Dead Space 2 sees you resume the role of survivor Isaac Clarke. Set three years after the original game, you awake orbiting Saturn on board the Titan space station, affectionately dubbed “The Sprawl” by its inhabitants. In true Dead Space style though things aren’t at all cosy and as soon as you start playing Isaac once again finds himself in the middle of a Necromorph outbreak. The Sprawl soon enters full meltdown with citizens running around panicking and being ripped apart.
The changes in Dead Space 2 are evident from the off, Isaac has been changed by the events of the first game, suffering from a unique form of dementia he is haunted by a possessed incarnation of his girlfriend Nicole, who interrupts his thoughts and mocks him throughout the story mode. Isaac now also has a voice, and he discusses strategy and interacts with other characters on a much deeper level. This enables you to establish a stronger connection with the character, mainly because he seems more vulnerable then in the original game. This type of evolution for the main protagonist is uncommon as the heroes of many other titles go on unaffected by the events in their past But Dead Space 2 sees Isaac battling with himself and the horrific events that he survived. It is somewhat unique and really makes the whole experience more compelling, however Isaac is still more then willing to undertake every task the various characters he meets ask of him instead of taking control like he should, after all no one is as experienced as he is when it comes to Necromorphs.
The setting in Dead Space 2 has been enhanced to help create a more chilling atmosphere that will literally have you jumping out of your seat at times. It’s not too different from what we saw in the first game. There are lots of very dark and eerie corridors with lots of blind corners for you to cautiously approach. However there are now many more open spaces where more often then not you’ll have to survive some intense battles. Many areas in Dead Space 2 are packed with debris which serves to do nothing more then unnerve you, creating noises that have you second guessing whether you’re alone or not, really putting you on edge throughout play.
Audio design also works to further enhance the horror setting, everything from the creaking of the station, the distant screams of the terrified inhabitants and the chilling growls that seem all too close for comfort. This really pulls you into the world of Dead Space 2 and engrosses you in its horror. It works phenomenally well, creating a setting that is unrivalled in a video game.
I really can’t emphasis too much what an impressive job Visceral has done creating the atmosphere. Its so perfect that you are often tricked into thinking something is going to happen only for you to pass thru an area without incident. This may sound a little pointless but it does serve a purpose, as it makes you approach Dead Space 2 with much more respect, navigating corners with more care and dreading venturing into unexplored areas. And when Necromorphs do surface they will more then likely send your pulse racing.
Of course Dead Space 2 does also introduce new content, Isaac has a new range of weapons, such as the Detonator that allows you to deploy mines that come in very useful for covering your back. There are also new suits for Isaac to equip, each one bringing it’s own bonuses. Dead Space 2 also introduces new forms of Necromorphs lurking in the darkness looking to end Isaac’s life. There’s the extremely creepy Swarm, lanky baby like Necromorphs which attack in swarms and even babies that crawl along the floor gurgling, before trying to blow you up. Then there’s the formidable prowlers that, hide on corners and make high speed dashes at you. Prowlers also attack in packs with each one in turn making a run at Isaac, needless to say stasis proves invaluable. Necromorphs in general pose more of a threat, mainly because they tend to attack at the same time from multiple angles splitting your focus as you struggle to survive against overwhelming odds.
One area in which Dead Space 2 really builds on the original game is its Zero-G. Rather then simply leaping from platform to platform in order to travel through these areas, Isaac’s suit is now equipped with jets allowing you to manoeuvre with a greater level of ease and control which has resulted in the zero-g sequences lasting longer and having you perform more complicated tasks then in Dead Space.
In addition to the new content Visceral has also made adjustments to streamline play backtracking has been cut to a minimum and readying your weapons is much faster, as is Isaac. This gives the game a much more action orientated style, but yet it doesn’t detract from the horror and suspense which is a real achievement for Dead Space 2.
Of course the biggest addition to Dead Space 2 is its multiplayer mode, this pits two teams of four against each other. One playing as a team of engineers and the other as Necromorphs. The engineers have to complete a set objective, and rather obviously the Necromorphs have to stop them from doing so. There are five maps to play on, each with its own objective for the human team to complete and it is nice to be able to have all the items and weapons you have access to in the single player game. These multiplayer games do seem to be weighted in favour of the Necromorph team as during my time playing they were the ones that always won, despite human players always scoring more kills. However, you have to remember this is an objective based mode. The multiplayer aspect is good, but to be honest it’s hard to get excited about it, and I don’t think there’s enough here to pull you away from your regular online games for long.
Many horror games are able to deliver shocks during play, but none does it as well as Dead Space 2. Isaac’s inner struggle in the tense setting of “Sprawl” provides an unforgettable atomsphere, making Dead Space 2 one of the most terrifying and unmissable horror games this generation and the benchmark for others to follow.
The Good:
+ Excellent setting+ Deep character evolution
+ Terrifying
follow back ,,,,,,
ReplyDelete