[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
Platform: Xbox 360 (version reviewed), PlayStation 3, PC
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
MSRP: $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), $49.99 (PC)
Editor: James A. Young

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.

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.

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.

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?

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



- Review this title yourself over at Play It Review It

[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, 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/ColonyOf...ews_Dead_Space

[JayVe]

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

[Young Al Capone]

Originally Posted by JayVe

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

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

[rein]

Originally Posted by JAYoung

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.