 Seriously they have nailed it. What a start for this holiday season |
| Review Date: October 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: ice grizzly, Dream Land |
I have been playing shooters for a long long time. After DOOM, no one had the guts to move away from head shots. Almost 3 decades has come and gone and shooters have remained the same. Woow these guys did get away with it, and they have come out with amazing results. This is the power of creativity.
We have played shooters with zombies in them, horror sci-fi games, different permutations and combinations. All have few different monsters as enemies. Either you shoot them in the head or it is some kind of quick press events to kill the bosses. Here you have to understand what every enemy is, remember how to kill when you see them again. As you walk through the levels, you see clues written in blood on what to do with each enemy.
The game continuously throws new surprises. You have to explore every level to find items to upgrade your weapons. When you first step into ZeroG... the fights gets crazy. Enemies will come from every direction, the map is a big globe. The level design is fantastic. Every single detail from hospital rooms, kitchens what ever that will be required in a big space ship is there. It is not like the super tidy carpeted Trek space ship. It is supposed to be some thing like a dirty mining rig, and you surely get the feel of it.
There is lot of creativity that has gone in.. which I didn't expect from a big publisher like EA. You don't find any M16, AK46, turret gun here. All the weapons are mining equipment. Our future mining equipments are lot more interesting than what we have today. As the main character is a engineer lot of things he does very cohesive with the gameplay. When you actually fix a lever and move things around it feels lot more natural.
I do have to say one thing about this game. It is truly meant for mature audience. Please don't buy this game for very young children. There are few sections where you have to kick and stomp baby zombies. It gets too violent and scary. But as a horror/survival/thriller you need creepy enemies. Also they do give you a reason to keep searching and not quit half way around. The theme may be slightly similar to DMC4 girl friend search... but executed very well.
One gripe I have with this game as with DMC4 is backtracking. The game is quite long by today's standard. The space ship feels much better because you are visiting some of the same areas while backtracking. It is not horrible, but it is there. I wish they hadn't done that.
To give developers credit, they have done enough to avoid the regular backtracking nightmares like lost routes. You can always use your analog stick to show the dotted green walk line.
Previously I thought this one will be like Silent hill, this one is more closer to Resident Evil. Falls more in the creepy, scary game than survival horror game.
Technically, I don't have to say much. Any one who has seen videos of the game already know this game looks stunning. Fantastic way to start the holiday season. Brand new IP, silky smooth game play, really well done game. Go treat yourself. |
Whats that sound?? huh...what...LOOK OUT!!!!
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| Review Date: October 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Super Mario, CA, USA |
Dead Space is a fantastic and refreshing new game to come out in a long time. The game is like a combination of Bioshock-Resident Evil-Gears of war all combined! If you liked any of those games or all 3 (like I did) then you should do your self a favor and get this game NOW!
It is a wonderful mix of sci-fi horror 3rd person shooter with a great story, plenty of action and gore.....creepy. A good example of the scare tactics used in this game are the wall busters(as I like to call them) you could be all caught up in the moment only to have a creature bust through the vent shaft, ceiling, glass...any where they can and scare the heck out of you! You will get goose bumps(I know, I have) The controls might take a little time for some as there are 2 button combinations for some actions like: LT+A or LT+RB which should not be to difficult to pick up pretty quickly.
The graphics are top notch along with a spooky sound track that you would expect from this type of game. The story is done very well in my opinion and keeps you alert as to what you need to do next. There is a very helpful direction laser as I like to call it, that when activated (Pressing down on the right thumb stick) can show you the direction you need to go, very helpful if you get stuck. There are some zero gravity areas that some gamers might find disorienting a bit, but should not be for most. The is not a game for the faint at heart, be prepared to get scared and have fun at the same time!
Graphics:9.5
Sound:10
Story:8.5
Action:10
Controls:9.5
Blood:9
Gore:10
Equiptment upgrades:Yes
Scare facotor:100%
Goose Bumps:10
My score: 9.8
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The Survival Horror Event of 2008
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| Review Date: October 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Terrence Aybar, New York City |
Dead Space is a game that has achieved instant classic status with me. There's just no other way to say it. After finishing the game, I came to the realization that the game had me on edge the entire time I was playing. This game really succeeds at sustaining an atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat with the certainty that just around the next corner is something particularly vicious waiting to sink its teeth into your flesh. You are never given a moment's rest and they really amp the tension up way past what would probably be considered healthy levels.
I'm not one to ruin stories and I'm not making any exceptions here, except to say that this game would appeal to anyone with an appreciation for horror and sci-fi flicks, especially movies that combine the two genres like Aliens, Event Horizon and John Carpenter's version of The Thing. This game proudly wears its influences on its sleeve and manages to produce something genuinely great out of its many forefathers. The creative team behind this title did their homework and it shows. From the very beginning, I was pretty much glued to the controller.
GRAPHICS: Astounding. One of the things that make this game such an incredible experience is the sheer scale and design of the levels. It has the fusing of metal and flesh aspects of Doom 3, the lighting of Bioshock and levels with large areas like something you'd see in Ninja Gaiden 2. Certain portions of the game have moments where you just have to stop, look around and take it all in because you can just "feel" how large your surroundings are. I don't know if that makes any sense but I'm sure when you play the game, you'll know what I mean. The design on the monsters owes a lot to the nasty, tentacle ridden horror flicks of the early 80's and these critters enjoy popping out of nowhere, screaming and growling. I thought the creatures were really impressive and definitely serve as formidable obstacles in your path to finding out what the hell is going on in the overrun ship the story takes place in.
SOUND: Wow. I may have to go on record as saying that the sound in this game is probably the best I have heard in ANY game to date. If you have surround sound and have been feeling like your speakers haven't been very active lately, don't worry because this will probably be your new demo disc when showing off your sound system to any of your pals. This is the kind of game that uses sound mixing and design to make the game even better, creating an incredible atmosphere of fear and tension that like I said before, just doesn't let up. Whispers, dripping water, wet, squishy sounds coming from the air vent above you, faraway screams, babies and adults crying, chanting, inhuman grunting, moaning, laughter.... all sorts of things that you DON'T want to hear in the dark corridors of a monster infested ship. The weapons sound nice and loud. I honestly believe that the sound in this game is its best and strongest point. Seriously, it would most likely be an injustice to the sound designers to not play this game with a proper surround setup and the volume high up.
GAMEPLAY: Great and fluid controls. Only become a very minor problem when you get crowded by monsters as the close quarters combat isn't the greatest. Still, not too much to whine about. The inventory and map interface is great, coming up as a digital hologram in real time. Cool moments like bouncing around the walls while in zero-G and being in vacuums add to the game. You upgrade your weapons with power nodes which are very valuable and scattered across the levels. Creatures are dispatched easily when you shoot off their limbs but usually take a lot of hits if you're just aiming for the body so it lends a whole strategic kind of thing to the mayhem. All of which happens in nice, gory detail.
Bottom line: If you have any desire to feel terror and dread for a good respectable stretch of playtime, look no further. This one pulled no punches and left me freaked out and jumpy on many an occasion. I have absolutely no regrets on picking this up as it earns its "M" rating by delivering a truly scary experience. I have a feeling that this one is gonna be a sleeper hit. |
Scariest game ever? Naw, but it is damn good
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| Review Date: October 24, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Terry Mesnard, Bellevue, NE |
After reading reviews that Dead Space was the second coming of the original Resident Evil, I decided I'd give it a try. Review sites were claiming it to be "the scariest game evar!" Hell, when I picked the game up from a local store I was boldly told, "within two minutes of gaining control of your character, you will jump out of your skin!" Eagerly, I rushed home, ready for my next jolt of adrenaline. So, it was with a pair of rubber underwear (I kid...or do I?) and some excitement that I set out to see what dark terrors Dead Space would contain.
Turns out there's not much here we haven't seen before. No, I didn't jump two minutes into the game...and in fact the first chapter felt pretty tame. Monsters pop out of vents or can be seen in the distance, usually followed by a loud "DUN!" from the soundtrack. Maybe I've grown so hardened from my years of playing horror games that the thrills in Dead Space don't amount to much. I'm also wondering who these reviewers are. If Dead Space is so terrifying to them, I'd hate to see what'd happen if they got their hands on F.E.A.R. or Condemned, for example, two games that have made me jump out of my skin.
Things improve as the story continues, though, with some disturbing images (usually involving a crazed survivor) and some stick with me, even now. The game does improve on its terror level, the further in you get and there are some shocking moments, both in terms of graphic depictions but also in a "holy crap, I'm being dragged by a tentacle" way. But, as a personal opinion, I've never really been fond of the silent protagonist. And here we have not only Isaac, the mute, but Isaac the faceless since he's always holed up behind some mask. Sure there is a personal story here for him, what with his girlfriend stuck on the ship somewhere, but it never really clicked for me simply because Isaac felt like a doll and not a real person.
This isn't to say Dead Space is a bad game, just the opposite! I had an absolute blast playing it because what it does, it does exceedingly well. The weapons are never your cliched space marine-type fare, which brings a fresh feel to the game. They can be "leveled up" via work benches, and you can really design both your suit and your weapons to fit your play style. Dead Space also controls amazingly well and you'll never feel like the game is hampering you by horrible movement. The graphics are pretty damn awesome, especially in terms of the grotesque monster designs (which remind me of The Thing) and the animations. The concept of "strategic dismembering" is also a fun little twist of the genre, as you'll find yourself blowing the hell out of their limbs, just to keep them from coming at you.
I also appreciate how each level feels completely different from the last and EA has truly made the Ishimura come alive. When I first heard that the game took place on a ship, I was worried. Usually that means the same old corridors and bad level design, but here it means a fully realized space ship. Breaking up the action are sections taking place in zero-G areas, which are great, and some puzzles that require you to utlize the environment.
All in all, and even though I don't share the opinion that it's the scariest game ever, Dead Space is a terrific game. The plot is very intriguing and pulls you along, but it's everything else that really adds up to making it what it is. In the end, Dead Space feels more like Aliens than Alien, and that ain't shabby.
Definitely recommend a purchase. |
A great action horror game.
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| Review Date: October 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Girardin, NY |
This is basically a mix between Resident Evil 4, Doom 3 and Aliens (movie). The game is freaking scary, and very very creepy.
The visuals and art style are amazing which is important in a horror game like this I feel and this game does both well, everything is very well thought out, all of your menus display off the main characters suit rather than on screen, making it a little strange at first but it only pulls you in more.
The sound is even better, you really feel on edge as you walk through the halls with eerie music playing, something banging on the walls or falling off a desk, you're just waiting for something to rush in and scare the heck out of you. And when it does it's aim shoot and hope what your shooting at kills the thing. Headshots aren't the most effective in this it can be the worst thing you can do actually, the monster will flip out and go berserk taking more shots than before.
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