Waking up into a new nightmare.
For me, who really enjoyed the first game, the answer was that, using the old formula, they polished the game, transforming all those flaws in superb elements.
We still control Isaac, an engineer that made part one repair mission in the Ishimura, a huge planet-cracking spaceship that, because of one artifact called The Marker, had all its crew killed or be transformed in something strange, called Necromorphs. Who doesn't remember the history of the first game, Dead Space 2 presents a "previously" video, that resumes very well all the plot until the beginning of it.
So, after a fast cut-scene, Isaac is awakened but just to discover that he is most in his worst nightmare then really awakened. Just after woke up, he will be already in the middle of a new necromorph break. Soon, he discovers that he was in a coma, inside a colony, the Sprawl, located in the moon Titan, a Saturn's moon.
Even the history-telling being basically the same from the first game, this sequel presents a more intricate plot. We'll be like Isaac, don't knowing what to do and in who we must trust. How to get out of this hell? This will be our main mission and, believe me, the game just make a great work to incorporate that feeling from Isaac in us. Is really impressive how Visceral Games managed to keep the "Dead Space feeling" alive in this sequel.
Not only that feeling is alive, but the entire atmosphere is richer and more intense. The main reason is the fact that Isaac will be put in the middle of the spread of the necromorphs, meaning that we'll see all falling apart and, in middle forward, all will be quiet and feel abandoned. Understand what I mean?
In the first game, everything already had the feeling of loneliness. But, here, the feeling will be transformed, from chaos and confusion to quietness and loneliness. Amazing job from the producers.
Not only that, but the plot will be more dynamic. Isaac actions and reactions will look more natural and realistic, more spontaneous. And his personality was better explored, messing up not only with physical aspects, but with the mind aspect too. Strange visions and deliriums will give a final touch on Isaac.
And, for my surprise, Dead Space, that already was one eye-candy, is much better in this sequel. Better lights and more accurate shadows are a show apart. The textures were great detailed, shining in better bloom and glow effects together with a masterpiece use of the depth of field and blur. And things don't end here, because, even looking much better, the performance seems to not feel it at all, where Dead Space 2 will just even look smoother than the graphically inferior first game.
I also appreciated the fact that loading times between chapters are almost nonexistent, compared to the first game, where, every tram ride was a boring level load and it could also break the moment and ruin atmosphere, giving a slower pace to the game. Not only without loadings, but with bigger and more detailed levels.
Out of that above, very few have changed. The inventory system is the same and most weapons too, only with some new interesting additions, like the spear and the sniper. But it brings great additions to the armors, with new ones and more than before, making more exciting change to Isaac RIG's.
Power nodes are here too, with the difference that weapons upgrades are harder to complete and with the option to remove all nodes from one weapon to reutilize them. Ah! If we got an Internet connection, we can access some special shop items inside the game. Good catch from EA.
The gameplay didn't change at all. But, there are two elements that gave a refreshed air to it, even when they already were presented in the first game. Kinesis is used to grab all sorts of things that surround Isaac. Stasis is a device that "freezes" a target, making it slower. Because of the sensitive increase in the difficult, these two tools will be useful than never for survive, more than in the previous game.
Actually, here, I'll give a friendly tip if you want to have a deeper experience with Dead Space – even if you're a newcomer to it or if it's your first run in the sequel. Don't play it in the easy (casual) or medium (normal) settings. These two difficult levels are just too easy for a real challenge.
Ah! Another element new in this game, is the possibility to move freely in vacuum.
Even most of the sound effects looking recycled from the first game, they're still superb and will sound awesome. The music score is also amazing too, being a core element to the atmosphere and immersion. Voices are better than before too, mainly Isaac voice, that was crucial to build his personality in this sequel, an element almost ignored in the previous game.
This resumes almost every aspect from this amazing sequel. For my taste, I believe that, if Dead Space had been launched with the same aspects from this sequel, probably, would easily be one of the best games ever made. But, for the use of the same old formula, it can make many feel a little taste of repetitiveness and clichés. Not only the "old formula", but many recycled necromorphs, weapons, items and sounds can make thinks look repetitive or old.
Presenting a new interface, a deeper plot, a better history-telling with better graphics, sounds, voices, levels, and improved combat, weapons and armors, Dead Space 2 bring back the old feeling from its antecessor, also being much gorier and violent, Visceral Games proved that it is possible to make good use of second chances.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to try the multiplayer. So tragic...