"For what's it worth, you did a great job Issac...." (Kendra Daniels from 'Dead Space')
Survival horror seems to have had an identity crisis in recent years. Gamers have purged scores of the undead in the slums of Africa, fought hordes of blood-thirsty villagers in Eastern Europe and also fell asleep whilst playing Silent Hill: Homecoming. The first two scenarios are from Capcom's 2009 hit Resident Evil 5 and Shinji Mikami's brainchild Resident Evil 4. RE4 was seen by many to reinvigorate a stagnating genre and open the blood-soaked floodgates to the masses. However, in my view it reinvigorated a franchise and not the survival horror genre as an entity. This could be attributed to the simple fact that Mikami transformed a once isolated and terrifying experience into a gung-ho and unsettling romp through murky villages and imposing churches. It may be an engaging experience but that doesn't detract from the argument that Capcom has now veered into "action horror" territory. To reinvigorate "survival horror" the industry desperately needed a developer who was willing to drag the genre back to its roots, even if RE4/5 aficionados would dig their fingers into the ground with abject futility.
2008 saw the arrival of a fearless engineer known as Isaac Clarke; with Visceral Games kick-starting a genre, which has been left to rot since the glory days of Konami and their much-revered IP Silent Hill. Dead Space told the story of Issac, whose team are sent by a shady organisation to ascertain why a "planet cracker" (the USG Ishimura) has ceased all contact. The extraction team land on the ship only to find that the inhabitants of the vessel have all met a grisly end. Needlessly to say, things do not go according to plan and Issac is left to fend off the deformed and infected shipmates. Clarke's story is a very personal one as he attempts to discover what happened to his girlfriend, who works on the doomed ship, and destroy the "marker", which controls the infected "necromorphs" with a vice-like grip.
The EA title managed to combine satisfying gunplay, unique puzzles, extreme scares and an escalating sense of dread to create an experience like no other on the current generation of consoles. Personally, the sense of dread and hopelessness was a highlight as I could feel fear for the first time since my first play-through of Silent Hill 2. Another aspect of the game, which morphed it into a true classic was its reverence to it's source material. The blood-smeared corridors, atmospheric lighting and excruciating isolation were reminiscent of sci-fi horror staples such as Alien and the severely underrated Event Horizon. However, it was never referential to the point of feeling contrived as so many other games these days seem to be made.
From the critical and financial success of Dead Space, it was inevitable EA would demand Visceral Games construct another scenario for Isaac to be subjected to. Dead Space 2 was released in the UK on January 28th 2011 and, after another ardent battle with the necromorph scourge, I've finally completed the game.
The story of DS2 takes place three years after the horrific events, which took place on the USG Ishimura. Our hero - Isaac Clarke - has awoken from a lengthy coma into a nightmare on the Titan metropolis of the "Sprawl." Necromorphs have transformed this once idyllic symbol of human endeavour into a decrepit and pulsating Valhalla. With no recollection as to how he came to be institutionalised in this terrifying Hell, Clarke frantically attempts to escape a nightmare he thought he had seen the last of. Isaac is also suffering from horrific hallucinations, with his mind slowly unravelling over the course of the twelve-hour adventure. In communication with other survivors, whilst hiding his condition from them, the intrepid engineer begins to understand that a "marker" has been built within the Sprawl and sets out to destroy it. Driven by guilt after the loss of his lover, whilst also being plagued by visions of her, Isaac seems to be a frightening shadow of his former self.
If there was one area in which I could identify a weakness it is most certainly the overarching story of the game. It has clearly been written in such as way as to drive the player from one epic set piece to another. Being one for engrossing narratives I would normally find this detrimental to my overall playing experience. However, the character development is carried out with such a high level of depth and sophistication, the "wild goose chase" storyline doesn't seem to matter. Unlike the first Dead Space, Visceral Games have given Isaac a voice. Many gaming critics were extremely sceptical upon hearing that this story mechanic would be integrated into the game. Their argument stemmed from the notion that by having a silent protagonist, the player can place "their own stamp" upon Isaac and fully immerse themselves in the character. However, by giving Isaac some dialogue I actually cared about what happened to him and feared for his mental wellbeing. This empathy was also enriched by Isaacs interactions with other characters. I feel these interactions heavily rely upon the presence Isaac's voice, as well as the amazing dialogue and voice acting on show.
In terms of gameplay, Visceral has clearly refined the combat mechanics to make for far more tactical confrontations with a diverse array of enemies. By swamping the player in waves of necromorphs, the "kinesis" and "stasis" tools become quintessential assets. In streamlining the controls, to suit for a more fast-paced play style, kinesis can be used in quick combination with Isaac's standard weapons to propel the necromorph's own severed limbs straight into their disfigured bodies. It certainly makes for some compelling, yet awfully grotesque encounters. The "zero-G" sections have also returned and do not feeling like lumbering or arduous affairs any more. This is due to the introduction of the Iron Man-like rocket boots, which Isaac now possesses, enabling the player to move with a greater degree of freedom and also opening up a wide field of view.
Survival horror seems to have had an identity crisis in recent years. Gamers have purged scores of the undead in the slums of Africa, fought hordes of blood-thirsty villagers in Eastern Europe and also fell asleep whilst playing Silent Hill: Homecoming. The first two scenarios are from Capcom's 2009 hit Resident Evil 5 and Shinji Mikami's brainchild Resident Evil 4. RE4 was seen by many to reinvigorate a stagnating genre and open the blood-soaked floodgates to the masses. However, in my view it reinvigorated a franchise and not the survival horror genre as an entity. This could be attributed to the simple fact that Mikami transformed a once isolated and terrifying experience into a gung-ho and unsettling romp through murky villages and imposing churches. It may be an engaging experience but that doesn't detract from the argument that Capcom has now veered into "action horror" territory. To reinvigorate "survival horror" the industry desperately needed a developer who was willing to drag the genre back to its roots, even if RE4/5 aficionados would dig their fingers into the ground with abject futility.
2008 saw the arrival of a fearless engineer known as Isaac Clarke; with Visceral Games kick-starting a genre, which has been left to rot since the glory days of Konami and their much-revered IP Silent Hill. Dead Space told the story of Issac, whose team are sent by a shady organisation to ascertain why a "planet cracker" (the USG Ishimura) has ceased all contact. The extraction team land on the ship only to find that the inhabitants of the vessel have all met a grisly end. Needlessly to say, things do not go according to plan and Issac is left to fend off the deformed and infected shipmates. Clarke's story is a very personal one as he attempts to discover what happened to his girlfriend, who works on the doomed ship, and destroy the "marker", which controls the infected "necromorphs" with a vice-like grip.
The EA title managed to combine satisfying gunplay, unique puzzles, extreme scares and an escalating sense of dread to create an experience like no other on the current generation of consoles. Personally, the sense of dread and hopelessness was a highlight as I could feel fear for the first time since my first play-through of Silent Hill 2. Another aspect of the game, which morphed it into a true classic was its reverence to it's source material. The blood-smeared corridors, atmospheric lighting and excruciating isolation were reminiscent of sci-fi horror staples such as Alien and the severely underrated Event Horizon. However, it was never referential to the point of feeling contrived as so many other games these days seem to be made.
From the critical and financial success of Dead Space, it was inevitable EA would demand Visceral Games construct another scenario for Isaac to be subjected to. Dead Space 2 was released in the UK on January 28th 2011 and, after another ardent battle with the necromorph scourge, I've finally completed the game.
The story of DS2 takes place three years after the horrific events, which took place on the USG Ishimura. Our hero - Isaac Clarke - has awoken from a lengthy coma into a nightmare on the Titan metropolis of the "Sprawl." Necromorphs have transformed this once idyllic symbol of human endeavour into a decrepit and pulsating Valhalla. With no recollection as to how he came to be institutionalised in this terrifying Hell, Clarke frantically attempts to escape a nightmare he thought he had seen the last of. Isaac is also suffering from horrific hallucinations, with his mind slowly unravelling over the course of the twelve-hour adventure. In communication with other survivors, whilst hiding his condition from them, the intrepid engineer begins to understand that a "marker" has been built within the Sprawl and sets out to destroy it. Driven by guilt after the loss of his lover, whilst also being plagued by visions of her, Isaac seems to be a frightening shadow of his former self.
If there was one area in which I could identify a weakness it is most certainly the overarching story of the game. It has clearly been written in such as way as to drive the player from one epic set piece to another. Being one for engrossing narratives I would normally find this detrimental to my overall playing experience. However, the character development is carried out with such a high level of depth and sophistication, the "wild goose chase" storyline doesn't seem to matter. Unlike the first Dead Space, Visceral Games have given Isaac a voice. Many gaming critics were extremely sceptical upon hearing that this story mechanic would be integrated into the game. Their argument stemmed from the notion that by having a silent protagonist, the player can place "their own stamp" upon Isaac and fully immerse themselves in the character. However, by giving Isaac some dialogue I actually cared about what happened to him and feared for his mental wellbeing. This empathy was also enriched by Isaacs interactions with other characters. I feel these interactions heavily rely upon the presence Isaac's voice, as well as the amazing dialogue and voice acting on show.
In terms of gameplay, Visceral has clearly refined the combat mechanics to make for far more tactical confrontations with a diverse array of enemies. By swamping the player in waves of necromorphs, the "kinesis" and "stasis" tools become quintessential assets. In streamlining the controls, to suit for a more fast-paced play style, kinesis can be used in quick combination with Isaac's standard weapons to propel the necromorph's own severed limbs straight into their disfigured bodies. It certainly makes for some compelling, yet awfully grotesque encounters. The "zero-G" sections have also returned and do not feeling like lumbering or arduous affairs any more. This is due to the introduction of the Iron Man-like rocket boots, which Isaac now possesses, enabling the player to move with a greater degree of freedom and also opening up a wide field of view.
Seems this merry bunch are intending to give Isaac a hug........
Atmospherically and graphically, Dead Space 2 is both terrifying and breathtakingly beautiful respectively. The lighting and colour contrast is used to such powerful effect that Visceral has created a world which feels both realistic and strikingly vivid. LCD billboards bathe the screen in glorious colour, shadows stretch and twist with an unerring darkness and decaying tissue gleans with sickening scarlet. All of which combines to create an atmosphere to rival the higher echelons of cinematic horror, such as John Carpenter's The Thing and the aforementioned Event Horizon. Equally, the sound design also plays it's part in this science-fiction nightmare. Creaking machinery and the cries of unfortunate victims are blended together to fill the player with a disturbing sense of doubt in what they've just heard. In some instances, you'll be forced to root Isaac to the spot as you attempt to discern what is happening in the bowels of darkness engulfing the path ahead. The fear engulfs and suffocates you until all you can do is pause the game and breathe a sigh of relief that it's only just that: A game.
Adding to this sense of fear, is the unpredictability and sheer relentlessness of the enemy AI. Visceral have kept the same assortment of enemies from the original, whilst also including a few new additions. These chilling creatures include the "raptor," which cower behind corners and in the shadows before dashing towards you with incomprehensible speed. The horde-like mentality of the "children" sends you into a panic-stricken state as you fire off rounds with complete disregard, forgetting that ammunition is a scarce commodity on the Sprawl. You'd certainly be forgiven for breaking into a sweat during these encounters and may be a blubbering wreck by the time the epic and chilling ending rears its disfigured head.
Dead Space 2 is a game which requires players to invest their emotions in an ensemble of characters, whose ongoing struggle to break free from this perpetual nightmare takes precedence over the somewhat "rehashed" storyline from the original. This approach of character development over plot development is strikingly similar to last years Christmas hit Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. However, it never matters as you are completely and utterly swept up in this fear-mongering thrill ride. Mechanics, graphics and atmosphere all mesh to create an absorbing, yet utterly terrifying, game. Be warned, however, that once you enter the Sprawl it may not be Isaac Clarke's mental wellbeing you should really be concerned about.......
Dead Space 2 is now available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC at all good retailers.
