Can anybody honestly say they didn’t see it coming? With this third installment of the series, Dead Space has officially followed in the footsteps of Resident Evil and sold out. That’s right, Dead Space 3 is the latest triple A survival horror franchise to tone down the fear factor, hoping to reach a larger audience of action and shooter fans. This news should be no surprise to anyone who played Dead Space 2, which began the process of transforming the series into an action shooter. This outing is even less scary. They even cut most of the cheap “gotcha” moments.
I could react like many fans of the series and complain that Visceral Games has lost touch with the franchise’s survival horror roots, but I wont. Dead Space 3, while no longer as scary or tense as it once was, still manages to advance the series and deliver true AAA gameplay, production values and excitement.
I played the PC version of DS3 and my god does this game look pretty. Every moment of DS3 is beautifully crafted, right down to the smallest details. The paint on the wall shows age with cracks and peeling. The lighting and shadows create an amazingly creepy atmosphere. Like Jessica Alba in her prime, DS3 is so gorgeous that you might not care if the rest of the package doesn’t measure up. Thankfully, DS3 is anything but just a pretty face.
Like it’s predecessors, Dead Space 3 follows Isaac Clarke, a systems engineer with a knack for dismembering Necromorphs, as he tries to save the world from certain doom. The story itself isn’t going to win any awards for originality, but the cast of voice actors deliver top notch performances and draw you in to the action. The characters translate all their emotions into dialogue incredibly well. Every conversation feels completely genuine, allowing you to sink even deeper into DS3’s world of dread.
Although the game is rarely frightening, Isaac Clarke finds himself in some of the most intense moments ever depicted in video gaming. Yes, this means set pieces occur early and often. However, Dead Space doesn’t suffer from the same issues as the Call of Duty franchise when it comes to set pieces. Visceral Games has manages to keep the player involved in the action, making the experience feel more natural and less scripted.
The most noticeable difference between this game and its two predecessors is the streamlining. The redundant save point system has been replaced with a more fluid checkpoint system. Weapon upgrading has evolved immensely, allowing you to use materials like scrap metal to create entirely unique weapons. You can create blueprints for the weapons you design and share them with your friends.
That brings us to the cooperation game mode. Dead Space 3 is the new benchmark for outstanding cooperative experiences. The co-op is incredibly rewarding, whether you favor the drop-in, drop-out play style or if you want to play through the whole game with a buddy. The best part; progressing in co-op opens new story plots and cut scenes that are actually pretty interesting.
Anyone who writes this game off because its not scary enough is wrong, there I said it. Sure, being a Necromorph assassin can be a bit repetitive, but that repetition is easily overlooked when you’re blasting your way through an experience as deep and polished as Dead Space 3.
Score 8.75/10
Graphics: Dead Space 3’s visuals are leaps and bounds ahead of most modern video games. Featuring some if the most detailed graphics in any game, DS3 inspires awe around every creepy corner.
Audio: Creepy sounds echo throughout an equally creepy environment. The standout in the audio department is the voice work. Every conversation feels genuine and completely unforced, leading to an extremely deep sense of emersion.
Gameplay: Like everything else, the gameplay has been completely streamlined in this latest iteration of the series. The controls are rock solid and they damn well should be with some of the hectic shootouts you’ll be facing.
Replay Value: DS3 has so much content that it’s easy to lost in it. The lengthy campaign and unique cooperative experience both offer the New Game + option. Although the competitive multiplayer has been dropped, there is still ample reason to keep DS3 in your disc tray for a long time.
Fun Factor: I’ve truly never enjoyed the Dead Space series more. If I’m being honest, the original Dead Space intimated me quite a bit. It became so stressful to play that I really just didn’t enjoy playing it. DS3 manages to maintain a creepy vibe but not so much that it’s a chore to play.
Resources:
The cover image used in this post was taken from www.onlysp.com . The body images used in this post are screenshots taken of EA’s Dead Space 3.
