Chaos Raiden
Avid Gamer & Reviewer
One of the most anticipated games in 2011. I loved the first game, and this sequel is no exception. Not to mention, this is a very scary game to play...
Story
Isaac returns in this game. This time, he must escape from a huge space station called the Sprawl as the Necromorph infestation begins in that station.
Without giving some critical spoilers, this game takes place 3 years after the first Dead Space events. Or more specifically, right after Dead Space: Ignition, as the latter game takes directly before Dead Space 2. Isaac was detained in the Sprawl, and starts having dementia, and having hallucinations of Nicole that wants to kill Isaac. Isaac broke free from his confinement thanks to Franco, the protagonist from Dead Space: Ignition, and must find a way to escape the station while fighting the Necromorphs.
Unlike the first game, Isaac has a voice actor, who gives him full emotional display and act through Isaac. I liked his voice acting, and I wonder why Visceral Games never hired him in the first place for the first game.
As in the first game, most characters will end up dead, except a few important characters. Isaac, by far, is my most favourite character in the game, given the challenges he faces needed to overcome problems while escaping, Nicole's hallucination, and everything else. All characters fit their roles in the game well, and Isaac is the star of this game.
The audio logs as well as text logs found while playing can give you some backstory explaining of important things in Dead Space 2. Some logs though, are irrelevant to the main story.
The story is extremely well done by Visceral Games. Many suspense, great character building, and awesome story. In my personal opinion, Isaac steals the show in the game, with major thanks to his voice actor, Gunner Wright.
Gameplay
Don't shoot the body. Dismember their limbs to kill them faster.
The gameplay largely the same as the first game. You have Stasis, Kinesis, all recurring weapons from the first game, and many more. However, there are some minor changes.
The way to kill the Necromorphs is the same as previous Dead Space game. Headshots or body shots won't work well. Instead, dismember their limbs to kill them permanently. Most weaker Necromorphs will die after have their arms cut off, so it would be wise to shoot their arms to conserve ammo. However, in certain situations, shooting their legs off to slow down is a much better way.
The game still have some puzzles that you need to solve in order to proceed. This time, Isaac uses his engineering abilities in order to gain access to different places. There are some places you need to hack in order to proceed, etc. Either way, these are good challenges.
Stasis is incredibly important in this game. Use it to have higher chances to dismember the Necromorphs, and to escape.
In this game, your Stasis meter will refill over time, albeit slowly. However, this is a good change as in case you don't have any Stasis Pack or Stasis Station around, you can just run while wait for your Stasis to refill and use it on the Necromorph. However, do not rely your Stasis to refill quickly, unless you have the Advanced Suit.
For those who does not play the first game, Stasis is a move that allows you to slow down your enemies in a short period of time. So slow that you can just run away while the Necromorph finishes it's attack. This is a crucial move that can save your life many times in life and death situations in the game.
Also, there is a new addition technique called TK Impalement. This feature allows you to fire sharp objects like sharp pipes, etc and impale the targeted Necromorph. TO do so, you need to use Kinesis on the particular object, and fire it on the Necromorph. With any luck, it can kill the weaker Necromorphs with one shot. This is a useful feature that allows you save ammo in order to fight other more difficult battles in the game.
Isaac can now use melee attacks faster. He can stomp and punch faster than the first game.
Now, Isaac can use melee attacks faster than the first game. This means that the melee attacks are more useful compared to the first game. You can punch and stomp repeatedly to kill a Necromorph. One thing shoudl be noted that, not all Necromorphs will drop items upon death. Stomp on the dead Necromorphs to spawn an item like ammo, Health Pack, and Credits.
The Zero Gravity feature is tweaked. Instead of jumping from different ceilings in order to complete your Objectives, you can now hover and fly around Zero Gravity areas.
There are many event sequences that takes place in the game, such as the Tram sequence, Tormenter sequence, etc. You need to have good reflexes on those sequences as most of them can result to Isaac's death if you are unable to do so.
This game also features the same QTE events from the first game, such as mashing a button to escape a Necromorph's grab attack and during sequences. Failure to do so will result to Isaac's death.
Each weapons, RIG and Stasis modules have their own stats. Upgrade wisely as Power Nodes are quite expensive.
The Upgrade system of the game is as the same as the first Dead Space game. There is one new addition called the Respec system, which allows you to recover any Power Nodes used on a weapon, RIG or Stasis modules back to your stock. However, it costs you a few thousands Credits. Choose which stats you want to increase wisely as Credits are scarce to find in the game.
Here are some example of weapon stats, RIG stats, and Stasis stats.
As you can see from the above image, there are some empty nodes that are need to be bypassed in order to increase a stat. So plan accordingly.
Use the Store to buy, sell, or store ammo, weapons, Health Packs, etc.
The Store functions similarly as the first game. You need to get Schematics in order to buy new weapons or items, so try and search thoroughly before leaving an area.
Isaac can now change his Suits freely in this game. Each Suit has their bonus effects, such as 15% bonus damage of Pulse Rifle, etc. Purchasing new Suits allows Isaac to keep more items, as well as have higher defense against Necromorph attacks. It is highly recommended you purchase new Suit every time, as Necromorphs will get much tougher in late chapters in the game.
The new Necromorphs included in the game are highly dangerous. Beware of Stalkers especially.
The Necromorphs in this game are dangerous, especially the new ones, like Stalkers. Conserve your ammo by hitting their limbs, as well as make good use of Kinesis and Stasis. Learn your weapons well as they have their own alternate firing modes that are useful to kill the Necromorphs.
Here are some analysis of several types of Necromorphs:
There are several boss fights. Frankly, they are dangerous, scary, and well done.
There are some boss fights in the game that are dangerous and epic. Some requires careful planning as their weak points are hard to pinpoint and attack. Learn their patterns and use your Stasis and weapons effectively.
All weapons from the first game returns in this game, as well as several new weapons in the game, such as Javelin Gun, Detonator, etc. Javelin Gun allows you to impale a Necromorph to a wall. If upgraded fully, it will be a one hit kill attack on weaker Necromorphs. Detonator acts as both grenade and mine launcher. By setting the mines on the floors or walls, there will be lasers that will detect any movements and will explode upon contact. This is an incredibly useful weapons to set traps to Necromorphs, especially Stalkers.
This game also has a more refined Locator feature. Now, your Locator not only can shows the path of your Objective is, but it can reveal also Save Stations, Benches, as well as Stores. Use it to find any place you need to go. Just be careful that some Necromorphs can reappear in places that you are backtracking.
The mission objectives in the game are nearly similar as the first game, but with slightly more variety, as Isaac can hack modules in order to gain access certain areas.
This game has more Chapters than the first game, but some chapter can be long or short depending on your skills.
In short, the gameplay is as brilliant as ever with several awesome changes and addition. However, this game plays largely the same as the first game, and lacks any real new features that can differentiate this game from the first game enough. Several people also said that this game it is more fast paced, more action oriented and less scarier than the first game. I disagree with them, as I love more action in survival horror games without dampening the survival horror experience, and this game is much more scarier than the first game. Regardless, this game has an excellent gameplay.
Story
Isaac returns in this game. This time, he must escape from a huge space station called the Sprawl as the Necromorph infestation begins in that station.
Without giving some critical spoilers, this game takes place 3 years after the first Dead Space events. Or more specifically, right after Dead Space: Ignition, as the latter game takes directly before Dead Space 2. Isaac was detained in the Sprawl, and starts having dementia, and having hallucinations of Nicole that wants to kill Isaac. Isaac broke free from his confinement thanks to Franco, the protagonist from Dead Space: Ignition, and must find a way to escape the station while fighting the Necromorphs.
Unlike the first game, Isaac has a voice actor, who gives him full emotional display and act through Isaac. I liked his voice acting, and I wonder why Visceral Games never hired him in the first place for the first game.
As in the first game, most characters will end up dead, except a few important characters. Isaac, by far, is my most favourite character in the game, given the challenges he faces needed to overcome problems while escaping, Nicole's hallucination, and everything else. All characters fit their roles in the game well, and Isaac is the star of this game.
The audio logs as well as text logs found while playing can give you some backstory explaining of important things in Dead Space 2. Some logs though, are irrelevant to the main story.
The story is extremely well done by Visceral Games. Many suspense, great character building, and awesome story. In my personal opinion, Isaac steals the show in the game, with major thanks to his voice actor, Gunner Wright.
Gameplay
Don't shoot the body. Dismember their limbs to kill them faster.
The gameplay largely the same as the first game. You have Stasis, Kinesis, all recurring weapons from the first game, and many more. However, there are some minor changes.
The way to kill the Necromorphs is the same as previous Dead Space game. Headshots or body shots won't work well. Instead, dismember their limbs to kill them permanently. Most weaker Necromorphs will die after have their arms cut off, so it would be wise to shoot their arms to conserve ammo. However, in certain situations, shooting their legs off to slow down is a much better way.
The game still have some puzzles that you need to solve in order to proceed. This time, Isaac uses his engineering abilities in order to gain access to different places. There are some places you need to hack in order to proceed, etc. Either way, these are good challenges.
Stasis is incredibly important in this game. Use it to have higher chances to dismember the Necromorphs, and to escape.
In this game, your Stasis meter will refill over time, albeit slowly. However, this is a good change as in case you don't have any Stasis Pack or Stasis Station around, you can just run while wait for your Stasis to refill and use it on the Necromorph. However, do not rely your Stasis to refill quickly, unless you have the Advanced Suit.
For those who does not play the first game, Stasis is a move that allows you to slow down your enemies in a short period of time. So slow that you can just run away while the Necromorph finishes it's attack. This is a crucial move that can save your life many times in life and death situations in the game.
Also, there is a new addition technique called TK Impalement. This feature allows you to fire sharp objects like sharp pipes, etc and impale the targeted Necromorph. TO do so, you need to use Kinesis on the particular object, and fire it on the Necromorph. With any luck, it can kill the weaker Necromorphs with one shot. This is a useful feature that allows you save ammo in order to fight other more difficult battles in the game.
Isaac can now use melee attacks faster. He can stomp and punch faster than the first game.
The Zero Gravity feature is tweaked. Instead of jumping from different ceilings in order to complete your Objectives, you can now hover and fly around Zero Gravity areas.
There are many event sequences that takes place in the game, such as the Tram sequence, Tormenter sequence, etc. You need to have good reflexes on those sequences as most of them can result to Isaac's death if you are unable to do so.
This game also features the same QTE events from the first game, such as mashing a button to escape a Necromorph's grab attack and during sequences. Failure to do so will result to Isaac's death.
Each weapons, RIG and Stasis modules have their own stats. Upgrade wisely as Power Nodes are quite expensive.
The Upgrade system of the game is as the same as the first Dead Space game. There is one new addition called the Respec system, which allows you to recover any Power Nodes used on a weapon, RIG or Stasis modules back to your stock. However, it costs you a few thousands Credits. Choose which stats you want to increase wisely as Credits are scarce to find in the game.
Here are some example of weapon stats, RIG stats, and Stasis stats.
As you can see from the above image, there are some empty nodes that are need to be bypassed in order to increase a stat. So plan accordingly.
Use the Store to buy, sell, or store ammo, weapons, Health Packs, etc.
The Store functions similarly as the first game. You need to get Schematics in order to buy new weapons or items, so try and search thoroughly before leaving an area.
Isaac can now change his Suits freely in this game. Each Suit has their bonus effects, such as 15% bonus damage of Pulse Rifle, etc. Purchasing new Suits allows Isaac to keep more items, as well as have higher defense against Necromorph attacks. It is highly recommended you purchase new Suit every time, as Necromorphs will get much tougher in late chapters in the game.
The new Necromorphs included in the game are highly dangerous. Beware of Stalkers especially.
The Necromorphs in this game are dangerous, especially the new ones, like Stalkers. Conserve your ammo by hitting their limbs, as well as make good use of Kinesis and Stasis. Learn your weapons well as they have their own alternate firing modes that are useful to kill the Necromorphs.
Here are some analysis of several types of Necromorphs:
There are several boss fights. Frankly, they are dangerous, scary, and well done.
There are some boss fights in the game that are dangerous and epic. Some requires careful planning as their weak points are hard to pinpoint and attack. Learn their patterns and use your Stasis and weapons effectively.
All weapons from the first game returns in this game, as well as several new weapons in the game, such as Javelin Gun, Detonator, etc. Javelin Gun allows you to impale a Necromorph to a wall. If upgraded fully, it will be a one hit kill attack on weaker Necromorphs. Detonator acts as both grenade and mine launcher. By setting the mines on the floors or walls, there will be lasers that will detect any movements and will explode upon contact. This is an incredibly useful weapons to set traps to Necromorphs, especially Stalkers.
This game also has a more refined Locator feature. Now, your Locator not only can shows the path of your Objective is, but it can reveal also Save Stations, Benches, as well as Stores. Use it to find any place you need to go. Just be careful that some Necromorphs can reappear in places that you are backtracking.
The mission objectives in the game are nearly similar as the first game, but with slightly more variety, as Isaac can hack modules in order to gain access certain areas.
This game has more Chapters than the first game, but some chapter can be long or short depending on your skills.
In short, the gameplay is as brilliant as ever with several awesome changes and addition. However, this game plays largely the same as the first game, and lacks any real new features that can differentiate this game from the first game enough. Several people also said that this game it is more fast paced, more action oriented and less scarier than the first game. I disagree with them, as I love more action in survival horror games without dampening the survival horror experience, and this game is much more scarier than the first game. Regardless, this game has an excellent gameplay.
