The sequel to one of the more intense games of this generation is here, and it proves itself worthy of its nametag.
Concept:
The sequel to one of the most powerful games I have ever played is finally here. And believe me, it is great. The game starts out in a completely new setting. Rather than being part of the terrifyingly, bloody, heart-stopping atmosphere found on the Ishimura, you find yourself on the Sprawl, a new metropolis located on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Don't worry though - the Sprawl is just as terrifying, bloody, and heart-stopping! Once again, you play as engineer, Isaac Clarke, on a mission of mass confusion and understanding of what has happened in the past. You encounter numerous characters throughout the course of the game, all of whom have very unique and gripping personalities. But at the same time, their information constantly is contradicting of one another's. After being out of consciousness for a long period of time, Isaac has no idea what is real and what isn't, both in reality and in his mind. Other than that, very little can be said in the plot department, simply because of the genre's storytelling techniques. You learn new, important, spoiling information every minute you play. While the story in this game is incredibly embracing, it can prove to be quite confusing. The reason for this is simple - the story in the game's predecessor was not much of a priority. Or if it was, it wasn't displayed as one in my opinion. The new style of gameplay and terrifying horror found in the original really allowed for some unwanted straying from the story. While I was able to follow it throughout the game, it was something that I really had to think a lot about. Shortly after finishing the original, I had completely forgotten just about everything pertaining to the story. So while "Dead Space 2" is unquestionably more based on story as WELL as the scares, things can really make you crazy and confused (more than the game is meant to be). It's a bit disappointing, but if you have the original story embedded in your mind, you shouldn't have much trouble understanding. Still, a bit more clarity, and less reliance on the first game's conceptual aspects would've been nice.
Graphics and Sound:
"Dead Space 2" is an artistic masterpiece. Visually, it doesn't differ much from the first game, but that was expected (at least it was by me). The standards set by its predecessor were nearly impossible to top. But with that said, the game certainly went in a different direction. The original seemed to suffer pretty heavily from environmental recycling. The deja-vu feeling of "wasn't I just in this room?" was an issue throughout its entirety. "Dead Space 2" has very little of this, though. That is really great to see. Each environment differs from the previous, and yet they all have the same atmospheric feeling. So whether you're in a bloody, horrifyingly graphic room with bodies and monsters everywhere you look, or in a bright, happy kindergarten classroom with colorful wall designs and awkward laughing of children, the scares are still felt. There certainly appears to be more gore, and that's always a plus in my books. In terms of sound, this game is incredible. I mean honestly, I don't understand how they do it. There is not a single moment in the game where you will feel comfortable. Even if you have just defeated an entire horde of sick monsters and are just standing idle in the same position for a few minutes, you will never feel safe. The little background shrieks, laughter, and eerie music will disallow this throughout the game's entirety. Even if you KNOW that nothing is going to happen, you can't help but keep lookout. It's such a fantastic addition to the game, and it really goes to show how much of an impact the sound of a survival/horror game makes. EA's attempt at keeping the gamer angry and terrified is remarkable. Along with this, the monsters themselves are sickeningly real. Plus, there are some new monster additions that all have different characteristics. Rather than fighting the standard necromorphs and the occasional invincible monster, there are various new ones scattered throughout the game. The voice-acting is also top-notch. Isaac has actually found his voice this time around, and it works very well with his character. Plus, the sadistic and manipulative voices of your enemies are sure to make you use some profanity back at the TV at one point or another. Simply put, "Dead Space 2" is an absolute artistic masterpiece (yes, I know I already said this, but it needed it twice).
Gameplay:
My biggest complaint with the original "Dead Space" was, without question, the gameplay. While the controls and combat were fine, the whole idea of tedious/over-the-top objectives made for a very dull experience. You were always scared, but rarely enjoying yourself. "Dead Space 2" completely changes this. Rather than doing these tedious chores, you find yourself doing a mass number of different things throughout. Yes, there still is a lot of combat and moving from point A to point B. But there's still a LOT more to it, and there's an incredible amount of variety. I won't spoil any of it, because it's more exciting to experience it without any prior knowledge. It makes it more surprising and thus more enjoyable. The only complaint I still have is that the game is over-linear. I think it would've helped the experience a bit if you could take different routes/approaches to completing objectives. Just thinking about the debate between going through door A or door B is so great, and would really add to the drama and terror. This is something that certainly could've been done. But the addition of new types of enemies really add to the entertainment. In the first game, I rarely used anything besides my plasma cutter. But in this one, you need a variety of weapons (which there are also now more of). Having little tiny creatures running at you in hordes won't work with the plasma cutter. Instead you're going to have to invest in something powerful and efficient, like the ripper. It works terrificly and makes the game that much more entertaining. One other thing that has been added to the series is multiplayer. It's very similar to "Left 4 Dead"'s Versus mode. The players are split up into teams - the monsters and the "survivors". Depending on the map, you are given a specific objective to complete as the survivors, and the monsters' only goal is to stop you. While I think it is a good idea, it lacks execution in my opinion. I just couldn't find much entertainment to be had. Plus, there is VERY little content in it, and that will make it bore anyone out at some point. Maybe with some add-on content and some more options/objectives, it can be fun. But as it is right now, it bores me. Maybe it's because I've just played so much "Left 4 Dead". So maybe that is biased. But the lack of content certainly is just factual and unavoidable. In its current state, it has very little lasting power in my books. Still, this is going to help keep the game's replay value much higher.
Overall Opinion:
"Dead Space 2" is exactly what the series needed - a massive improvement. While its predecessor was still a very good game, it had plenty of flaws that needed addressing. For the first time in my life, I feel as though EA actually decided to listen to the consumers. Because believe me, the issues were compromised. The multiplayer could benefit from some additional content, and more options, but it's not BAD. It just needs work. The story is a bit too dependent on the first entry, though, and that's a bit upsetting. Still, "Dead Space 2" is a terrific game, with a terrific story, and terrific score. I am very impressed with this EA series addition. They certainly listened to the consumers this time, and the end product really did a great job in exhibiting this obvious feat. Well done EA. Can't wait for the 3rd installment in this series. You are left with some left to be desired, but still more than enough (and expected) satisfaction. That is why I am giving "Dead Space 2" a 9.0/10.
The Good:
Gripping story; Unheard of visuals and sound; Much improved entertainment; A lot of needed variety; Awesome new content
The Bad:
Too much reliance on original's story; Boring multiplayer