Title: Dead Space 2
AOF Review Score: 7.0 (out of 10)

Hello readers I know by now some of you may have read or watched a dozen reviews for Dead Space 2, but you really should pay attention to this one for many reasons (which you will find by continuing to read). I would like to start off first by saying that Dead Space 2 is a good game with a few factors that kept it from being great. You are once again Isaac Clarke from the original title, but you now have a voice, and one badass attitude. Now without spoiling too much for you the reader I will give a briefing of the setup for this game. The game starts with Isaac waking up in a straitjacket aboard The Sprawl a station on one of Saturn’s moons. He has no memory of the last three years and suffers from dark visions, and some pretty creepy delusions of your deceased ex from the first game (which can be very entertaining). The necromorph’s are present from the start and before you know it you are thrown right into another outbreak. Again without spoiling too much else somehow there is a new marker like the one you destroyed in the first game, and yet again you must destroy it to stop the necromorph outbreak.

POSITIVES:
There is so much action and bloody gore packed in this game it will make your eyes bleed in a good way. The graphics in the game are beautiful and some of the best I have ever seen to date for this console generation (main reason its two discs on 360). The amount of weapons that are in this game is insane (my favorite being the javelin gun) to the point where you won’t be able to use all of them in one play through. The sound has been improved and creates an even creepier feeling this time around. I actually jumped a couple times being surprised by necromorphs which didn’t happen to me playing the first title. The new enemy types are just a few but creepy and keeps the game fresh and yes like everyone else has said the little babies running around will change your view on children forever. You do get a good amount of suits in this game as well with different bonuses depending on which one you equip. The anti-gravity combat feels great and your stasis powers are improved and feel tighter.

NEGATIVES:
The story starts out good but falls apart around half way through the game and really doesn’t hold up to the original. The pace of the game really doesn’t feel like you are searching or lurking around like the first game, more of a rush you from point A to point B and repeat. You are very over powered compared to the last game which takes away from the fear or anxiety you felt in the first title (see video below for an example of this). Although there are some new enemy types they are more annoying than fun to combat. The end of the game has a sudden ramp up on difficulty out of nowhere. The game itself only takes about 7.5 hours to complete which is expected for a multiplayer heavy title like COD, but hits a nerve with a gamer who just shelled out $60.00. The multiplayer is fun for a bit but much like Assassins Creed Brotherhood it just feels tacked on. The concept also takes directly from the Gears concept of Beast Mode which is a fun idea, but never evolves into anything great.

OVERALL:
The overall take of this game is its Dead Space 1.5 and is more of a rental than a purchase. The game looks better, has more gore, and will keep you entertained for 7 or so hours. The new weapons, suits, and unlockable’s may warrant a second play through if you would like. The effort seemed to go mostly into weapons, graphics, and ultra-gore but left the story of the title lacking.

EXAMPLE OF BEING OVER POWERED(Thanks to CT of our AOF staff):

Games: Dead Space 2, Platforms: PS3, xbox360, Genres: Action Adventure, Survival Horror, Publishers: EA, Developers: Visceral Games