Dead Space 2

I have had this game for a while now, but have just gotten around to playing it. I enjoyed the first Dead Space a lot and overall I enjoyed this one too. Granted, this one has almost the exact game play as the first one; in fact, for the most part it does not do many things differently from the first game at all. Still, it had a nice story to it and it was fun going through the city in space as it had a lot of interesting levels in this one. It was also immensely difficult. Anyone who claims games of yesterday were more difficult because they did not have saves, try playing this and limiting yourselves to only three deaths. I guarantee you it would be nearly impossible! I played the thing on casual difficulty, the setting that is even lower than normal and there were areas where I was struggling. The monsters of the game, the necromorphs, can really sneak up on you and there were many times I was being assailed from all sides it seemed! After I won this thing, I apparently unlocked a hardcore mode, to which I say thanks, but no thanks! I salute anyone who can take the game on in the higher difficulty levels!

The story has Issac in some sort of mental illness type clinic. At least that is what it looks like at first. However, soon all chaos breaks loose as there is a necromorph outbreak and Issac must escape the chaos. A woman seems to want to help him, but Issac does not fully trust her. He must make his way through this city in space and avoid the fiendish monsters at every turn as he soon learns that another Marker has been made and he takes it upon himself to try and destroy it, all while seeing hallucinations of his departed beloved, Nicole as she torments him and then seems to want to help him.

The game play is, as I said, pretty much like the first game. There are a few new weapons, but like before, I mainly used the plasma cutter, the line gun, the pulse rifle and the flamethrower. You can also, once again, use stasis powers to throw objects and slow enemies down. At times, I found the game a bit too difficult, especially considering I had it on casual. The levels with no gravity are still an utter pain and it got annoying when enemies attacked from behind while you were focused on an enemy ahead. You can upgrade your armor and weapons as before too. Like I said, there really is not a whole lot different in this one as opposed to the last game. Perhaps a bit bigger in scope, but that is about it.

So all in all another fun survival horror in space game. I will not say it is not as good as the first game, but it really does not put anything new on the table. Plus, you are not seeing this stuff for the first time as most of the enemies are from the first game as well. It was cool going through the new city and briefly revisiting the ship from the first game too. I have heard that the third game is not quite up to par with this one, but I will test that myself at some point. Hopefully, not quite as long as the time it took me to play this one after playing the first game though!

Game length was around 9 hours. Graphically this game is brilliant in Comparison to numerous other 'console' titles.

Story line wise, if you watch the movies (aftermath and downfall) it does help make more sense of whats going on. Its a interesting idea and the parody of the Scientology to Unitology adds an interesting depth to the story line.

Overall i throughly enjoyed this game. The twists are great, length of game was decent and it kept me gripped throughout. Getting used to the aiming mechanism and lack of cover system is a doddle. It's very much like the original, but i feel it has a more epic feel to it overall.

If they do another one, i would pre-order it.

Can't recommend this enough

The first Dead Space reinvented not just the horror genre, but the sci-fi genre at the same time. Dead Space in itself is one of the greatest sci-fi stories of all time, and Dead Space 2 lives up to that, and more. Dead Space 2 drops you off not after the Necromorph outbreak, but right as it's happening, and this time on a space station instead of a ship (for those who haven't played the 1st game). Dead Space is a sci-fi epic with emotion and horror packed into two little games, as of now, that could be a set of films or a TV series. Fans of the horror, shooter and action genres should all play this game no matter what you've heard and check out the first one as well because you need the original for this one to hold its place among the greatest. Dead Space is one of the greatest sagas of all time and should become more known.

10/10 Stars***

I am never going into space. Never! I know it's unlikely that we will see commercial space travel in my lifetime (or at all if Einstein's theory of relativity is airtight), but in order to retreat from the horror of this game I just might run away to an island and live a life of coconuts and loincloths. Dead Space 2 ain't no tourist brochure for Outer Space.

Having never played the first game I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the story, but thankfully there is a 'previously on Dead Space' option on the main menu. You play as Issac Clarke, an engineer who wakes up on a colony on Titan to discover that a disgusting biological accident called the Necromorphs have taken over. On his way to safety he also fights against the Unitologists, a cult who worship 'The Marker', a faux religious artifact that is actually a man-made weapon that turns human DNA to sludge. The resulting Necromorphs (terrifying monsters made from re-animated human corpses) spread the chaos as Issac flees through the disintegrating colony while hallucinating his dead girlfriend as a demonic ghost.

The dread in Dead Space 2 is overwhelming. It is honestly the most frightening game I have played since Condemned 2 (PS3). If you have a home cinema you can scare yourself to death by playing this at night, with the lights off, and sound turned all the way up. Every breath, every gasp, every distant rumble will make the hairs on arm stand on end, and some of the stingers (quite clever ones too) will cause your heart to stop beating.

The gameplay is the over-shoulder, run-and-gun type you've seen in Resident Evils 4 and 5. I suppose it is a survival horror too, but the environments get repetitive and it goes on for a bit too long. There are 59 trophies (8 of them DLC) of which I managed to win 51%. Multiple play-throughs are required for the platinum but I appreciate my sanity too much to fight to the end more than once.

I need to play something cute and happy to take the edge of now. Dead Space 2 is not for those of a nervous disposition.

Graphics A Sound A Gameplay B+ Lasting Appeal B

I have been looking forward to this sequel for a while! Dead Space 2 is mind-blowing! My review for the first game fits with this one. The characters were astonishing. I haven't seen this much development in characters ever. Isaac Clarke's development was amazing! His badass style from the first game is topped with his super badass on here. The graphics were just impressive an also more focused from the first game. The creatures did the job and scared me so bad I had bricks of crap everywhere. The atmosphere was more darker to fit with Isaac's tone and sanity. The action sequences were the edge-of-your-seat style. Just everything about this game was breath-taking and I recommend it to every horror fan. And also holds an unforgettable ending that will make you play it over and over. Fingers crossed for a sequel.

10/10