First of all, we must recognize at the outset this analysis that we are huge fans of the original Dead Space game. The first game was so intense; I was concerned that subsequently could not be as good as the original Dead Space. On the reverse, if Dead Space 2 was as good as the first game, or * gasp * better, I shall limit my playtime in the day with all the lights on in the House... Not to mention for having need for a supplementary life breathing the body in the room with me...
We also want you to be aware that this review may be somewhat brief... We believe not in spoilers for those who have not played a match yet, and Dead Space 2 is difficult to discuss without destroying the spoilers... Rest assured, your MOM is like Dead Space 2!
Dead Space 2 sees the return of Isaac Clarke after barely surviving his last meeting with the Necromorphs on the USG Ishamura planetracker. The game actually ended with a twist bit nice, Isaac Clarke using an escape pod to get clear of the Ishamura only to have a incorrect Nicole (her friend, who had committed suicide to avoid becoming a Necromorph) emerge from the shadows screaming in the face. Not only the end ended the game with a "Holy crap" moment, but leads to the suite.
Dead Space 2, Isaac found himself being with dementia, traumatic stress, amnesia and confined to an asylum on Titan Station, also known as "sprawl". Given the current state of his psyche, he is unable to remember the previous three years, or even how it ended on urban sprawl. It follows an another Necromorph infestation, and Isaac found once more in the middle of all this. Tons of action, plot twists and strategic dismemberment ensues.
Graphics and sound is top notch, and team at visceral games made some improvements that have been very welcome. Among these improvements was an update Locator allows you not only get directions for your next objective, but also in the store, Bank and save the destination. Movement of Zero-G has been improved, allowing more freedom of movement than the first game.
The key to take some Necromorphs is "strategic dismemberment". Take off their members to slow down and eventually kill them and save a ton of ammunition in the process. Weapons of the first Dead Space return to the suite, including plasma cutter, the guns of the line, the ripper rifle and plasma. There are a few new weapons in Dead Space 2 which offers new ways of blasting with Necromorphs, including detonator allows you to place trip mines triggered the laser and the canon of throwing the Javelin that triggers the large spikes and impales Necromorphs walls (or other surfaces).
Urban sprawl is a much larger that the Ishamura has, but there are still trees and claustrophobic corridors that you use to get through the game. Urban sprawl includes hospitals, shops, residential areas, and even a school areas. Each region includes a plethora of detail, including such things as the clocks on the bedside table that will sometimes off! Although environments vary, some more disturbing than others, the only thing they have in common is that you are never safe. As soon as you start to feel comfortable, in a region, a Necromorph come to ruin your trip.
There are several new breeds of Necromorphs wary of as well. The "Pack", which are twisted versions of human toddlers, and they like to run with you in groups. The "stalker", Necromorphs much more intelligent who travel in packs, uses cover and attempt to stay hidden before attacking at high speed. You must also keep your eyes for the "Puker" which, as their name indicates, likes to puke on you mid range.
Essentially, the game is absolutely perfect, but there are a few in the medium that gets a little redundant. Is Isaac Clarke really that unlucky of a guy that each plan to escape requires it to fix something? It makes one wonder where all the other engineers have been for the past three years because they were not obviously keep urban sprawl to the code...
The game includes 15 chapters and approximately 10 to 12 hour clocks. We took a little longer, but we're sluts for save games... Save every time without a registration station (literally).
Make sure you and remain on-site after the credits. There are some interesting dialogue that you won't want to Miss!
There is plenty of replayability as completing the game unlocks new clothes and new game modes. You can even start a new game using the equipment that you had when you completed the game, which is a very nice touch.
Dead Space 2 also includes a multiplayer mode. You are divided into two, four-man teams, one for the human/spreading security and the other for Necromorphs. The human team tries to complete the various missions and objectives within a deadline. The Necromorphs is to stop the security team. Parts of force security Sprawl exactly as Isaac Clarke, while the opposing team has four different Necromorphs at their disposal: the pack, the lurker, the puker and the spits. Experience points are earned by the online game and allowing you to unlock new weapons, of the power of stasis for humans and stronger attacks for Necromorphs. It is definitely an unbridled struggle for survival encourages teamwork.
If you are a fan of the first part, or the horror of survival in General (Resident Evil, etc.), you'll LOVE Dead Space 2. Be warned, it is not for the faint of heart... One of our editors obtained their hands on the game before I did it and they had to stop after the first ten minutes, because it was that intense (literally had to return the controller to someone else to continue to play). It has rated "Mature" by the ESRB for good reason. There is not much profanity in it, but there are some downright intense and brutal game pieces.