Dead Space 2 Review

Game:  Dead Space 2
Year (s):  2011
Company:  dev.  Visceral Games
            pub.  Electronic Arts
Engine:  Visceral Engine
Type:  Third-Person Shooter, Survival-Horror

Price (as of March 23, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $19.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  $10.99

Game Time:  11 hours, first play, on normal

See Also: 
Dead Space Review   http://fpsandmtg.blogspot.com/2011/03/dead-space-review.html


Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffx6AVsYsAk


Plot and Gameplay

Three years have passed since the events in the first game.  Isaac Clarke wakes up in a straight jacket, with no idea where he is.  Immediately, Necromorphs attack.  Isaac must battle the Necromorph aliens, religious zealots, and people affected by The Marker once again in order to survive and escape.  And in the process, he just might find some peace. 

All of the gameplay elements game return, with a few minor adjustments.  The only new mechanic is hacking, which doesn't come up too often.  There are a few new enemies, and a few new weapons.  The game seems a little easier and a little darker, but every bit a gory as the original. 

Unlike the first installment, Isaac is no longer a faceless, voiceless character.  Dead Space 2 adds multiplayer game types to the franchise.  


Visceral Engine

Dead Space 2 runs on Visceral Engine, where the first Dead Space used The Godfather engine with Havok physics.  All that being said, it looks just like the first game (graphics roughly comparable to id Tech 4). 


Expansions / DLC / Sequels

DLC in the form of bonus suits and weapons are a free patch on the PC version.  A map pack, as well as a short single-player campaign, are only available on the console versions.


Dead Space 3 has not been officially announced, but rumors about the setting and story events litter the internet.


Final Thoughts
Dead Space 2 is, for the most part, more of the same.  I like the series well enough, but I feel the first game really stood out in a way this one does not.  I recommend playing Dead Space.  If you like that, you'll enjoy Dead Space 2.