Dead Space is a Scary Thrill

Supporting Evidence

I am a huge fan of scary things. Elaboration: haunted houses, scary movies, thrilling books, etc. When I first heard about the video game Dead Space, I was very excited. A horror survival game set in space, what could be better? Then I heard who was producing it. Electronic Arts, or EA as they are usually known. EA has been responsible for numerous games that showed a lot of potential, but then sucked. Dead Space lived up to the hype though.

This game is literally scary. It is like a thirteen hour horror movie that you control. It is awesome. Their are some unique mechanics used to create this feel. One is that there is no heads up display (HUD) on the screen. No compass, ammo counter, health bar, etc. All this info is shown on the character model himself. The health is delineated by a glowing bar on the character's spine. To check your ammo, you have to actually bring up your weapon to see the display on it. This creates the feel of a movie or reality as there is no info or images to pull you out of the game.

Another cool thing about the game is that you are never safe. You can be in a menu or looking through your inventory and get attacked. There is the constant threat of danger all through the game. And danger can be anything from oxygen supply levels, to aliens, to environmental hazards.

The game also strays from the norm in what it calls "strategic dismemberment." This is a very fun gameplay mechanic which forces you to target enemies limbs, verses the common head shot. The creatures, or necromorphs, in the game, when shot in the head, just keep coming. You have to eliminate their arms and legs till they lie in a crumpled heap on the floor, or floating in the air in zero G areas. Targeting the limbs can be difficult, as they are normally being swung viciously at you.

You will also enter zero gravity areas on numerous occasions. Your suit, equipped with magnetic boots, allows you to jump from surface to surface, wether it be wall, ceiling, or floor. This can be rather disorienting at first, but it is something I really came to enjoy in the game.

The sound and graphics are some of the best I have seen. Some of the views of space are stunning, and often a distraction at just the right moment when a necromorph attacks. The thrills and scares are staged very well and, being one who is not easily startled or scared, I doubt anyone will make it through the game with their composure entirely intact.

Dead Space has been one of the most enjoyable games I have recently played. I am currently on my second play through and imagine the game won't see the darkness of a storage cabinet anytime soon. There is a lot of replayability offered with different achievements and difficulty settings. I highly recommend this game. A word to parents though: this game is extremely bloody and violent, I can't think of another game more so than this one. It also contains swearing equivalent to an R-rated film. This is definitely not a game to get little Johnny for Christmas, regardless of how many of his friends have it. This game is strictly geared for the 17+. That said, it is a very engaging and unique experience that is a must-play for fans of shooters and horror games.

WARNING: The last two of the five images below are somewhat gory. The YouTube clip below contains game footage that is very gory. Consider yourself warned.

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