Dead Space 2 PS3 Review

The original Dead Space was a game that redefined the Space-Horror genre with a complex plot and scares around every corner. The game made sure that players never felt more powerful than their foes and ammo was scarcely available. Enemies weren’t the normal fare that died from a few bullets. Necromorphs would come after the player even with limbs shot off, which made the gameplay more frantic and desperate when ammo was low. Dead Space was comparable to Bioshock, but with the setting taking place in space.

Dead Space 2 takes place in the metropolis known as the Sprawl on Titan Station after the original Dead Space, with Isaac having trouble remembering the past three years. Shortly after the introduction, the city turns to chaos with Necromorphs emerging from everywhere and a Marker within the city. Dead Space 2 fixes the issues in gameplay from the first game, but fails to have the suspenseful moments of the first game and the difficulty has been toned down a lot. There are five difficulty levels, which allow for a variety of gamers to find the challenge that suits them best with the hardest difficulty; hardcore being unlocked after the game has been completed once. Hardcore mode allows only three saves per game, no checkpoints, limited ammo, limited weapons, limited health, and challenging enemies. The game looks just as amazing visually as the first game and cinematics are created using the in-game engine, which makes the transition between gameplay and scripted events almost non-existent.

Dead Space 2 has 15 chapters to play through and a variety of bosses to take down randomly dispersed throughout the game. Dead Space 2 has five suits for Isaac to purchase, plus one extra suit unlockable through purchase of the collector’s edition of the game. Also, there are 11 weapons and one extra weapon also unlocked through the purchase of the collector’s edition of the game as well. Weapons and suits can be upgraded through the collection or purchase of power nodes and the player can redistribute nodes already used for the price of 5,000 credits. After completing the game once, players can start a Newgame+ and keep weapons and suits that have been unlocked.

Dead Space 2 has followed in the footsteps of the Assassin’s Creed series and added multiplayer to extend playability of the game. Multiplayer consists of five maps with different objective based missions such as securing an item, destroying an objective, and reaching a waypoint alive. The multiplayer pits Necromorphs against humans with five versions of Necromorphs available to choose from. The Necromorphs have varying health, speed, and abilities, but without teamwork will die fairly easily. Necromorphs also gain abilities through level progression. Humans have a variety of weapons with standard and alternate fire to choose from and more are unlocked with level progression. Spawns are unlimited and Necromorphs are allowed to spawn anywhere in the level where a vent is present.

The collector’s edition of Dead Space 2 comes with a lithograph of a Necromorph, an official soundtrack CD, a replica Plasma Cutter with working LED lights, Dead Space Ignition downloadable puzzle game, and Dead Space Extraction (PS3 only), in addition to the game. Also, an extra suit and force gun weapon is unlocked for the player as a gift for purchasing the collector’s edition.

Dead Space 2 is a solid sequel to a fantastic series with the addition of a fun multiplayer element that requires teamwork in order to be successful. Dead Space 2 multiplayer punishes players who try to play the solo hero, which makes the game more memorable and a feeling of accomplishment when players win. The single player campaign is long enough to entertain even the speediest of players and the story’s ending leaves the player satisfied, but anticipating the next iteration in the series. All in all, Dead Space 2 is a definite purchase for any fan of the first game and for any gamer who loves first-person shooters.