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Dead Space 2 Review

A brilliant follow up with perfect suspense, tense combat, immersive audio and simple improvements over the original.

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Isaac Clarke finds himself on the Sprawl three years after the events of the first game. The Sprawl is a huge station built onto part of Titan, one of Saturn’s Moons. Things have recently gotten bad on the Sprawl thanks to a Necromorph outbreak. Clarke must deal with an infestation that is even more dangerous than before. Dead Space 2 is a refined third person action-horror game with brilliant pacing and great action. The sequel features a few new Necromorphs, some new weapons, better Zero-G and a fully voiced protagonist in Isaac.

Dead Space 2
Welcome to the Sprawl

Those familiar with the original will be aware that Isaac was susceptible to visions from the man-made Marker. The Marker is the object responsible for the Necromorph outbreak. It causes insanity and reanimates corpses into grotesque killing machines. Isaac’s visions carry over to the sequel with many appearances of Isaac’s deceased girlfriend, Nicole. Several of these visions are headache inducing thanks to the lengthy grating audio and flashing lights. Isaac knows Nicole is not real and we see him confronting this anomaly in his head, just like he deals with Necromorphs, defiant until the end.

Isaac is voiced in the sequel and says just enough at the right times to make the interactions flow well. He will be talking to a few main characters but rarely says more than a few concise lines. He actually turns out to be rather likeable even cracking a few jokes when the mood arises to break up the building tension. The number of characters you interact with is kept pretty minimal. Most of the communication happens via video or audio link anyway. Stross, patient of the Sprawl just like Clarke, has come into contact with the Marker and his sanity is breaking down. Stross and a CEC employee, Ellie, make up the majority of interaction on the visually impressive Sprawl.

The Sprawl itself looks fantastic and the graphics have been improved slightly over the original. Better use of colors, a wide variety of Necromorph creatures and as usual first class sci-fi effects. The 3D HUD works just as well as before with even better looking communication videos. These videos are the most impressive when you can see the same characters in the distance. Perhaps the only consistent issue with presentation is the tendency for ragdolls to lose weight and get caught on Isaac as he moves. The audio matches the visual quality with carefully prepared sound effects.

Dead Space 2
Hide and Seek gone wrong

Sound is just another way Dead Space 2 brings you into the Sprawl without letting go. Main characters have some superb voice work with crystal clear audio. The ambient audio and effects are perhaps even better than the original. Walls might be whispering, “Isaac,” or objects may crash onto the metallic floors down a dark corridor. Then of course there are the loud sounds when a group of Necromorphs burst into a confined room you thought was safe. On the right difficulty you will be very cautious about every sound and any unusual activity. The suspense and action flows wonderfully with very little backtracking through areas.

You won’t spend much time going back and forth between the same locations. Instead you come back to central hubs, like a transport hub, via a different linear route. This means you get to see fresh content but also have these landmarks that let you know where you are on the Sprawl. Along the linear routes there are optional corridors you can search for ammo and credits. These might contain a few Necromorphs for your troubles. What is refreshing is that aside from the last few segments there won’t be many times you can accurately predict when or where enemies will come from. It is incredibly easy to play for hours without getting tired of the action.

Dead Space 2
No Necromorphs is safe enough for me

The action is dispersed with a few puzzles involving Kinesis, Zero-G or Stasis. The Zero-G sections work much better than the original. You have full three-dimensional control over your movements with jets on your Rig. Thankfully if you happen to get disorientated a button press will bring Isaac to the upright position. Kinesis is used move things like platforms, power nodes and even carry dead bodies to bypass security. Stasis is also used to slow down fast-moving doors and in often in combination with Kinesis for basic puzzles. More difficult puzzles would have been welcomed but the variety is good. The abilities of Isaac’s suit are more than matched by his arsenal.

Familiar weapons will return from the original, and the plasma cutter is still a very useful weapon. Another favourite for the sequel was the Javelin gun which fires a high damage rod at the enemy. The secondary fire of the Javelin unleashes a satisfying electrical discharge that shocks anything in the vicinity of this rod, including you. Other weapons include the detonator mines that allow you to place traps if you have time. The balance for each weapon is good but you’ll need to swap between them during action. The mouse aiming and controls are smoother than the original on the PC with Isaac being a bit more responsive. New weapons are nicely complimented by the new Necromorphs.

Dead Space 2
The experience is shocking

New enemies help make the game just that bit more interesting. Many of them are designed to naturally use your skills and weapons more efficiently. The memorable additions are the Pack and Stalkers. The “Pack” is a group of small children who attack en masse as alone they can be easily defeated. Together they are a flowing, nimble force to be feared and you’ll need to run or use Stasis to deal with many of them at once. You will know when they are in the vicinity as they head straight toward you unlike the patient Stalkers.

One of the best new additions to the Necromorph team is the Stalker thanks to the great AI they possess. They are only found in a few of the open sections in the game and they try to remain hidden from view. They will dance back and forth between boxes trying to lure you. They even slowly peek around the corners of boxes to check you are there before running off. Stalkers are extremely patient and will not attack if you retreat to the safety of a corner. On attack they let out a shriek and charge with great speed. Stasis is extremely useful against these new speedy foes. The Stalkers are one example of ideas that logically make use of your abilities. The game difficulty is linked to the use of these abilities and careful ammo management.

Game difficulty was almost perfect for me on Survivalist with the exception of the frustrating final battle. If you don’t waste too many of your shots you will have ample ammo for most of the game. Not reloading weapons often resulted in a brutal death for Isaac. Carrying extra physics items around was a handy way to reduce ammo consumption. You really do need to buy maximum ammo at the Stores whether you are upgrading your Rig or not. Destroying every Necromorph carcass is vital to keep your supplies high too. The last battle was difficult due to the respawning enemies and the lack of ammunition they produced. After the game is complete there is multiplayer, a new feature for the franchise.

Dead Space 2
Impersonating security prooves successful

Multiplayer is asymmetric putting conventional Humans against gruesome Necromorphs in five different maps. It plays out in a similar way to the multiplayer seen in Singularity or Left 4 Dead. The quality rests somewhere in between the two aforementioned titles. The online experience is faster than the campaign and the Necromorphs are fragile and nimble to control. Humans can use Stasis to slow Necromorphs if they get too close. The maps don’t have the same creepy atmosphere as the campaign but they each have different structures and objectives.

The maps are fairly well designed with Necromorph spawn vents close to objectives. In the Titan Mines map Humans collect items and bring them back to a central location. Another map sees you moving through a series of rooms to destroy a Marker. Early objectives are favourable to Humans due to the open levels and bad spawn locations. Humans who die will then just respawn back into the last deployment zone but this wastes vital time on the clock. Humans don’t die frequently but enough to make it satisfying for the Necromorphs.

Necromorphs die frequently especially if they don’t work as a team. Moving towards four healthy humans with no backup will result in a quick death. Each of the four Necromorph classes have different spawn times and slightly different skills. All can spawn in any of the unoccupied vents scattered around the level. The annoying spawn delay ensures you can’t just spawn next to a Human and attack them. The small areas around objectives means the action is heavy even with low player numbers. Some of the Necromorphs have access to ranged attacks so it’s not just about melee.

Lurkers and Spitters can attack at a range and are advised to do so at objectives. The level design often allows them snipe from above. A Human activating a console is easy pickings for these ranged attackers but you will need some help to distract the others. The Lurker can even climb on walls to find the perfect ambush spot or at least get the jump on Humans. The most damage is done when the Necromorphs perform melee attacks.

Dead Space 2
Tap E furiously? Now we know why Necromorphs want to kill

Necromorphs can get up close and slash at humans to do some serious damage. Each of the Necromorphs can perform a execute manoeuvre. The Lurker and Pack classes can jump on top of Humans from a distance. The Spitter and Puker charge in and perform the same execution type move. This brief period of incapacitation gives other Necromorphs the chance to do some easy damage from behind while you furiously tap E. It is a good way to promote teamwork as Necromorphs gather around struggling Humans. Executions will not result in kills without backup on high health Humans.

The multiplayer is faster than you might expect from the suspenseful campaign. A good team of Humans, who stay close, will decimate a sloppy team of Necromorphs. Additional computer controlled Necromorphs navigate the levels poorly and make the task a tad harder for Humans. You earn points to progress in rank which unlocks extra range, damage, suits and weapons. Higher ranked players will be more lethal due to these buffs. The high pacing and asymmetric nature make the multiplayer rather enjoyable.

Dead Space 2
Attacking Humans from behind is always fun

On PC sadly there isn’t text chat and voice is always on, not push to talk. There aren’t a lot of people online either which means it will just get harder to find a game. On PC the net performance is more than adequate against people in different global regions. There are neat ideas and moments of levity with self generating teamwork on both sides. With more guidance and a survival mode the multiplayer could have been more popular. Multiplayer, while adequate, becomes secondary to the incredible single player experience Visceral have delivered.

First class action, clever suspense and a killer sci-fi setting make Dead Space 2 a very worthy sequel. The game is not necessarily terrifying due to the high action and deadly arsenal at Isaac’s disposal. That does not mean you won’t be shooting each dormant Necromorph corpse blocking your path. You will probably be sticking to the walls of large rooms to cover your posterior. Every unusual sound will have you checking for dangers ready to fire if one foe jumps out in front of you. As with the original, each weapon feels great to tear apart the Necromorph scourge one limb at a time. The careful suspense, action and variety make this sequel an absolute joy to play.

Our ratings for Dead Space 2 on PC out of 100 (Ratings FAQ)
Presentation
88
The Sprawl looks fantastic, audio is brilliant and the Necormorphs are particularly gruesome.
Gameplay
89
Great combat and placement of enemies with only a few missteps toward the end. Good use of new Necromorphs and new weapons. Better Zero-G implementation
Single Player
87
Continues the themes of the original with the introduction of some interesting characters and solid pacing. Not quite as long as the original, can be completed in around 9 hours.
Multiplayer
77
Asymmetric with varied objectives and a ranking system. Balance works fairly well and maintains a high pace due to close spawn vents. Teamwork important and the connections are good.
Performance
(Show PC Specs)
CPU: AMD Phenom II 955 @ 3.2GHz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB
RAM: 4GB DDR3
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
PC Specs

89
Runs extremely well at full settings, VSync is not needed and framerates often in triple figures. No loading screens unless you die.
Overall
87
Dead Space 2 is a wonderful sequel that handles the action and suspense with ease. Gameplay has basic improvements over the original. Great new weapons and Necromorphs keep the formula fresh.
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#7 Feb 9, 2011 15:32:51 (Feb 9, 2011 15:32)

kamikaziechameleon
You mean they aren't cool like batmans cape in arkham?
#6 Feb 7, 2011 20:59:27 (Feb 7, 2011 20:59)

nutcrackr
Ah yes the pigtails, I was going to mention them. Worst pigtail physics implementation ever.
 
#5 Feb 7, 2011 20:49:20 (Feb 7, 2011 20:49)

with_teeth26
 When I played DS 1 the difficulty randomly changed itself to Hard (or its equivilant) half way through, So I never finished due to the difficulty. I think I got to chapter 10 or so. No issues with Dead Space 2 so far other than Elly's pigtail physics going haywire now and then
#4 Feb 7, 2011 18:20:14 (Feb 7, 2011 18:20)

nutcrackr
I got some tech issues with this game on replay with New Game+. Save stations or Esc wouldn't work, it's a known problem. Not a single issue during my first playthrough
#3 Feb 7, 2011 12:19:13 (Feb 7, 2011 12:19)

SpectralShock
I admittedly didn't finish the original due to some bad technical problems, but played through this sequel
#2 Feb 7, 2011 10:02:57 (Feb 7, 2011 10:02)

kamikaziechameleon
I really want beat the first game first, I'm starting it over right now.
#1 Feb 4, 2011 22:42:41 (Feb 4, 2011 22:42)

with_teeth26
 I'm about 4 hours into this and loving it so far. The scripted events just seem more exciting than those in the original, and the difficulty seems more even. The review seems spot on from what I have played so far. 
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 box art Platform:
PC
Our Review of Dead Space 2
87%
Great
The Verdict:
Game Ranking
Dead Space 2 is ranked #72 out of 1953 total reviewed games. It is ranked #10 out of 103 games reviewed in 2011.
72. Dead Space 2
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Screenshots

Dead Space 2
30 images added Feb 1, 2011 06:10
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