In the loneliness of the space.
In the first place, Dead Space is a huge mix from many games and even films. Few things are original from the game itself. For example, the history. You'll see many elements, from Doom to Resident Evil, from Fear to Silent Hill, from many other fonts that, with a more careful view, you'll easily see. I'll not enter in details in what aspects Dead Space "copy" other games, this is not what I wanna do. But, because of that, the history will have hard times to hold your attention and interest, mainly for the fact that take much time to progress ( and because the plot is easily predictable ). So, you'll have to look for other things to continue to play it until the end or until the history progress.
Different from what many say, Dead Space don't have these so amazing looking good graphics. But, for running so soft and lightly, I can't complain. And, for what it offers, it make one amazing job with lights and shadows. Also, you rarely see slowdowns and stuttering. In other hand, the textures look blurry sometimes, mainly the necromorphs. But the game's engine is capable to create huge environments and huge creatures/bosses, full of details, lights, shadows and dust, without compromise the performance.
It's seems that Dead Space uses Havok physics. I don't know if this mean a good or bad thing. In one side, the zero gravity physic are amazing, but, in the other side, the corpses ( the dead ones, don't matter if is human or not ) are almost like they're loose their weight or like they don't have any at all. When you pass up of some dead body, is like if Isaac were kicking them, but, in one way that look like a doll. A moppet may be a good description.
But, when these "moppets" are alive, they have a superb animation, that are very natural and realistic, including Isaac movements, that many consider it almost like a robot or slow when running. I don't think that someone with a heavy equipment like he have will be able to run fast as would like.
Here goes a nice positive for Dead Space: vacuum. I never see a so amazing vacuum in a game! The moments in vacuum are unforgettable and, probably, this game will be a clear reference for such environment in future games. Of course these are dangerous environment, because you'll not have free air to breath. When Isaac enter in such areas, a air meter will appear, informing to the player the remaining time that he will have of air. If end, Isaac die, obviously.
Here we have another positive: the HUD. Instead of light panels or any other thing to indicate Isaac's health or ammo and, consequently, messing and blocking the vision, these indicators are in Isaac's RIG. RIG is one type of suit that ( it's what seems ) is used for anyone in space or working. So, in this way, you don't need to open or press any button to see these kind of information, but just look at Isaac's back or at his weapon, to see ammo information.
Probably, the camera may be a reason to some players for don't play Dead Space. Instead of a first person shooter, you'll have Isaac occupying almost half of the screen. In other hand, many of the game play is only possible because of this camera. What can be worse, is the controls. Any player WILL take a little time to be used with them.
My personal taste tells me that Dead Space would have a much more intense atmosphere and, consequently, a more immersive play than the third view. Also, this third view affects a lot the aim, making more difficult one accurate shot. Personally, I hadn't any troubles with the camera and the controls ( only with the aim ).
Back to the RIG. Isaac have a inventory, very small at the beginning. But, through the game, you'll find some updates for your RIG, that will increase Isaac's inventory and increase the armor. You'll eventually find a little but extremely useful and important item called 'node'. With them, you can upgrade your RIG and weapons. Each weapon have it's own upgrade tree, making you carefully choose the right path to suit your needs or your wish.
Have to mention that each weapon is very different and have it's own function and secondary fire mode. At first, some weapons can sound useless or week, but I'll really recommend the early use of the Flamethrower and the saw ( I forgot the name ). They're both fun to use and amazing useful.
With these same "nodes", you can open some doors that can be only opened with them. It's up to you open or not. The prize inside can be worth it or not, it's your call. Personally, I opened all the doors that I could find.
Ishimura ( it's the name of the huge ship where the game runs ) have a functional Shop system ( even with the almost the entire ship in ruins ), that you can use to acquire new weapons, buy new RIG's and other items, like med kits and air cans, ammunition and nodes. Also, you can use them to store items too. Obviously that you'll find some money in several places, to be able to buy those items or sell the ones that you find.
When the player reach around 8~10 hours of play, probably he'll already seen almost all the types of enemies and situations. The problems is that you'll have 2~4 more hours of game and these enemies and situations will start to repeat. But, for me, this time is very short to make a game really repetitive. And even being a little repetitive, the game is really fun. Even after I had finish the game twice, I started again and, how surprise was I when I got some scares again!
The level design in Dead Space can look repetitive in some aspects, because almost all the action happens inside a ship ( Ishimura ). Even in different sectors of this huge ship, is hard to feel the variety. At least, you can feel the sensation that you really wanna leave that ship at all costs and, every new obstacle to get out, will make you frustrated and will increase that sensation of wanting to get out of the ship. The game also tries to make you feel loneliness, and, I have to admit, it will make you really feel it, not all the times, but, in almost all the times.
The objectives are very "straight-forward", making Isaac always follow a pre-determined route to them, Like "go there and take that, then, go around here and active that door to go through here and make that. Then, go all the way back and go through that way now." For me, this isn't a negative, but, I think that, for some players, this can be boring.
I really make a hard decision when I had to choose Dead Space score. But, being a game that I really recommend for anyone, this score is justified, in my opinion. And, for this being the first game of the genre made by EA, they just polished this game nicely, full of details and fun ( or scares! ).