Dead Space (2008)

Dead Space for PC, X360 and PS3 is a typical survival horror which is an action game where all our activities are focused on keeping the protagonist alive. The action is observed from the third-person perspective. The element that distinguishes Dead Space from the biggest hits of the genre (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Alone in the Dark, or Fatal Frame series) is the fact that the plot is not set in the present day. The title takes place in a science-fiction setting. It is not a new idea, although the games of a similar atmosphere were scarce and not quite successful (for example, Martian Gothic: Unification).

Plot

The events of Dead Space tell the story of Isaac Clarke and take place in a very distant future. The protagonist is a qualified engineer. The game starts soon after Isaac travels to one of the mining spaceships on the mission of investigating a distress signal which was sent from aboard this vessel.

Upon arrival, the protagonist discovers that the entire crew was murdered and the bodies of the killed miners were taken over by parasitic creatures that represent the aggressive race of Necromorph. Isaac not only has to face the mutated monsters but also to survive and escape the overrun vessel. Dead Space draws inspiration from such movie classics as Event Horizon or Alien to a large extent and offers a very dark atmosphere.

Mechanics

Dead Space for PC, X360 and PS3 is not a mindless shooter that involves only extermination of monsters. The title references other games of the genres to a large extent, trying to, first and foremost, create the atmosphere of terror. The creatures we fight are incredibly powerful which makes every fight prove challenging. At the same time, we explore the subsequent decks of the ship, mainly in search of useful information or items that could help us against the mutated beasts.

Another feature is the rather unusual combat in the state of zero gravity. The graphics of Dead Space present a high quality. The monsters waiting for an occasion to kill Isaac look especially good. The game also does not lack futuristic equipment. Most of the time, we operate in very limited lighting, which intensifies the anxiety while carefully exploring subsequent rooms of the spaceship full of monsters.

Last updated on 21 July 2008