Dead Space 2
Review
Isaac returns, and so have the Necromorphs
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
“In space, only necromorphs can hear you scream”
As soon as anyone mentions space themed horror to me, I immediately think of Sigourney Weaver in her role of Ellen Ripley in the Aliens movie, almost single-handedly taking on the alien infestation on the planet LV-426. Sure, there were a few space marines there to help her out, but in the end she did it her way. Dead Space 2 is the video game equivalent of Aliens, except the role being reprised is that of Isaac Clarke.
“What do you mean? How long was I out there?”
Isaac Clarke was a Systems Engineer. But after the events of the original Dead Space has found himself many years later aboard the Sprawl, a giant space station in orbit around Saturn. He cannot remember how he got there, but he sure as hell wants to find out. Of course, it isn’t going to be easy with a horde of Necromorphs running around the space station and only limited information being fed to him. Much like Ellen Ripley, he has survived a Necromorph infestation before but, can he do it again? Oh, and he starts the game in a straight-jacket and has what appears to be the onset of dementia. It certainly won’t be a simple task, with all this going against him.
The Necromorphs are the Dead Space equivalent of the alien xenomorphs in the Aliens movie, the difference being that in Aliens, there were only two versions of the Alien creature, the facehugger and the adult. In Dead Space 2 there are indeed are range of Necromorphs for the sequel. I must say though, that for much of the game I was too busy shooting anything that moves (and some things that don’t move) to notice what each looks like.
“They’re coming outta the walls. They’re coming outta the goddamn walls.”
The Necromorphs do however have a varied attack pattern. There are Spitters that, as you’d expect, spit an acidic substance. There are also Necromorphs known as Pregnants. Shooting the Pregnants in the stomach releases one of the most annoying foes in the game. These creatures are small (rat size) and attack in groups meaning that you will waste a heap of ammo trying to take care of them. Other normal sized Necromorphs are easy to dismember due to their size, but these tiny alien creatures are just a pain. There are a host of other Necromorph variations in the game, which certainly keeps you on your toes.
A range of enemy creatures requires a range of weapons to keep them under control. Throughout Dead Space 2, Isaac will gain access to a number of weapons. Apart from Isaac’s initial weapon of choice, the Plasma Cutter, he also gains use of weapons such as a Javelin Gun and a long range Seeker Rifle. Each of these weapons can be upgraded at Workstations scattered throughout the game using special Nodes as currency. But that isn’t all that Isaac has at his disposal. He also has telekinetic powers (familiar to those who have played Bioshock) that can be used to move objects. Sharp objects, including sharp dismembered Necromorph limbs can then be used as weapons. Giving the enemy a taste of their own medicine is certainly rewarding. Isaac can also use his Stasis function to slow enemies down, which can be particularly useful when there are multiple Necromorphs charging at once.
8.6
fun score
Pros
Audio and visuals really enhance the haunting storyline. Fun to play as Necromorphs in multiplayer.
Cons
Although the areas are larger than the original, it still seemed like more ‘corridor walking’
