POSTED 30/1/11


DEAD SPACE 2

EA
PS3 (also on Xbox 360, PC)

What? Huh? WHA...? Fuck dude, surely you know by now that nobody can hear you scream here?!

Yes, engineer Isaac Clarke’s back for more necromorphic terror – but is that giving, or receiving? You see, some three years on from his last cranium-melting experience he awakes sporting the latest in straitjacket couture, within a hospital on the Sprawl – a crowded city perched upon a chunk of one of Saturn’s moons. Now, rather than just chowing down on Froot Loops, Isaac calls them family.

Considering some of the fucked-up shit he’s experienced, it’s hardly surprising that Isaac’s fighting to keep mooshy walls at bay. What’s worse is that it’s about to hit the fan again... majorly.

This sequel to Dead Space is more evolution than revolution (Jebus, did we actually type that hackneyed crud?) – if you battled through that first instalment, survived and can still sleep, then you’ll be familiar with the third-person vibe you’re confronted with here. But some sloppy has been unsloppied, things feel a bit tighter and the key for many – ickgasmic dismemberments - have, if anything, been concentrated on more as you rain hell on those bleurghy necromorphs. Mind you, we’re surprised that 500 years or so from now torch tech hasn’t improved...

Despite some genuine “AARGH!” frights, there are still numerous cheap “boo!” moments. But Dead Space 2 is possibly one of the most impressive gaming examples of how important sound is to a production, especially one that labels itself ‘horror’. Imagine playing to ‘Yakety Sax’ (the Benny Hill music) and it would be an entirely different experience.

An added multiplayer mode smacks of meh, and progress is quite linear, but as far as tense action horror goes your “mom” may hate Dead Space 2, but we sure as hell don’t.

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