Dead Space 2 Review

Dead Space 2 is quite possibly the best shooter sequel to come out in a long time. Nowadays, sequels generally aren’t as overall satisfying as the original games, and can even end up being cheaper than the original titles at used game stores like GameStop. Dead Space 2 is quite the opposite – Dead Space 2 is actually a very nice improvement on the original Dead Space experience.

The initial surprise of DS2 is the graphics. DS2 looks amazing, in cut scenes and during actual gameplay. The original Dead Space already had pretty good graphics, but DS2 is a lot more polished and photorealistic. DS2 is one of the few games that feature truly convincing 3D models that greatly represent how one sees real people in the real world. The shadows and lighting all work well with no noticeable issues and they are pleasing to the eye.

Simply put, DS2 is a lot scarier than the first game. Starting at the first cut scene and continuing flawlessly throughout the game, DS2 is suspenseful and scary enough to have just about any gamer jumping out of their seat many times. (Especially if you have the lights off and the volume up loud ;-) ) The original Dead Space started out scary, but got plain and boring about halfway through. DS2 does no such thing. The game continues to frighten and give nightmares to players throughout the entire game.

Finally, and most difficult to discuss, DS2’s gameplay just feels a lot smoother and polished than its predecessor. There weren’t many complaints to be had about the way DS1 played, but DS2 just plays a lot more comfortably. The controls are a bit more responsive, and it feels a bit more like an actual shooter (instead of a plain survival game) without taking away from the survival-horror style that the game is going for.

Overall, Dead Space 2 is a great title. Those who haven’t played the original Dead Space can pick it up without missing out on much and still enjoy it, and those who enjoyed the original will just enjoy Dead Space 2 even more, as it’s a great improvement on the series.