There was a time not too long ago when PC games came out first, and then several months, if not years, later it would come out on a console system. Well, the times they are a changing my friend; now, most cross-platform games come out first on a console and then trickle down to the PC. I could type a 25,000 word essay on why this is happening, but to sum it all up, most people don't like buying $500.00 graphic cards every year just to play the new slew of games that won't run smoothly if you don't have a 2-gig graphics card. Buy a console, get (hopefully) five years of gaming out of it and then move on to the next generation system. Anyway, case in point is today's review of Dead Space. A game that came out prior to Halloween, and in a rare instance, came out the same time the console versions did.

Dead Space is a kick-in-the-pants survival horror video game set on a very large, very creepy spaceship. As the main protagonist named Isaac Clarke (2001 fans take note) you are a part of the salvage and repair team. A seemingly innocent enough job, showing up to derelict vessels and getting them running again so they can return to port. He's an engineer, but that's just the fancy way of saying he's a grease monkey, a mechanic. And nothing in his job description has prepared him for the kind of double-barrel shenanigans he's neck deep in.

"Kinda looks like my prom date...."

As a fan of horror movies, books and (of course) games, I look at the genre with a very suspicious eye. What is considered horror to some is merely suspense to others. Likewise some people equate gore to horror, that's only because the sight of blood is frightening to some. I imagine some ER nurses and doctors would yawn their way through the Saw movies. I, on the other hand, like to be scared and appreciate a good amount of blood, but jumps and atmospheric music play a big part of getting scared. And, if you really get into the things that go bump in the night, you will play games like this in a completely darkened room and with no one else around so you can get the game's full effects.

So I suppose it's no wonder that I really did enjoy this game. I had played it back in Oct. and Nov on the PS3, so I knew what to expect, but played the game from a purely fun perspective, rather than as part of my normal reviewing rotation. Regardless, I dove into this version with the same aplomb and found that while the game makes good on all the atmospheric qualities and spooky situations that really made this game a stand-out entrant in the survival-horror genre. Now since this is an entirely new (hopefully) franchise, EA has gone all-out to make sure this game gets all the love and attention fans could possibly clamor for. Comic book and an animated movie tie-in are not necessary to see but add to the overall story that is Dead Space. And this is where I think the game succeeds, due to its strong story-telling elements.

 
"Man, these Phi Beta Epsilon parties are just too much. I gotta change fraternities." 

As the story goes, the Earth has been used up as far as the natural resources go, since the game takes place in the far future, giant planet-cracking freighters roam the universe destroying planets to break down useful elements. The top ship in this category is the Ishimura, a ship with a long history of successful planet cracks. But then, the Ishimura goes silent. Thinking its nothing more then a communication issue, Isaac, as a member of the repair crew, is dispatched. Twisting in Isaac's gut is the cryptic message from a special someone in Isaac's life who is on the Ishimura. No sooner does the repair crew arrive does the repair vessel get destroyed and a vicious attack on the crew by a group of mutilating aliens called Necromorphs. They haven't left much of the Ishimura crew and now they haven't left much of the repair crew either. 

Separated from the other survivors and now shipless, Isaac begins the long and sometimes painful task of trying to fix the Ishimura and help out the other survivors. But Isaac is no warrior, he is a brain. And in this case being smart is the only way to make it out alive. Isaac uses his knowledge to create weaponry and improve it as time goes along. Learning more about his enemies as he goes, firing mining equipment that has been retrofitted to fire projectiles is only half the challenges; most of the Necromorphs cannot be killed in standard head/torso shots. Rather, you must concentrate on blowing off limbs in order to defeat the enemies who seem to get faster and faster as the game goes on.

As if translating the fact that Isaac is not a soldier, there is no heads-up display when shooting; you need to get really good if you want to survive and to make matters worse, Isaac doesn't have a quick turn hotkey. If you see a monster lumbering towards you from behind (the game is viewed third person) you will need to run in the direction you are facing and then turn around or be prepared to take the hit. Health is viewed from the backpack on Isaac's back and danger is seen around almost every turn. Interjected cut scenes help move the action and story along as well.

 
 "Trust me, this is outpatient surgery."

Dead Space has a very claustrophobic and uncomfortable feel to it, which is entirely appropriate because you are, quite frankly, the only one who can get yourself out of this mess. Dark shadows and creepy body-filled corridors help add to the graphical nightmare. I can't say the PC version is better looking than the PS3 version, because it isn't, but it still does look every bit the horror movie it is. The displayed gore of limbs flying and blood flowing comes across tightly, lighting effects pierce the almost-always-dark corridors and the grotesque forms of the Necromorphs and their pirated body parts have a great effect on you when they manage to sneak up on you.

The A.I. is pretty good, but in its favor is the need to shoot specific body parts, and they know it; so when you find yourself surrounded by several and they start hacking at you, you know you are in trouble. However, they do move around pretty sneakily and make good on using the game's natural hiding spots and cover. A well-executed game with many little nuances correctly applied to make this a truly scary game.

Now there is a healthy amount of noise in the game, but sometimes I found the ambient music that sometimes comes up to be more frightening than the excellent voice acting or creepy visuals. It happens to be a well-scored game that takes advantage of the frightening sounds that can make a person's hair stand on edge. Like I said, I live in a house filled with scary books, movies and games and this score had my arm hair standing on end more than once. I don't care who you are, if you are playing an intentionally scary game and the scares still work, then you have found something special.

Gameplay: 8.6
The game is intentionally claustrophobic in its workings and it helps create an atmospheric experience. Good controls, inventive weapon upgrading and unusual happenings make Dead Space something special.

Graphics: 8.7
Pretty rough looking monsters, dark scary places for things to go bump in the night and now you are on your way to scaresville. Tight-looking locations, clean lines, and good A.I.

Sound: 9.4
Again, a well-scored, creepy-sounding game. I had already beat the game and I still got the heebie jeebies thanks to the awesome sounds and music.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
I had already beaten it on the PS3, so I knew what to do.

Concept: 8.9
Ever since the movie Event Horizon, I have waited for a seriously scary game set on a derelict spaceship. I can now check that off my list, this game is a winner.

Overall: 8.9
An excellent new addition to the splinter group of action games centered around horror. I suspect they will make a sequel and I suspect it too will spawn a franchise. Dead Space gets it right when it comes to the scares.