Dead Space changed the way horror games are made. An instant classic, the game brought together story, combat and all-out horror in a blend that was near-perfect. Needless to say, I had high expectations for the game's sequel, and it delivered in a big way, surpassing my expectations.
GRAPHICS
Visually, the game is absolutely incredible. With a new brand new engine, new environments and new character models, the game is one of the best looking of this generation. The original architecture of the Sprawl, a massive space station near Saturn, boasts a more urban environment as compared to the ship environment of Dead Space 1. Whether you be fighting your way through the eerie cathedrals of a Unitologist Church, racing through the markets of an obliterated city, sprinting through a rapidly collapsing train system, or even floating about through the space around solar arrays, the game grants a perfect atmosphere for each situation that the player is in. The character designs (of which I praised in Dead Space 1) have increased tenfold. The nauseatingly gruesome models of each necromorph are gut-wrenching and terrifying. Each necromorph has been rebuilt from the ground up to appear all the more horrifying. The facial expressions of each character are spot on, hair moving in a more natural way, the armor appearing more high-tech and, well, armor-like. Even the weapon models have improved in design. However, the PC doesn't boast anything more. In Dead Space 1, the graphics seemed a bit more crisp and defined. In Dead Space 2, it seems that the only real difference in visuals are the hair effects which look more real and fluid. Graphically, the PC looks very much the same as consoles, but it needs greater system requirements on the PC to run at max settings. If you don't have the minimum, the aiming will be choppier and the frame rate decreases. Nevertheless, if you're searching for a good-looking horror, look no further.
GAMEPLAY
The combat has been redesigned from the ground up. If you've played the first game, you know how it works in the second. Use your telekinesis module to move objects, stasis to slow down enemies, stomp and punch to take on enemies point blank, and blast the limbs off of the necromorph enemies. However, the combat is far more defined. Isaac Clarke is far more responsive, the movements crisp and fluid. The aiming system (which was clunky and broken on the PC) is smoother and far more precise. In the first game, missions were completed upon returning to the local tram system. At each mission, you would start off at Point A, then go to Point B, C, D and E, the return to Point A to finish off. This made Dead Space feel monotonous and dull, and many of those environments were reused. This is not the case with Dead Space 2. The game progresses throughout the entire Sprawl, never halting and continuing the action at a faster pace than the predecessor. Quick time events change up the flow, and a host of all new necromorph types make you take the game slower and think about how you can utilize your resources the best. My favorite necromorph is the Stalker. A raptor-like enemy that lurks behind crates and doors, they force the player to be more cautious and utilize stasis carefully, and it is absolutely terrifying to turn a corner and see a Stalker charging right at you. The horror is all the better; with larger and more sporadic scares. Dead Space 1's scares got old all-too quickly to the point where I'd go through entire playthroughs of the game without getting scared at all. Dead Space 2, however, has more random jump scares that catch the player off guard. Dark environments leave players dreading to go forward. The solid combat makes the game all the better, and although the PC aiming is still a bit off, the game plays incredibly. The customization of Isaac Clarke is more extensive. New armor builds make him look either just like the engineer we knew in the first game, or a necromorph slaying badass. However, upgrading is exactly the same as it was in the first game, and I would have preferred to see something a bit new in terms of upgrades.
STORY
The story has come a long way since the first game. The campaign is more personal and dark, with characters that are instantly likeable. Isaac Clarke can now be more connected to now that he has a voice in the campaign. The two other central characters, Nolan Stross and Ellie Langford, are the most interesting I've seen in a horror title. The game takes place several years after the events of Dead Space 1, with another Marker epidemic and a horrifying necromorph outbreak. The game is compelling and players feel driven to see it to the end. Absent of any lousy plot-twists or cheesy characters, the story ranks among one of the best in gaming.
AUDIO DESIGN
Just as the first game did, Dead Space 2 draws in the player by their ears. Terrifying new sound design makes everything feel more crisp and real. Not only will you hear the screeches and cries of the necromorphs, but you will even hear each individual movement of your enemies. Be in the gushing of blood from an infected human to the dry crack of bones and flesh by each footstep of a necromorph, the game's sound design is incredible. The voice acting is far better, each character truly sounding as though they're right in the middle of an apocalypse. Isaac Clarke does not sound or act like a hero figure; this is good, as it strikes home to the main character just being a survivor who'd faced necromorphs before. The crack of each weapon, old and new, sounds absolutely incredible. The audio design is the best of any video game I've ever played.
MULTIPLAYER
For the first time, Dead Space 2 presents a competitive multiplayer system, where one team plays as humans fighting to complete objectives across the Sprawl, while the necromorph team battles to keep them from completing their objective. While addictive, the multiplayer lacks a sense of balance and each objective feels bland and the same as the last. While I've seen a few necromorph teams do very well, it is incredibly clear that the humans have the advantage with their weapons and abilities. The multiplayer is fun, but overall the campaign is why anyone truly buys the game.
FINAL VERDICT
With a stellar campaign that includes likeable characters, beautiful graphics that display the gruesome environments and character designs of the game, larger jump scares that terrify every player, sound design that is redefined and all the more horrifying, combat that is smoother and more responsive, and addictive multiplayer that can consume hours of dedicated gameplay, Dead Space 2 ranks among the best games ever made, and is the only game I've ever played that I feel compelled to give a perfect rating. You would be crazy not to buy this game, and therefore I give it a 10/10.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2014
Platform For Display: PC DownloadEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2012
Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Fabo
Cool, funciona en 2021.
Reviewed in Mexico on March 27, 2021Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
Harry J
This game is legend
Reviewed in India on May 11, 2022Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
Rickey Chen
Great game, better than first one
Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2013Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
自作er No.003
オススメです！
Reviewed in Japan on January 2, 2015Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
Vidit K.
Best game ever :)
Reviewed in India on December 6, 2021Platform For Display: PCEdition: StandardVerified Purchase
