Dead Space Review.

Developer:   Visceral Games
Platform:       PS3/Xbox/Pc
Release:        October 2008


Plot: Dead Space takes place in the year 2508 aboard the USG Ishimura, a planet cracker that went silent. You are Isaac Clarke an engineer dispatched aboard the USG Kellion along with your team. When you arrive it is not possible to hail the Ishimura's bridge and one emergency landing later you are aboard the ship and it is clear something is not right. You become separated from your companions and you are on your own against a horde of Necromorphs.Armed with only the tools of his trade your fight for survival and escape begins.

Gameplay: The gameplay of Dead Space is one of the most immersive experiences of my life. Dead Space uses no heads up display and accessing your inventory does not pause the game. These two elements alone help the player lose themselves in the terrifying atmosphere of the Ishimura. Dead space uses a over the shoulder perspective. The Health bar is on Isaac's back and the ammo counter is a hologram that appears when aiming. 
Issac is in a large engineering suit called a RIG. This is his only protection from the Necromorphs and while the suit is a blessing its weight affects Isaac's mobility in a big way. 
There are a number of weapons in the game but by far the best is the trusty Plasma Cutter.
The way to kill Necromorphs is not the common headshot but the key to killing them is strategic dismemberment. Necromorphs are made of tough stuff and in some cases can become a much larger threat without a head. 
The RIG and Isaac's weapons are upgradeable by collecting or buying "Nodes". Credits can be found on dead enemies and in containers. these can be used to purchase weapons, better armor and ammo.
Being a survival horror ammo is rare especially during Impossible mode.
The scares can become predictable after a few hours but the feeling of isolation and vulnerability is always there.

Design: Simply put, Dead Space is a Masterpiece of design. The darkened corridors mixed with the haunting audio and music really make for a claustrophobic experience.
The graphics are brilliant, the Gore is realistic and the Creature design makes it very convincing that the necromorphs were once just ordinary crew members. The lighting works well, there are always a few dark corners to be aware of and on occasion the lights cut out and you are left with just the flashlight on your weapon. The Audio is superb, the background noise of the ship and debris hitting the ship aswell as the ship computer whispering to itself. 
The Design is critical to the immersion of the game. My one complaint for the whole game is the physics engine. when walking over a corpse it will cartwheel around your view. But this is only a small tarnish on an otherwise brilliantly designed game.

Story: Issac's tale is well written one. His girlfriend was aboard the Ishimura and he longs to find her safe. His primary objective seems impossible and as you guide him through it things get worse before they get better. The two member of your team Kendra and Zach keep in contact but they are in other corners of the ship. Isaac uncovers clues as to why the Ishimura was so far out in deep space and what happened to her crew. While Isaac remains largely silent throughout the game. Kendra and Zach's sanity mirrors Isaacs. The story is well written and unfolds well with a great ending and set up for Dead Space 2.

The Good

• Unrivaled Atmosphere
• Well designed creatures
• Clever use or environment
• Scares the crap out of you on high difficulty

The Bad

• Terrible corpse physics

The Verdict: Dead Space is my favorite video game on the ps3 and I think everybody should give it a go. Being 3 years old now the price tag is noting compared to the experience you will have playing it. There is replay value if you have it in you to play the impossible difficulty.