[360/PS3/PC] - Dead Space Review

[fitbabits]

Dead Space Review

IMPORTANT NOTE - Due to circumstances beyond my control (RRoD - thanks Microsoft), I was unable to play the game to completion. I stand by my review and score because what I had played so far has convinced me of both. I know that I've made noises about not reviewing a game before I finish it, and I do still have that opinion, but I decided to make an exception in this case simply because I feel so strongly about the game. It is NOT a decision I made lightly.


Title: Dead Space (http://www.noknownsurvivors.com/#/hub)http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=1276
Platform: Xbox 360 (version reviewed), PlayStation 3, PC
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Publisher: Electronic Arts (http://www.ea.com)
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp)
MSRP: $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), $49.99 (PC)
Editor: James A. Young (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/member.php?u=1)

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/../images/sitegfx/editorschoice.jpg


What's Hot: Graphics, Sound, Atmosphere, User Interface, Story, etc.
What's Not: Asteroid Shooting.


What do you get when you cross the world's second largest publisher - one that is derided almost constantly for a lack of quality and unwillingness to take risks - with a brand new intellectual property – one that's been seen by some as an answer to one of the last generation's greatest titles (Resident Evil 4)? What you get is NOT what you would expect.

I haven't been as excited for a game release since the days of 3D Ant Attack on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum back in 1983. That's 25 years – a long time to go without that incredibly intense sense of anticipation and longing. Sure, I've been excited for other games since then, with the likes of Gears of War, Shadow of the Colossus, and Metal Gear Solid 4 all ranking up there, but this was somehow different. I still to this day can't quite put my finger on why I felt this way about Dead Space. There was just some intangible 'something' about it that gripped me in a way that stunned me at first, only to manifest itself into the kind of geekish sense of 'oh-my-god-I-have-to-tell-everyone-about-this' that seems to be lacking in a lot of today's video game offerings.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/fitbabits/antatak1-2.gif


3D Ant Attack - Sinclair ZX Spectrum


Late last week I posted my initial impressions of the title after spending some quality time with it. Here's a sample:

“After playing my review copy for somewhere between 8 and 10 hours, I'm delighted to report that it's even better than I remembered from my preview. Everything about the game so far positively reeks of quality - the graphics, the sound, the atmosphere... You can tell from the get-go that Glen Schofield and his team really believed in Dead Space and were set on releasing the best game they could. I've seldom come across a game that's put together as well as this - it controls remarkably well, the camera is non-intrusive, the interface is absolute genius in the way that it increases the believability of the experience.”

At the risk of sounding like a marketing tool for Electronic Arts, it just got better and better after that. There was one misstep I came across, and I'll get to that in time, but first lets recap a little of the story.

Set aboard the “Planet Cracker” Ishimura (think of it as a gigantic mining ship, except it actually 'cracks' planets in order to mine them), you play the role of Isaac Clarke who is sent to investigate what happened to the aforementioned vessel after communication was lost. After a scene-setting in-game movie, you're let loose on your own. All seems well, if at first a little quiet, then the inevitable happens and all Hell breaks loose. Separated from your party, it's up to you to, amongst other things, find and repair various functions of the ship so that order can be restored and you can get your team safely home.

bbb61b6c


I'm not going to go too much into the story as I believe it plays a greater part in the overall enjoyment of the game than others are giving it credit for. In book form, it would be a page-turner. In game form, it's a very engrossing and, at times, shocking experience.

Following on from the last paragraph, I want to touch on a key descriptor for Dead Space – experience. Most games you play, be they good or bad, but in Dead Space, you experience it. If you take the time to watch, listen, read the story elements you come across throughout the game, I can assure you that won't soon forget the experience of playing Dead Space. A lot of this experience it tied to the story, as I mentioned, but of equal importance is the atmosphere. I've never before played a game that's so oppressively bleak, yet is still so much fun to play. The atmosphere and sense of immersion I felt while playing Dead Space is second-to-none. There are many elements that attribute to the atmosphere – the obvious being the graphics, which are universally excellent – but special mention must be made of the audio. The people responsible for the audio in Dead Space, be it the ambient sounds or the voice recordings, should be recognized and made to stand up in a crowded room to absorb wave after wave of adulation. I'll pick the time and place, even.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/fitbabits/DEDSPgenSCRN0726v16-1.jpg


So apart from the atmosphere, what is it that makes Dead Space worthy of CoG's first ever Editor's Choice Award? The fundamentals. It's really that simple. The things you expect to work, work. The controls are solid, the interface is borderline genius, inventory management and the RPG-lite upgrading of your weapons and suit is handled very well... It's inspiring to me that the development team obviously took a great deal of time to 'finesse' Dead Space – the attention to the smallest of details is very impressive and very laudable.

Before I continue, there's one thing I do want to address as it appears there are some misconceptions out there – the length of the game. The bottom line is the game is as long as you want it to be. Sure, it has an ending, but how YOU get there is up to you. You can choose to 'speed run' through it in order to claim it's only 10-12 hours long, and in the process miss out on most of what makes Dead Space such a rewarding experience, or you can take your time and follow the story elements included in the various journals lying around. How you play it is up to you, ultimately, but to enjoy the game the most I suggest taking your time and savoring every moment. After all, you just shelled out $60 on the game – what's the hurry?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/fitbabits/DEDSPgenSCRN0726v10-1.jpg


There's so much that's good about Dead Space that it was a little shocking to come across a section I found to be both uninspired and poorly conceived. I won't spoil it for you, except to say that shooting asteroids is not my own personal idea of fun. Still, it's a ten minute distraction, and it's by no means a game breaking distraction. When there's so much else to love about Dead Space, I'm willing to forgive minor missteps.

You may have noticed that my review of Dead Space is lacking in some of the finer details you'd expect from a typical review, and there's a reason for that. I want you to experience Dead Space with as blank a slate as possible. It's not a case of me being lazy or crunched for time – after all, I could have had my review up a long time ago if I'd blasted through the game hurriedly, but to what end?

So that's that, then. Dead Space. Electronic Arts. New intellectual property. My Game of the Year for 2008. I, for one, couldn't have imagined this one short year ago.

I can't see anything topping this. There may be some games that beat it in graphics, or in sound, or in other areas, but I don't see any other game coming that comes close to matching Dead Space as a whole.

Dead Space sets (not just) the survival horror bar so high that it's going to take something truly monumental to top it.

Glen Schofield and the Dead Space team – I salute you.

Now, what about Dead Space 2...

Score: 5 out of 5
Editor's Choice Award

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/CoG5.png

- Review this title yourself (http://www.playitreviewit.com/reviews/write) over at Play It Review It (http://www.playitreviewit.com/)

[Mike Kelehan]

So, I definitely have to play this. The question is, buy or rent?

[Wedge]

So you liked it, then?

I'm picking up this one next week when it releases over here (23rd).

[pheriannath]

I thought we had a zero tolerance policy regarding shills!

Just kidding, bootsy, glad you had fun, and I really look forward to playing this.

[Spigot]

So... you liked it?

I've only finished the first chapter so far but I love what I've seen. Add to that the fact that this is the first game I've played on the 360 that has been on par, visually, with MGS4 and I'm extra impressed.

[Loki_09]

If I had the $ to shell out for it, I would, but it will have to go on the xmas list.

[Psykoboy2]

Gamefly sent it out to me today.

[Rakael]

I may have to get this one after Fable 2 and Fallout 3.

[Psykoboy2]

We talked about this on the show (or maybe it was in the parking lot, I can't remember), but yeah - the release date on this is what's killing it. If sales are poor, that's the reason. This would have been a juggernaut in August or even early to mid September.

But releasing a week before the REAL holiday season kicks into gear was a mistake, I think.

[astranoir]

My excitement for this game continues to increase!

[Troggles]

I've never had a review sway me towards a game, but I really want to at least try this game now. Hopefully a friend picks this up and lets me borrow it, as I definitely do not have money for titles that only intrigue me this season. Too many games are on my must have list unfortunately.

[itchyeyes]

Sweet, I was on the fence about renting vs buying this but now it looks like I'll be picking it up after I finish Fable 2.

[fitbabits]

I urge you all to read the important note under the article title.

[Troggles]

I don't really have a qualm with reviewing a game you played a large portion of rather than to completion as long as you have a note about it. I have made judgments on games I've only partially played too before finishing, and my opinion usually stays constant.

[Young Al Capone]

I am really enjoying it too James, it was a great recommendation on your part.

Like I said in the discussion thread (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=1240), while it isn't mind fuckingly scary it is tense and there are certainly moments that got my heart racing in my time spent with it thus far. The atmosphere is wonderfully well realized, especially the sound.

The only complaints I have thus far are more quibbles than legitimate problems.

[JayVe]

I have to admit, I'm not typically a fan of scary games. Yet something about Dead Space keeps attracting me. I'll rent it and see how long I stay with it... or until I throw the damn controller in the air and pee my pants out of fright... again.

[Goronmon]

Man, I so want to try this game out. Gamefly can't send it fast enough.

Also, I dugg the review.

http://digg.com/gaming_news/ColonyOfGamers_Reviews_Dead_Space

[JayVe]

BTW: Love the name Isaac Clark for a SciFi character. :D

[Young Al Capone]

BTW: Love the name Isaac Clark for a SciFi character. :D

Huh, it wasn't until you mentioned it that I noticed it. Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clark right?

[rein]

I urge you all to read the important note under the article title.

The way you have pimped this game, EA should buy you... ...no make that... ...have a custom made Dead Space themed 360 sent to you. :)

I'm glad you really enjoyed the part of the game you were able to complete.

[Adam Blue]

Sounds great. I can't wait to play it.

[National Kato]

Thanks for the review, James. I'm enjoying the game as well (not to asteroids yet) thus far. One 'nitpick:' Isaac's last name is spelled 'Clarke.' His name is made up of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. :D

[Psykoboy2]

The way you have pimped this game, EA should buy you... ...no make that... ...have a custom made Dead Space themed 360 sent to you. :)

Not before they send me a custom made Burnout themed 360 or PS3!

[PathMaster]

Terrific review. I like how you did NOT spoil things.

Is the UI truely great though. It looks fantastic.

Need to get my hands on this..

[bone_matrix]

I don't really like survival horror games. I get to into them then scare way to easily. After Fable 2 and Gears of War 2, I may get Gamefly again. If so, this would be first on my list. After the other 10 games on my shelf I need to beat. And the countless others in my Q. And after multiplayer. *sigh*

[crazyD]

We talked about this on the show (or maybe it was in the parking lot, I can't remember), but yeah - the release date on this is what's killing it. If sales are poor, that's the reason. This would have been a juggernaut in August or even early to mid September.

But releasing a week before the REAL holiday season kicks into gear was a mistake, I think.

I disagree. I feel if it hit later, there would be a greater chance of it being ignored in the flood of games. Releasing on a week with nothing huge coming out may help the sales.

[Sandman]

You know James, without your one man hype machine I probably wouldn't be getting Dead Space at all. I'm finishing Too Human tonight and using that to get Dead Space so my wallet won't hate you.

[AgtFox]

Man, I so want to try this game out. Gamefly can't send it fast enough.

Also, I dugg the review.

http://digg.com/gaming_news/ColonyOfGamers_Reviews_Dead_Space
Thanks for doing this, I didn't have time to when it went up. I am trying to keep the titles more streamlined and keep Colony of Gamers out to of the title because right below it says colonyofgamers.com.

Baja is a good example of what I'd like to see as a title: http://digg.com/gaming_news/Baja_Edge_of_Control_Review_360_PS3

And then name CoG in the description. No big deal, just trying to streamline things a bit is all and it is still in the working stages.

[BabyJesus]

Hmm, after seeing oxm giving it a 6.5 when they hand out 10's like holloween candy I was slightly worried it would suck. Perhaps I should be worried they gave Fallout 3 one of those 10's. Maybe its Bizarro OXM.

[Young Al Capone]

Maybe its Bizarro OXM.

Nah, it is just OXM.

[crazyD]

Hmm, after seeing oxm giving it a 6.5 when they hand out 10's like holloween candy I was slightly worried it would suck. Perhaps I should be worried they gave Fallout 3 one of those 10's. Maybe its Bizarro OXM.

If a source gives out 10s like candy, then maybe their reviews shouldn't be trusted.

[Kelegacy]

I need a scary game badly. Or at least an atmospheric one. Not enough of these games coming out as fast as I'd like. I think Resident Evil 5 looks good, but I'm afraid it will be too much action, especially with the co-op slant added in.

Looking forward to this badly. Gamefly has yet to ship, but I'm waiting with it in the queue regardless.

[LarsenNET]

Thanks for the review although I think it's a bit premature to call it game of the year when almost all of the AAA games aren't out yet. Gears of War 2 is the 800 pound gorilla along with LittleBigPlanet.

[Spigot]

Kel, I think you'll love the game. I'm still trundling through Chapter 2 (of, what, 12 or so?) and it's amazing. There are so many little touches and between the stellar visual presentation and audio production, mmmm... the game just oozes atmosphere.

I'm kind of annoyed I can't change back into my starter suit though. I put on the Elite suit (the DLC one for the 360) and now I can't go back to my wimpier suit. I don't mind the look of the new suit but I kind of wish I could go back.

[Iron Past]

I'm picking this up today. That trailer is much better than the one they had on G4 the other night, though. That was crap.

[Maskatron]

Jeeze, Fitty, IIRC, you have already had at least one RROD before, right?

It reminds me of last year when I came home with Halo 3...I plop in the disc, all set to get down with it, and then HEY LOSER TOO BAD.

[Commissar Rob]

Damn, I've got too much on my plate right now...

Grrr. But reading your review I have a feeling I'll just have to get by with less sleep.

Oh man, Mrs. Commissar will be just thrilled...

[Primus]

The game is great. I rarely spring for single player games, but this is truly a fun experience.

[Kelegacy]

If this game rocks hard, and does prove to be the reputed 20 hours (I don't blow through games like a speed demon), I'll buy it through Gamefly. In fact, I'm going to do that to all my games this year. I'll rent everything, buy the stuff that's worth it at a discount.

[Xerxes]

My excitement for this game continues to increase!

"My love goes undeclared."

I think when bap said he didn't find it scary, and it relies on the cheap thrills, I can wait. I'll probably wait until the movie comes out.

[Mishima]

So that's that, then. Dead Space. Electronic Arts. New intellectual property. My Game of the Year for 2008. I, for one, couldn't have imagined this one short year ago.

For me, the Game of the Year call is the big whopper in this review. With so many high profile games yet to come, Dead Space has to be something very special to merit GotY so early in the season.

Right or wrong, I applaud you for sticking your neck out and making that call.

[johnperkins21]

Is the UI truely great though. It looks fantastic.

Need to get my hands on this..

For the most part, yes. It's really awesome, intuitive, and immersive. Where it fails in my opinion is in the map. However, the "this is where you need to go" blue line thingy makes up for the deficiencies in the map for me.

Also, this game is on the same level of survival horror as BioShock. It's got some tense elements, dark environments, creepy sounds, etc., but it's not on par with the first few Resident Evils or the Silent Hill series in the horror department. It's a great game so far, but it's much closer to BioShock in tone than Silent Hill, in my opinion. Which, as we all know, is not a bad thing at all. That game had some great creepy moments.

And yes, I have been playing with all of the lights out. Still, not really scary. Though, I don't find monster closets scary, and almost every enemy I've come across in this game so far (2/3 through chapter 2) has come from a monster closet.

[fitbabits]

For me, the Game of the Year call is the big whopper in this review. With so many high profile games yet to come, Dead Space has to be something very special to merit GotY so early in the season.

Right or wrong, I applaud you for sticking your neck out and making that call.

I made that call for reasons I explained in the review.

I said in the review that it's been 25 years or so since I last felt like this about a game. Believe me, I wish I was kidding, but games like Dead Space are very few and far between.

As for sticking my neck out - I wholly realize I've done so, and I stand by it. It's not hyperbole, it's not a case of me being bought by EA, and it's certainly not a case of my trying to get hits at CoG. I stuck my neck out with the preview, and again with my initial impressions. I don't think I was wrong, but everyone has their own opinions.

[JayVe]

Also, this game is on the same level of survival horror as BioShock. It's got some tense elements, dark environments, creepy sounds, etc., but it's not on par with the first few Resident Evils or the Silent Hill series in the horror department.

Hmm. Maybe there's hope that this game is for me after all. Thanks for the comparison.

[johnperkins21]

Hmm. Maybe there's hope that this game is for me after all. Thanks for the comparison.

I don't think you'd be disappointed in the game. Rent it first if you have reservations, but to me, this game is very reminiscent of my time in Rapture. There are times when you're alone and the ambient sound is kind of creepy, keeping you on edge. And there's times when you're in an all out brawl with monsters coming from all sides and you have to use your plasmids... err, whatever Dead Space calls them powers to be truly successful.

Game of the year? No. Fantastic game that was completely worth the $50 I paid ($10 Circuit City gift card FTW)? Hell yes!

[Young Al Capone]

Hmm. Maybe there's hope that this game is for me after all. Thanks for the comparison.

Bioshock seems like a fair comparison to me, because the game isn't so much creepy as it is tense and atmospheric.

I haven't felt that overwhelming dread that sticks with you after playing a game like Silent Hill 2 or a level like the Shalebridge Cradle (Still my scariest game experience), but while you are playing it is immersive and tense, and that causes some jump in your seat moments.

[JayVe]

Sweet! Thanks guys. You are convincing me to put this at the top of my list... right after I pick up Samba de Amigo... for Little Miss Kamalot whose been bugging me about it ever since she saw a commercial with a monkey ringing the doorbell. :rolleyes:

I know! I know! Apples and Atmosphere! :D

[VerseD]

I can't wait to play this. Please hurry Gamefly!

[Church42]

Any significant difference between the game on the PS3 and the 360? If I decide to rent or buy this I guess I first need to decide on the system to purchase it for.

[Spigot]

If this game rocks hard, and does prove to be the reputed 20 hours (I don't blow through games like a speed demon), I'll buy it through Gamefly. In fact, I'm going to do that to all my games this year. I'll rent everything, buy the stuff that's worth it at a discount.
I'm curious about how long it will take. I can definately see it taking a while. I'm about 3 hours or so in and just nearing the end of the second chapter... I think. Looking at the achievement list, there are something like 12 or so chapters, so 18-20 hours doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility.

What I'm really liking about the game is that I can actually play it during the day and it doesn't lose the atmosphere, unlike most other creepy games (I'm looking at you Silent Hill).

[edit] I think you guys are right though. It doesn't have that sense of dread that the Silent Hill or Siren games have. It's much closer to Bioshock in that you are somewhere that has had something go very, very wrong relatively recently and you are trying to survive. The opening 'movie' is very much the deep space equivalent to the approach to Rapture and hits a lot of the same notes.

[johnperkins21]

[edit] I think you guys are right though. It doesn't have that sense of dread that the Silent Hill or Siren games have. It's much closer to Bioshock in that you are somewhere that has had something go very, very wrong relatively recently and you are trying to survive. The opening 'movie' is very much the deep space equivalent to the approach to Rapture and hits a lot of the same notes.

So what you're saying is that I'm very smart, handsome, and fun to be around. You'd love to go out and have a beer with me, and totally trust me with your sister because she could use a good guy like me after the bums she's been dating lately. However, I haven't returned your calls in a while, probably because I still owe you 40 bucks and gave your sister that horrible rash. On second thought, the next time you see me you'll probably kick my ass for that thing I said about your mom to Harry.

Yeah, that's cool man. We're cool.

[Spigot]

So what you're saying is that I'm very smart, handsome, and fun to be around. You'd love to go out and have a beer with me, and totally trust me with your sister because she could use a good guy like me after the bums she's been dating lately. However, I haven't returned your calls in a while, probably because I still owe you 40 bucks and gave your sister that horrible rash. On second thought, the next time you see me you'll probably kick my ass for that thing I said about your mom to Harry.

Yeah, that's cool man. We're cool.You're a strange, strange man...

[Phades]

James, your shilling made me go out and buy this today when I should have just played more Warhammer. I can't be mad though, this game is just fantastic. Best EA game ever?? I'm really loving every moment... Ooh, and there's trophie support!

[Young Al Capone]

If you guys have a decent pair of headphones I suggest giving them a shot, as I found the game to be much more enjoyable with them. That is compared to 5.1 surround, the sound is just so immersive and made the game about ten times more intense and frightening for me.

[Spigot]

If you guys have a decent pair of headphones I suggest giving them a shot, as I found the game to be much more enjoyable with them. That is compared to 5.1 surround, the sound is just so immersive and made the game about ten times more intense and frightening for me.I wish I had a really good wireless set but I had a bad experience with the last pair I bought and am a wee bit hesitant.

That said, I've got a crappy home theatre in a box with '5.1' surround sound and this is one of the few games that really makes it sound like I have true surround sound. As much as I think the visuals are amongst the strongest I've seen on the 360, the sound is probably the game's strongest suit.

[Cupelix]

I wish I had a really good wireless set but I had a bad experience with the last pair I bought and am a wee bit hesitant.

That said, I've got a crappy home theatre in a box with '5.1' surround sound and this is one of the few games that really makes it sound like I have true surround sound. As much as I think the visuals are amongst the strongest I've seen on the 360, the sound is probably the game's strongest suit.In the 45 minutes I got to spend with this last night, I had to turn my subwoofer down three times because it was making the rack in my fireplace rattle! They definitely went all out with the atmospheric sound in this title.

My only complain so far has been when you kill the... things... when you walk past them you tend to drag them with you, and it becomes this weird farcical moment.

[Mdot]

I was deadly close to picking this up last night, but with Fable and Far Cry next week, and Fallout the week after, the timing is not the best. It's first on my list for after the "rush" though.

[Young Al Capone]

As far as presentation goes, the sound is second to none in my opinion. I already thought so, but the headphones just cemented that for me.

I have never even given wireless headphones a shot, and mine really aren't that great. They are just a decent pair I bought for like $80 when I lived in an apartment and used to get hassled all the time for being too loud. I think they are pretty decent, but I am sure any audiophile would scoff at me for using them.

[Young Al Capone]

My only complain so far has been when you kill the... things... when you walk past them you tend to drag them with you, and it becomes this weird farcical moment.

I was saying the same thing yesterday, you can boot them like they are filled with helium just by stepping into them.

[Slack3r78]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I really like the format of this review. Good work, James.

[Iron Past]

Like James said, I'm really impressed with the attention to the little details, and thats just in the half hour or so I've played. Obviously, there's the areas where it looks like a real ship where people lived (and died), but then there's the whole docking thing, and it really feels believable. What really impressed me, though, was the way Isaac is slightly hunched when standing there, which is exactly how I imagine a middle-aged man wearing all that gear would stand. The animations for Isaac are top notch, as well.

[fitbabits]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I really like the format of this review. Good work, James.
Thanks. I tried to inject a little of my own personal feelings on Dead Space - at least in how I've been enthralled by it for so long.

[Nikjitsu]

BTW: Love the name Isaac Clark for a SciFi character. :D
Makes me want it even more than I previously thought possible.

[Spigot]

My only complain so far has been when you kill the... things... when you walk past them you tend to drag them with you, and it becomes this weird farcical moment.Agreed. I don't have a problem with interacting with bodies after they get dropped, but it's kind of silly in Dead Space.

It's also kind of annoying when you're hearing this awful scraping noise and look around frantically only to find that you were just bumping a limb around with your boot.

[Kelegacy]

Got the game at a rental store, going to play in a bit. I am stoked, but gotta wait for my parents to swing by and leave before popping it in. Can't wait...

[crazyD]

Got the game at a rental store, going to play in a bit. I am stoked, but gotta wait for my parents to swing by and leave before popping it in. Can't wait...

You are going to pop "it" in your parents? Fucking gross, man.

[Kelegacy]

You are going to pop "it" in your parents? Fucking gross, man.

You aren't close with your parents I take it? I don't live with them, but on holidays we do still take group showers.

And fuck like monkeys on LSD.

[Spigot]

You aren't close with your parents I take it? I don't live with them, but on holidays we do still take group showers.

And fuck like monkeys on LSD.Fj6qQdLBwm4That was the only real clip of those lyrics I could find... Plus it was even creepier after your comment.

[JayVe]

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

[MagGnome]

I picked this up after work last night, but unfortunately I had a drama filled evening and didn't have the chance to play it.

I'm going to be "popping it in" shortly, and I can't wait! I'll hop on here later and give some impressions.

[crazyD]

You aren't close with your parents I take it? I don't live with them, but on holidays we do still take group showers.

And fuck like monkeys on LSD.

See, this is exactly what I miss from my EA hiatus. Thank you, my good man.

[Karak]

Excellent review. I could not disagree more but I found the review very well written.
...This is my disapointment of the last 5 months. I am not sure if its the bad enemy designs, the fact that the run a whopping 1 mile an hour, the horrible story, or the fact that you can literally tear through the enemy even on hard with little difficulty removing any fear of dying. We got to Chapter 3 before all of us just getting bored.
Just boring. I am staring at the box in sadness...Gawd damn I wanted to enjoy this

[Kelegacy]

This is definitely not game of the year material, but it's fun. As Karak said, the boring and repetitive creature designs just don't inspire fear or anything. Dead Space isn't scary. It has it's moments where you see a monster scamper by the end of the corridor, but it's always the sudden music that gets you, not the enemy. The enemies are unfortunate...Resident Evil 4 really creeped me out and the baddies were just people walking around with weapons in their hands for the most part. Dead Space needs more RE atmosphere.

I'm having a decent time, and I'm playing on hard. I went through the entire first level on hard, then medium, and realized medium was way too easy. Hard has gotten me killed many times, however, but makes it feel more like a survival horror game. I was hoping this game would be much more freakish, but it feels much more like an action game set in space with some uninspired enemy designs coming after me. No fear factor here whatsoever.

I can't understand some of the reviews. Gamespy said you'd be shaking with fear while playing the game. Are they kidding? I've shit scarier things than this game.

[MagGnome]

I'm having a lot of fun with the game. I don't really find it scary per se. I find myself getting angry at the monsters rather than freaked out. I see them, yell "die fuckers" and proceed to tear them to shreds.

I'm really enjoying it so far, and with avakus3 on my ass, I'm sure I'll be playing it all the way through over the next few days. ;)

[johnperkins21]

Ugh, that stupid asteroid shooting part completely ruined the game for me. I'm not even done with chapter 4 and I don't want to play any more. What a fucking waste.

[KamaItachi]

Can't say I'm totally shocked by the score, Fits, you been selling this one hard for a while.

On the other hand, your review is genuine and you really do seem to love the game, plus you tapped into my hidden "ants eating children" fetish so I'll probably be grabbing this when I have a free plate.

[Spigot]

Ugh, that stupid asteroid shooting part completely ruined the game for me. I'm not even done with chapter 4 and I don't want to play any more. What a fucking waste.Yeah... I'm there right now. I don't hate it but I can definately see why people in reviews and on the boards dog on that part of the game. For an otherwise great game, it's incredibly infuriating.

I just tried it once last night and then went to bed. If it's the kind of thing where I'm dying/reloading/dying/reloading for an hour, I'll really start to hate it.

[Cpl_Punnishment]

Man, I so want to try this game out. Gamefly can't send it fast enough.

Also, I dugg the review.

http://digg.com/gaming_news/ColonyOfGamers_Reviews_Dead_Space

Threw in my Digg as well!

[Iron Past]

So, as far as being scary, I'd say it is scary, but not in the jump out of your seat white gripped controller kind of way. It creates a very tense atmospere (one that's leagues above Bioshock in my opinion, but Bioshock had the better story so far).

It's not that, "OMG, a vent, something's going to crawl out," because most of the time, they don't. They say very cleary in the begining that they use vents to move around, but there's a dozen fucking vents in every room, which makes a good "where will they come from feeling." Hearing something running around and not seeing it is way more scary to me than stuff popping out at you. It's the anticipation of being attacked that gets you, not the attack.

That said, there's been one part thus far where I have literaly jumped out of my seat, and I should have known better, but I was watching something unfold when something else came up behind me and almost bit my head off. Great game, but I think "Action Horror" is a better moniker than "Survival Horror."

[Spigot]

Action Horror is a great moniker for this. And you're right. There's a part later in chapter 4 (or is it 5) where you can hear this monster coming through the vents but you never know whether he'll come out of the ones in the hall you're in or the next room...

There have been a few frustrating parts in the game so far that threatened to dampen my enthusiasm but they were never on par with the levels of frustration felt during my run through The Force Unleashed, which I shall use as my standard of frustration when playing videogames. And looking back on the frustrating bits, it was more a matter of me trying to play the game like an older shooter instead of using the environment and my stasis ability the way I should have. In fact, one of the more frustrating bits that I just got past was, in retrospect, one of the highlights of the game so far, so that's cool.

But the turret sequence almost killed the game for me.

And I don't understand the complaints about the monster design in this game. I was just reading the art book last night and the reasons for why the monsters look the way they do is laid out pretty clearly. I've never seen a monster yet that I thought was stupid looking. Sure, some are annoying, but I quite like the flayed/eviscerated look. The pregnant monster that shoots out baby bombs was particularly disturbing.

[Purple Santa]

I just tried it once last night and then went to bed. If it's the kind of thing where I'm dying/reloading/dying/reloading for an hour, I'll really start to hate it.



There have been a few frustrating parts in the game so far that threatened to dampen my enthusiasm but they were never on par with the levels of frustration felt during my run through The Force Unleashed, which I shall use as my standard of frustration when playing videogames. And looking back on the frustrating bits, it was more a matter of me trying to play the game like an older shooter instead of using the environment and my stasis ability the way I should have. In fact, one of the more frustrating bits that I just got past was, in retrospect, one of the highlights of the game so far, so that's cool.

Allow me to resurrect this review thread.

Frustrating? Yep. It's called Chapter 10. One of the cheapest ways to extend a game i've played. I don't feel the stasis gun was all that controllable. And the arbitrary "after death" checkpoints...ok, that is some cheap ass developing there. This was an awesome game till this point. I'm going back to try to finish but my view of the game is severely lowered.

And I respectfully disagree Spig, on your look back at the most frustrating due to your mistakes on playing. I don't think it was your playing. I think it was flaws in the game design.

[bryan]

What was the problem exactly? Spoiler it? I finish the game in two sittings and don't remember any frustrating part.

[Purple Santa]

What was the problem exactly? Spoiler it? I finish the game in two sittings and don't remember any frustrating part.
I would of *spoiler* quoted it but I don't know how to spoil quote on here yet. Some aren't going to have any trouble...it all depends on how much you like the stasis piece of the game...and unlike me, those who have better reaction time under stress won't have an issue.

In Chap. 10, you need to find some things. It's at that point, the last one...it got frustrating. Let's just say you have to run and use your stasis powers a lot to survive...and remember creatures do travel in the vents....

[Purple Santa]

I finished. Which makes the few parts of the game that either get derailed or poorly thought out game design that much more frustrating since it almost had me putting it down. I know I read a few others left after the Star Wars inspired part of the game. I'm just glad I had Spigot talk me down from the ledge. Jay/Fits was dead on with his review. Still not my game of the year...but a damn good game nonetheless. Despite Chap. 10 :).

[Spigot]

That'll teach you to have emotions!

[Purple Santa]

That'll teach you to have emotions!

We all can't be like you Game Guru. We pale in your shadow :p

[RandoM51]

They really overdid it with the UPS simulation near the end. Move package, get jumped, move package, get jumped, move package, get jumped.

Other than that an interesting game with a lot of neat, new ideas.

I also found the combat rather 2-dimensional, but didn't really care for the most part. I would care if it stayed like that in a sequel/expansion.

[Spigot]

Yeah. That last level could have done with about 1-2 less stops on the way to Marker Central.