“Your mom hates Dead Space 2!” That’s one hell of a tag line and EA knows exactly how to deliver. In EA’s (Electronic Art’s for those not in the know) newest gaming experience we find Isaac Clarke, our tortured protagonist once again thrust into dangerous proximity with the mindless Necromorph. Released January 25, 2011, Dead Space 2 is the follow up to its 2008 predecessor and once again things are not looking up for Mr. Clarke. Just like the previous game Dead Space 2 is a third person survival horror action shooter with no traditional HUD (Heads up display). Instead, all of your stats are rendered with holographic projectors on your person. This frees up you screen from all of the typical clutter and leaves you to fully appreciate the horrific experience.
Every weapon is satisfying to use and are as visually stunning as they are unique. Of course you start out with your tried and true plasma cutter. It’s an essential with a decent firing rate and hit damage. Along the way you will see weapons from the first game like the Line Gun, the Flamethrower (which is still rather useless), Pulse Rifle, and Ripper. The new weapons, which I won’t ruin for you, are all great additions to your arsenal, adding a few new twists in combat and opening you up to opportunities to kill multiple enemies at once. Believe me, there are more than enough enemies. There is nothing more stressing than being locked down in a small room with six or seven Necromorphs. E.A promised to incorporate more puzzles and uses of Isaac’s engineering background but other than a rather simple mini games to open doors (You spin the analog stick until your contact cone glows blue three different times), and occasionally fixing a machine that has malfunctioned you really don’t use your talents any more than in the original Dead Space.
The landscape of Dead Space 2 is that of a proverbial utopia spiraling into hell. The Spire, the Unitologists God stone, is not the celestial harbinger of tranquility and enlightenment but that of horror and unnatural creation and E.A makes you believe it with ever screen of the game. From the opening scenes you already know that you are in for something tragic. Flickering lights, blood drenched corridors, and corpse filled corridors greet you at every turn and the people you do encounter are as hopeless and sometimes as insane as your surrounds. An impressive score accompanies the visuals, often times frightening you more than the sudden shock of the sudden appearance of a Necromorph or event. At times Isaac’s waning sanity makes it hard for you to discern what is real and what is not a chilling and disturbing cinematic and visual effect that helps drive the story and give you more insight into exactly what he was thinking throughout the first game.
Dead Space 2 is great experience for any survival horror fan. With stunning graphics, enough changes in game play to break up an monotony, and a pace that never allows you to let down your guard, this is a game you should own. I must give this game a 9/10.
