One of the best Survival-Horror games to date, with bloodcurdling atmosphere. You couldn't ask for more, could y
Call for help, and then non-responding ship without power, flying free, all that wrapped with veil of mystery.
Sounds like one of those hollywood cliche-horor-movies.
And it does. The story IS totally cliche, though being in that situation yourself and watching the movie in cinema is quite different.
Even though the story is chewed up, EA team really had their butts warmed up regarding the atmosphere and sound effects.
Although this game strives to be horror, that feeling slowly starts to fade away after some time.... And it starts being absolutely fun.
At the beginning of the game, you aren't a match for numerous enemies with your low level guns and armor, and few bullets.
But as the game progress, your reactions will change from
"Oh, God, I'm going to die" to "Let's go kick some ass".
So after barely saving your neck out, you will upgrade your weapons, armor and gadgets, and as soon as you know, you will be unstoppable.
Just wanted to let you know about that fact, because, unlike Silent Hill or "Amnesia:The Dark Descent", this game will turn into classical TPS, with some elements of an RPG, but will still keep some of the scary things(like psychological, brain-messing stuff)
What about gameplay? Dead space's biggest trump is its gameplay.
So simple, but yet so addictive and fun.
As the story progress, you can actually feel that you are making a difference, and that you can actually SURVIVE. Turning the non-functional space ship into fully working one will feel awesome.
Jumping all over the zero-gravity room, slowing down and throwing things across the room will be quite contagious, because you will always be heading back for more.
There are all sorts of guns out there, from almighty "Plasma Cutter", over the Pulse Rifle, Flamethrower, until the Ripper, which is like a rusty round chainsaw used for cutting "souls" out of scary looking aliens.
Well, maybe not souls, but internal organs surely.
If you play this game just to survive, you could finish it in under 20 hours.
But if you really want to teach those aliens a lesson they will never forget, it will take quite longer, but it'll be much much more entertaining.
Regarding graphics.
Even though the levels and rooms are mostly dark and colorless, you will get used to it, because the "beauty" of it, was saved for more important things, like your armor, various NPC's, and enemies of course.
If you expect graphics to be shiny as in Crysis for example, you would be disappointed. But have in mind that the most important thing in this game is gameplay. So if you learn to swallow "the looks" you will actually enjoy the game.
And just one last thought. If you expected from this game to be hardcore horror-hack'n'slash game, you would be disappointed. But if you open yourself up to other things, you will find out that this game has to offer a lot of fun stuff, outside its "horror covers".
Enjoy ;)