Dead Space 3, the third-person shooter survival horror video game developed by Visceral Games, has kept us busy ever since it was released a few days ago for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Here is our PlayStation 3 review…
Forget the genre factor—many players are already debating whether Dead Space 3 fits the survival horror criteria; instead, just enjoy the clever flexibility of this dynamic game that allows you to tailor the experience so that you are either one step from the abyss or deftly maneuvering from the grasp of the undead—or necromorphs as they are lovingly dubbed.
The series ultimately hits a high note with Dead Space 3 due to the innovations of weaponry and the challenging necessity to continually retool your gameplay; in other words, it’s non-stop excitement and does not disappoint.
Story
Set on the frozen planet of Tau Volantis, third-person shooter Isaac Clarke—like any other man—is learning the hard way that love triangles aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. While the narrative moves at lightning speed and includes a dizzy array of characters, the action really trumps the plot so if you’re looking for the War and Peace of zombie-killing games, you’re woefully off track with Dead Space 3. Nevertheless, this game dramatically wafts players from one point of Clarke’s journey to the next so that it feels a bit more like Homer’s Odyssey with fantastical places filled with atmospheric wickedry!
Didn’t play the first two games? Watch this video to catch up with the storyline!
Presentation
Dead Space 3 delivers a climatic, eerie, and sometimes ethereal vision of Clarke’s ordeal. From blizzards to dank corners, the climate tends to play a sinister role in terms of the setting alone. Certainly one of the best features of this game, the presentation brilliantly instills the creep factor through setting elements like the play between light and shadow. The visual dimension of this game provides a captivating experience that underlies the game’s action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U356b_x0_4U?modestbranding=1
Graphics
A significant part of the graphical splendor of Dead Space 3 is concentrated in the weaponry; flame throwers, grenades, a vast array of guns—these items can be tweaked and retweaked to suit each player’s preferred playing style. The acid grenade launcher simply looks and acts the way you’d always hoped it would. The necromorphs are pleasantly ghoulish and other aspects of the visuals like the climatic elements are really well done and spot on. What the game maybe lacks in plot, it makes up for in visuals.
Check out the Dead Space 3 gallery for more screenshots!
Sound
The sound elements of Dead Space 3 enhance the overall experience. They are fully integrated into the gameplay and help the game capitalize on all of its atmospheric effects. There is a sinister din that accompanies the journey and enhances the necromorph scenes of battle. Plus, the sounds are really diverse—from squishy noises to the horror-laden sounds movie-goers are used to. It’s evident that the developers put a lot of effort into the sound experience of the game even though most often the player simply feels the sounds rather than paying conscious attention to them—and it works well that way.
Gameplay
The action tends toward the nonstop variety. It doesn’t appear to be significantly different from the last Dead Space installment at least in terms of the fighting scenes, but there are lots of side missions that break up the combat and add new features to the overall gameplay. Not surprisingly, weapons are a major aspect of the game and players will need to change a preferred weapon just as they’ve gotten used to it in order to keep up with the action. Instead of being cumbersome, however, it is quite fun and makes the game all the more dynamic in terms of play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFplpcXIIU?modestbranding=1
Multiplayer/Co-Op
Dead Space 3 eliminates the competitive multiplayer platform of the past and replaces it with a co-op thread that introduces John Carver as Clarke’s counterpart. In this mode, the players work side by side through the journey and don’t even compete for loot. It’s a seamless partnership that maintains the us-against-them narrative.
Lasting Appeal
The game is considerably rich and players that specialize in horror and survival genres will find a lot of satisfaction in its play. The side missions and extensive cast of characters really round out the overall experience of the game; moreover, they don’t feel like add-ons—they complement the main thread of the narrative and refresh players between main battle scenes. It’s simply one great package that delivers what it sets out to—a heart-stopping, zombie fighting experience that is thrilling from start to finish.
This is an exclusive Stagger’d review written by Jennifer Young. All rights reserved.
Shimbo Suzuki
This is another great game though it didn’t live up to Dead Space 2, at least in my opinion anyway. Playing co-op is super fun and the characters’ experiences vary so I respect that feature of the game. I totally recommend it!