented game with some horror elements. Oh was I wrong. This game is pure, unadulterated terror. Horrors that should not exist have taken over the USS Ishimura and her crew. Isaac Clark, along with his crew Kendra Daniels and Zack Hammond, answer the distress call, only to find themselves way in over their heads, and now stranded on a dying space station. It's not just that the game is fun to play. It is, and far moreso than most other survival horror games. But it also has a surprisingly well written story, and as it progresses, you'll find out more about Isaac, Kendra, several of the station's crew, and the nature of the threat. Much like classic horror movies in the vein of Alien and Event Horizon, what makes this game so scary is that it takes place in the ultimate isolation of outer space. There's nowhere to go. Earth is millions of miles away. This isn't a haunted house that you can just run out of. And no one is coming. YOU, in fact, ARE the rescue crew, and now YOU are the ones stranded here. With the things. The nightmarish necromorphs. And they could be anywhere. In the ceiling. In the vents. In the walls. Behind that next door or corner. If you buy this game, that's how you're going to spend the next 15 - 20 hours. And the sound design in this game. Holy crap. It's some of the best I've ever heard in a video game, adding to the atmosphere and paranoia you'll feel. And from a technical standpoint, this is a fantastic port. Any PC made in the last five years should be able to run this game at high or max settings, and the graphics still hold up amazingly well. The game also, assuming it's the same as the Steam version (and I have no reason to think it isn't) has full controller support. Probably not a big deal in a game like this, as it controls great with it or with k+m, but the option is there. Highly recommended.

A fantastic game but do NOT play this with keyboard and mouse. No matter how much you mess with mouse acceleration or sensitivity it is impossible to get camera movement and aiming to feel right. I strongly recommend getting a controller to play this with otherwise it is nothing but an act in frustration to do anything or get anywhere.

Wow. Where to start. Dead Space 1 and 2 are pinnacles for the survival horror genre. I originally bought DS1 on the PS3 and got so sucked in and enamored by it I had to purchase it for PC as well. After that, DS2 and 3 were pretty much auto-buys for me. It is everything the survival horror genre seemed to have forgotten about for years. HORROR. SURVIVAL. Period. In everything that the Dead Space franchise has done with itself over the years the SOUND DESIGN is second to none. Seriously. Throw on a pair of cans and up the volume and prepare yourself for one of the most immersive games to ever use sound as a weapon to scare bodily fluids out of you. Seriously. No jokes. It has probably given grown men massive heart palpitations. The game excels in graphical presentation, set design and monster creation. Make no doubt about it. Dead Space was created by a group of men and women that LOVED the genre and wanted to see it improved beyond anything that was available at the time. They succeeded. In immense strides they succeeded. By using simple acts as a stomp, or your in-game "quest marker", or even the ability to use tools not even intended as weapons to not only have 1 but 2 abilities to help you in your survival quest, DS1 is one of the best, most immersive and, actually, beautiful games you'll ever play. Funny story quick. Now, this game came out in '08 so I was 39 then. A grown man with 3 kids, wife, mortgage, etc, etc. Now, bought this on a game shopping trip and came home. Put the kids to bed that evening, loaded up the PS3, put on my headphones and sat on a pillow on the floor leaning against the couch. Wife turned on a very small light and curled up next to me on the couch to read a good book. After an hour or so I was so absorbed, so immersed in the world the devs created that I completely lost any contact with the world outside of my headphones and game. Totally forgot about my wife reading behind me. JUST AS I'm getting into a nice scary encounter the wife leaned over and touched my on the shoulder. THAT'S IT!! I probably jumped and screamed like a small child. NEVER, not once, in my whole life have I ever been "jump scared". Not once. This game, yeah, it got me. To this day my wife brings it up in conversation and makes fun of me. While funny after the fact, I damn near lost bodily fluids that evening. It's that immersive. So, what are you waiting for? Dead Space is a pinnacle achievement in game design and sound. Easily one of the absolute best survival horror games you'll ever play. If GOG ever releases Dead Space 2 you should purchase it immediately. It's even better than the first. However, enjoy 3 for the action, definitely not the scares.