Dead Space, released in its time, literally blew up the gaming industry. The game was liked by everyone who played it and rightfully became one of the best horror shooters of modern times. In the sequel, the authors tried even harder: Dead Space 2 perfectly conveys the terrifying atmosphere of the original, but it has more enemies, weapons, and various tactical actions.
Gameplay
Visceral Games (in case anyone doesn't know, they're the developer of this wonderful series) did a tremendous job improving the gameplay, which is especially noticeable after the first part. The annoying sluggishness of Isaac is gone: he moves faster, executes commands more nimbly, and fights more skillfully. The game was also diversified with physics: we can destroy (move) certain objects or use them as weapons against necromorphs. If desired, you can break glass and blow enemies into open space, but be careful, you might fly out yourself. We will have to be in space much more often, and regardless of the current suit, Isaac is equipped with jet engines, so in zero-gravity zones, you can fly instead of jumping from one surface to another as before.
The Visceral Engine doesn't work miracles, but for 2011, the graphics and effects are simply excellent, and the seamless world and instant loading of locations allow you not to be distracted by long load times. Of course, for a horror shooter, it's important to create an oppressive atmosphere of constant danger, and both the level designers and sound operators did a great job with this. Entering dark locations, where something is periodically hissing and rustling, you start to seriously get nervous, so in the event of a sudden necromorph attack, it's easy for the player to lose concentration and shoot aimlessly. Dying in Dead Space 2 is easier than in the original, even on medium difficulty, so choosing weapons and ammunition is now very important.
Gameplay Mechanics and Bestiary
There can never be too much dismemberment, as Dead Space proved, and the second part confirms. Successfully interpreting the "physiology" of necromorphs, Visceral Games sends the player to literally chop enemies into mincemeat. And since the action takes place in a small space city, there are many more enemies here, so you need to shoot quickly and accurately. The developers expanded the game's bestiary by adding several new "species" and tweaking the abilities of the old ones.
Changes have affected the weapon arsenal — now there are more weapons, and they are modified differently. Abilities like kinesis and hacking computer systems are still present. Armor, as before, is modified in three directions: health amount, air supply, and damage resistance.
On the downside, there is some monotony: clear a room -> get into an elevator -> listen to a dialogue or spin around in one spot for the entire episode.
Storyline
The recipe for the hell that unfolded in the first part is preserved, and we are not allowed to relax for a second. Suffice it to say that throughout the first level, we run around in a straitjacket, trying to avoid contact with necromorphs, and only at the end of the level are we given our CUTTER . Once armed, we try to stop the madness happening around us. The abundance of cutscenes, as well as the voice acting of the main character — Isaac quips and argues with characters, and even swears in battle, creating a complete effect of presence. The game script is very good, carefully presenting plot twists and not forgetting to tell how a thriving human colony disappeared in a week. Towards the end of Dead Space 2, the chaos escalates to a point where your mind is blown by the torrents of blood and deathly screams. Rest assured, the ending will keep your adrenaline pumping for a long time!
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By turning Dead Space into a series (releasing the animated films Dead Space: Downfall and Dead Space: Aftermath), Electronic Arts played right into the popularity of the series. In Downfall, we learn about the necromorph invasion on the USG Ishimura, and Aftermath connects the two games together. If you liked the first Dead Space, don't stop there and play the second part, and be sure to follow the news (for example, in our news feed) and watch the films that are released in the Dead Space universe. If you didn't like the first part, say because of the character's slowness, my advice to you: try the second part — it will definitely appeal to you.
