Add 1 dash Alien, mix in a bit of The Thing, and you got Dead Space.
This game puts you into the part of Issac Clark, an engineer sent to fix a possible problem on the USG Ishimura, the first "Planet Cracker" (a ship that mines planets), him along with a few others safely crash land, to find the ship completely deserted, and signs of a possible evacuation. Anyway, things go wrong quickly and your forced to run for your life. That is...until you find a gun. From then on, your going throughout the ship, fixing all the problems that plague the ship, while trying to find a way off the ship and exterminating the Necromorph virus. The story is helped by the text, audio and video files you find throughout the game.Overall the story is great with a few good twists that would surprise you.
The gameplay is similar to that of RE4. It has the over the shoulder camera, when aiming, but you can maneuver the camera when your not aiming, although I wouldn't recommend it. One great feature this game has for a survival horror is live action inventory screen/map screen, which takes it's form as a hologram. This makes it more difficult to heal yourself while in a battle, and gives the game a new form of strategy. There is no hud, which is good, instead, your health bar takes form as a meter on your spine, and you have your stasis meter on your back as well. Your ammo for the weapon in hand will show when the weapon is in the ready state as another hologram. Weapons are on a quick switch method using the D-Pad, which makes things very easy for on the fly changing. You also gain the ability to slow enemies with Stasis, which is also used for certain puzzles and Kinesis which would be used for puzzles or to grab the random item or explosive canister.
There are a few boss battles in the game, but to tell the truth, they are a little disappointing. But they are still fun no matter what. There are also stores found across each chapter, where you can buy your weapons, ammo, health and other weapons. You buy stuff using credits, which can be found through out the decks, on enemies or you can sell different things you find. Note, this is also in real time.
One feature that is great in this game is the upgrade system. You are able to upgrade your weapons, rig, and your modules (kinesis and stasis). Weapon upgrades usually differ based on weapon, suit upgrades change amount of health and air available, and the module upgrades, for stasis, duration and amount of energy, and kinesis upgrades distance. To upgrade you need to find a bench and you need power nodes. Power nodes can be either bought or found.
The graphics of this game is top notch. The level design is great and the details are very well done. Some places really give you a really creepy feeling. For example, you come upon a room filled with dead bodies and in the background you can hear a very eerie version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". It really sets the creepy atmosphere. The creature designs are very well done, and the dismemberment's are programmed well. The sound is well matched with every environment.
Pros: Dismemberment system is great, creepy atmosphere done right, live inventory system adds to strategy
Cons: Boss battles a little disappointing, kinesis could have been a bit more explored.
Gameplay: 9.3
Graphics: 9.5
Story: 8.7
Fun: 9.0
Overall: 9.1