Cranking on the Backlog: Dead Space 2

The first Dead Space was eye opening and nerve shattering.  I didn't follow it upon release and it completely went under my radar up until my local Hollywood Video store went out of business and started selling all its games.  I picked it up for right around $3 and it's quite possibly the best $3 I've ever spent.

Needless to say, by the time the ad campaign for Dead Space 2 was circulating, I was foaming at the mouth for more pant wetting fun!  I bought it upon release on my PS3 and seven hours in my PS3 croaked.

Kaput.

Kablooey.

Ka-dead.

Not feeling like immediately retracing my steps through the game on my new 360, I put off playing it for a couple years.

Finally, I got around to finishing what I started and I have to say, while I thought the game was still between a 9/10 and 10/10, I thought the original was better.

While many knocked the first one for the tight quartered combat born from the story taking place on a single space ship (the Ishimura), I thought that added to the intensity and bowel releasing moments.  The second installment is beautiful, don't get me wrong, and with the addition of stalker enemies, you can still enjoy the sensation of fear urine trickling down your leg without a moment's notice but I always felt powerful enough to turn every corner without a second of hesitation.  Unlike Dead Space 1 where I timidly peeked around corners, reloaded then re-reloaded my ammo, and wiped away my tears before proceeding down a dark hallway.

The gore in the second one is increased, mostly evident by the cut-scenes of your own death.  Enemies are just as likely to pop out of nowhere as in the first and a few new enemies introduce new techniques of using the same ol' weapons.  The plasma cutter has to be my favorite.

The story in the second is as solid as the first which is helped by variety in the storytelling and gameplay throughout.  Sections of the game where you're guarding a giant drill, floating through large chambers without gravity, or stabbing a needle into your own eyeball will keep it interesting.  Audio logs and cut-scenes of characters you're in contact with throughout push the storyline along without taking you completely out of the action.

If you enjoyed the first Dead Space, Dead Space 2 will rightly suit you.  If you've never played a Dead Space title, I recommend it especially if you enjoy being immersed in high tension environments. 

Image sources in order (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)