Dead Space is a game set 500 years in the future. In the game you play the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer sent to inspect the lack of communication from the USG Ishimura, a planet cracker ship which is used to strip down entire planets of their resources. Isaac’s tools include mining tools like plasma cutter, a “gk” gun which is Dad Space’s answer to HL 2’s gravity gun and a sinister looking buzzsaw which can be fired and retracted along an invisible axis. The game allows only four weapons to be stored at a time but you can store plenty more in your inventory, which can be accessed via the menu system.
The game uses over-the- shoulder, third person view to immerse you in an eerie atmosphere. While you start with a basic suit called, RIG as you precede through the game you’ll get more advanced suits. The vital information is presented onscreen on the body suit and weapons. The “stasis” meter and the health meter appear on the character’s spine. The story progresses through video, audio and text messages which are shown on a virtual video display that appears in front of Isaac. This spares you the agony of sitting through long cutscenes which tend to interrupt the creepy ambience.
Dead Space features numerous anti-gravity environments, most of them with debris and alien like scorpions floating around. There is no down or up and Isaac has to rely on his magnetic boots to attach to surfaces. The sound effects in the zero-gravity area is something that is usually expected to hear in vacuum, hollow muffled blasts form weapons and shallow breathing. This is quite unlike the other parts of the game which is seedy and dark. Dead Space allows you to use “stasis” which when fired upon enemies or machineries cause them to slow their movements for a brief period of time.
The action involves “strategic dismemberment”. For instance if you sever the head of an alien with slashing arm, you will be causing very little damage. However if you cap his legs, he’ll still approach you, but more slowly. At times you’ll be down on ammo and you may need to use the “gk” gun creatively if you want to survive. You could even use a regular weapon to decapitate the clawlike arm of an alien, then grab it with gk gun and finish the creature off. The initial impressions of the eerie, dark and atmospheric game look promising. Especially the subtle yet detailed environments , lighting effects and smoke touches which further accentuates the sense of isolation. The parts that have been released are mostly action oriented but EA has promised that the game holds plenty of horror. You can get through 20 minutes without bumping into anything that tries to kill you, but those 20 minutes could make you scared out of your senses. The game is developed at EA’s Redwood Shores studio and is expected sometime this year.
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