It's strange when you think that the Dead Space franchise was born around the concept of cutting the limbs off your enemies. After three games, an animated film, a comic book and a full-length novel, though, it's clear that there's enough meat on those bones. "Dead Space 2" is the latest installment for the franchise, and it manages to best the first game by a large margin. Had it released a month earlier, it would likely make my list of top 5 games of 2010. As it is, though, it's an early indication that 2011 is off to a great start.
THE BASICS
Players once again step into the shoes of Isaac Clark, an engineer who seems to find himself at the center of a massive, interstellar game of chess. For the past two years, since the events of the first game, Clark has been in a mental ward, poked and prodded for mysterious information regarding what he witnessed on the doomed Ishimura. His time in lock-up ends abruptly, however, as a necromorph outbreak strikes the ward as well as the surrounding city, known as The Sprawl.
In addition to the single-player campaign, "Dead Space 2" packs in a multiplayer mode where teams take turns playing as humans and necromorphs, attempting to capture objectives scattered throughout The Sprawl.
THE HIGHS
Intense, Memorable Moments
The biggest success of "Dead Space 2" is that it never gets boring. The game is constantly throwing new, remarkable moments at you, keeping things fresh. The original game has often been described as a haunted house, where things simply pop out at you. The sequel is more like a Michael Bay horror movie, if you can imagine it. It's a devious mix of action and terror that makes the campaign a treat to play through.
A Beautiful, Terrifying World
Another big improvement over the first game is the environmental variety in "Dead Space 2." Unlike the derelict Ishimura, The Sprawl is a delightful mix of churches, shopping malls, mining installations and day care centers. Some areas are bright and cheery (in stark contrast to the twisted gore inhabiting them) while others are dark and foreboding. The environmental variety gives a sense of humanity to The Sprawl that the original "Dead Space" sorely lacked.
True Zero Gravity
When I learned that "Dead Space 2" would have an improved zero gravity system, I was skeptical that it would be all that worthwhile. As it happens, the zero gravity is a remarkable feat of game design, where players have full 360 degree control over where they float. It's even scientifically accurate, with tiny thrusters allowing Isaac to propel himself through the void, and with objects that maintain their momentum depending on how you move them. NASA geeks will love this stuff.
Entertaining Multiplayer
The single-player campaign is very clearly the star of "Dead Space 2," but the multiplayer is an excellent bonus which should not be ignored. The experience feels like you're playing a more arcade-y take on "Left 4 Dead," with more action and quicker respawns. Each of the necromorphs is fun to mess around with, while playing as a human can be genuinely startling. Basic character progression (weapon, armor and ability unlocks) give players a reason to keep coming back.
THE LOWS
What The Hell Just Happened?
Frankly the story in "Dead Space 2" makes very little sense. I'm not entirely sure whether this was by design to keep the series shrouded in mystery, or whether it's EA's attempt to force people to read the supplementary books and movie. Whatever the case, by the end of the game, you'll likely be left scratching your head. Hell, after completing the game, I spent 2 hours reading through the Dead Space franchise Wiki to try to make a little more sense of things, and I'm still pretty lost. The game's storytelling is just a mess, as it's clearly crammed into the last 10 percent of the game, so it feels rushed, unfocused, and unearned. A weak script didn't help matters much, either.
A Mad Rush
The story isn't the only thing that felt rushed. The last 10 percent or so of gameplay is a messy, as well. Throughout the game, players are encouraged to handle situations tactically, using the environment and the set number of enemies to their advantage. Towards the end, the developers threw so many enemies at me that my only choice was to sprint past them. This was not by design. It's simply a balancing issue that really only exists towards the way end of the game. It's just a shame it's not consistent with the rest of the campaign.
A Terrible Final Boss
Revealing any details would give away story elements, but I'll just say that the final battle is confusing, unsatisfying and not remotely fun. A bummer way to end an otherwise-excellent game.
THE VERDICT
If you put the story out of your mind, and can accept that "Dead Space 2" sort of falls apart in the last hour, the game is simply magnificent. The combat, the environments, the graphics, it's all top-notch and a blast to play through. It's possible that hardcore fans of the franchise might get more out of the story than I did (my experience was limited to the original game), but even without a cogent story, "Dead Space 2" is still a must-play game.
Note: If you're curious about length, it really, really depends on your difficulty level. On the easiest setting, the game can be finished in around 7 hours, whereas on the hardest setting, Zealot, it'll take around 12 hours. The former plays more like an action game, whereas the latter feels more true to survival horror. Pick your poison.