Survival horror is a genre that has been around for quite some time (13 years to be exact) and has seen many different incarnations, some great and others not so much. Starting with Resident Evil back in 1996, survival horror stepped out into the video game world and was an instant success. Like most genres, this one has evolved over the years in order to continue to appeal to the video gaming masses. Over the last few years there has been a survival horror slump though. With mediocre games like Silent Hill: Homecoming and Alone in the Dark representing it, there has not been much in the way of quality entertainment for fans of the genre. Dead Space changes all that though. Although some have argued that it infuses a heavy dose of action into the survival horror gameplay mechanic, this potential franchise has given the genre a much needed upgrade it needed to keep survival horror alive and well.
Gameplay: The gameplay of Dead Space is pretty straight forward. You control deep space engineer Isaac Clarke through the seemingly derelict space ship The USG Ishimura and try to keep him alive throughout the narrative of the game. There are a limited number of supplies (like most survival horror games) and a fair amount of weapons to fend off foes, so discretion in item use is necessary. The story itself is pretty entertaining. Although there is some occasion backtracking and the quests do seem to get repetitive at times, overall it manages to flow smoothly and keep its appeal during the 12-15 hour long campaign. The controls scheme works well and the in-game menu interface borders on genius (even if it is hard to manipulate the 3D map at times). Also, this is a single player game which means it is best enjoyed alone, in a dark room with the sound turned up. Sorry, no all-out frag fests with your buddies this time.
Graphics & Sound: This game is polished and it shows. The graphics are nothing short of spectacular and the sound helps to give it that oh so creepy feeling that survival horror games are known for. The presentation of the game also works well. The screen is not cluttered up with displays or meters and everything you need to know during gameplay is either cleverly blended into the character models or is easily accessible. This new trend of giving games a cinematic feel by reducing unnecessary HUD clutter really adds to the experience and Dead Space makes great use of it. Overall the attention to detail is noticeable in this game and it really helps to immerse the player in the environment, making it all the more unnerving and adding to that "in space no one can you hear you scream" feeling. On that note, the use of sound while in space is another factor that works well in this game. The sounds effects made while in outer space are dulled and intended to remind the player that they are in a vacuum. In reality there could not be any noise made while in space, but the fact that the developer even acknowledged this and tried to implement it says more for the game than can be said for most Hollywood movies.
Achievements: If you own an Xbox 360 like me and even care about this sort of thing, then here is a section devoted entirely to the achievements of the game. The achievements for Dead Space are pretty straight forward and can all be gotten without too much effort or time invested. It might require multiple playthoughs, but since the game is well crafted as well as entertaining, this should be more of a pleasure than a burden. There is nothing innovative or revolutionary about the achievements found in this game as they are similar to many of the achievement tasks found in other adventure/action/horror games. You are rewarded for completing side tasks, killing enemies with a variety of weapons, and progressing through the story. Nothing too out of the ordinary. The most time consuming achievement is probably "Maxed Out" which requires you to upgrade all of your weapons and equipment. I managed to do this toward the end of my second playthough and enjoyed every second of it. If you are looking for a guaranteed 1,000 points (that is of course if you are dedicated to achieving it) and a great experience while boosting your gamerscore, than by all means pick up this game.
Final Thoughts: Dead Space is the much needed overall that survival horror was waiting for. It is the red/green herb mix to its S.T.A.R.S. member that will keep it from dying, resurrecting as the undead, and shambling around aimlessly in search of fresh victims to add to its unholy army. In the wake of so many uninspired games of its kind, Dead Space comes through and shows us that there is still hope for a genre that I have been an avid fan of since its emergence. Even though there are complaints of there being too much action and not enough survival or horror, it still serves its functions well and delivers an engrossing and entertaining sci-fi experience that can be had by all. Hopefully its appeal will be recognized and more tales of The USG Ishimura and crew will soon follow.
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