Dead Space

"Dismemberment is Encouraged"

Deadspace is an action survival game that breaks the mold in an otherwise redundant genre. A game that is both engrossing and original you'll most likely give it a few runs.

Story
From the moment you insert the disc you'll be engaged in the storyline. The USG Ishimura, a colony-ship designed to mine planets from space has gone off line and a team is sent to check why. Little do they know: the ship has been bombarded by mutants. The plot starts off typical and predictable, but surprisingly introduces elements to the story that are interesting. The characters are very genuine and believable and the voice acting is very good.

Controls
You'll find the controls slightly unusual for any type of a shooter based genre, except that your R1 & L1 buttons are used to shoot and aim. There is no hip firing, you must press down L1 the entire time ito aim and fire which is okay because you have laser sighting on all the weapons. Running is strange as you have to hold down L2, rather than pressing down L3 or simply tilting the motion stick all the way to the top of its reach.

Dynamics
Despite the unusual controls, the game becomes quickly adaptable and fun. During the entirety of the missions there is this inner burden within you that anticipates a random ambush which has you peeking around corners and inspecting ceilings.

While the game is not frightening by any means, it neither intends nor needs to be. What it does very well is it prevents you from being careless like most shooters and trains you to be cautious and smart. I thoroughly enjoyed this parameter because it can improve any players skills yet keeps a certain level of challenge recurring throughout the game.

Another great dynamic about Deadspace is that rather than having a map consistently in a corner of the screen, you are enabled to push the R3 button and an illuminated line will trace your destination. This is great because you can't get lost. Such a factor would deem the game frustrating because it eliminates the fun of progression, however this single dynamic disables that frustration.

Game-Play
Deadspace is actually a very addicting game; difficult to put down the controller as you tell yourself to quit in exchange for some much needed sleep. However you find yourself doing yet one more task and continuing after a save.

Confrontations are amazing in Deadspace, among the best of its caliber. Rather than mindlessly jamming R1 to blow away your enemies, you must focus on their extremities by dismembering the arms and legs of all creatures you encounter. This adds an element of strategy and fun to all encounters. You'll learn to stay cool in crazy situations where you are bombarded by slues of mutants because if you panic you'll waste ammo firing on their invulnerable bodies.

There are really cool types of weapons and upgrades in the game as well. You can purchase more ammo, upgrade the power of your weapons, upgrade your space suit for defense, even buy new weapons on the PSN which are cheap and well worth it for added hours of enjoyment.

By far the coolest feature in combat is the Stasis Module. It is equipped on all guns and is used by pressing square to fire. What's great about Stasis is it slows the enemies down and enables you to focus more keenly on their limbs. An awesome feature that makes the game really enjoyable.

There are plenty of mixes of tasks that require you to plunge through zero gravity and disable certain machines on the exterior of the ship, or operate a laser canon and shoot asteroids out of space. The boss battles are realistic, challenging, and surprisingly not cheap.

Replay Value
Once you beat the game there are still trophies to acquire like any game, however Deadspace offers what so many games fail to realize is important: a NEW GAME PLUS MODE that allows you carry over any weapons, armor, and money! Unlockable after your first run through the game is an upgraded spacesuit, a sum of money along with a very difficult "impossible mode" and other useful items. It is great (for once) to be rewarded for your accomplishments. Some of the trophies require that you play through the game a few times which is fine because it isn't such a burden to.

Pro/Con

The Positive
Ultimately what makes Deadspace great is its originality, unique controls, replay value, combat variations, tasks, and dynamics.

The game intellectually gives you the appropriate drops based on the weapons you equip. It doesn't place you in situations where you have no ammo at all or ammo for a gun you aren't carrying.

The game stocks you properly with health packs and places you close to where you died.

The Negative
-Loading times are masked by long elevator waits, or abrupt com-link rants from intel that drag on, and door locks that need to be lifted while you sigh impatiently for them to open.

-Monsters in zero-G/vacuum situations are just as potent as they are normally, which is ridiculous.

-Explosions have no area of affect, damaging only what is hit upon direct impact.

-The flamethrower which is revered as powerful in any shooter is a weak and useless pack of matches in a game where you can rarely use the device in zero oxygen portions of the ship. You'll find yourself burning through all of your hard-earned fuel so to fail at killing even one lousy mutant-tentacle that slides slowly across the floor. Huh?

-No skip option for cut scenes, even if you've seen them two, three, seven times. The game essentially force feeds its story to you which is never a good thing if you just want to play through it.

Conclusion
Definitely worth a buy as it is merely $26.00 preowned and possesses a higher replay value than most recent releases priced 59.99. Gamers of different calibers will absolutely enjoy Deadspace as it truly is a well done game.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/14/09

Game Release: Dead Space (US, 10/13/08)