It's hard to imagine a single person would try to face cannibalistic limb-hacking acid-spewing Necromorphs for the third time whilst barely survived the first two encounters, then I saw his ex-girlfriend admirable physique, it's clear that the promise of beauty defeats the threat of beast. Isaac Clarke, now depressed, tries to mend his relationship, stay alive and save the world in one fell swoop. That means a destined reunion with the savage monsters once again, being scared, a little less this time, by paranoid-inducing sound and rearranging useful tools for homicidal purpose. Dead Space 3 is a solid game, although sadly not as good as the prequel.
Even though the settings are less riveting than previous ones, especially towards the latter half of the game, but it does have some breathtaking pieces. With most parts featuring either spaceships rustic interior or abandoned icy planet, it seems dull in comparison with Dead Space 2. The scare isn't prominent anymore, there are only a few creepy moments, and that's not nearly the level of previous ones. At some points, the game even looks like it's a B-rate sci-fi flick.
Visual and motion are good, it doesn't change much from practical no HUD display. Lighting in dark areas are accommodating for the fright as darker places must be aimed, thus forcing you to focus your attention elsewhere when the Necromorphs could assume their attack. They do so in religiously frantic fashion, more often sprinting right up to your face. This will be a problem since the camera is just as hectic in extreme close-up, not very accommodating for survival. Characters facial isn't that impressive as well, they look inconsistently and a bit rigid at several events.
Designs for enemies don't differ much, aside for the addition of more human-like foes. Players will most likely have reminiscence of the previous games, up until some corpses decide to pick up axes and try to be dangerously intimate. A minor issue comes in the form of weight detection mechanism, things and dead bodies often hover about like they possess little to no weight, and occasionally stuck in your feet as you try to squeeze last bit of ammo or health pack they had. There are also some glitches, such as Isaac trapped in a corner, fell to oblivion, items reappearing or characters disappearing.
Gameplay has diversified due to new weapon crafting system. Unlike the old days when you must content with pre-designed arsenal, you can now assemble your own weapons with frames, tools, circuits and more, creating a freedom of what combination of arsenal you will have. Frame decides what parts it could assemble into, light or heavy, and what addition stat it would carry. Lighter frames can't support heavy parts, so while having rocket launcher with plasma cutter is an amazing idea, unfortunately it's not physically possible.
It may sound complex compared with the old stick-power-node-in-it system, but give it some time. When you're familiar with it, the new system is very useful, and it simplifies the gameplay drastically as now you only have two slots, but up to four weapons in play. Ammo pack is now usable to every weapon correspondingly, for example, firings a few rounds from weapons with higher ammo capacity will use the same amount of one grenade in comparison.
Core of the game is unchanged, plow through hordes of Necromorphs until certain objectives are met. They are somewhat faster this time, though it's more of a frantic scare and less of frightening suspense. Limb chopping is still the key to survival, Telekinesis is as strong as ever and doesn't require ammo, but I often find myself unable to find some brooms, pipes of some sort of serendipitously placed items to throw at them, not to mention the axe-wielding bunch drop their axes in tight precarious positions.
Co-op doesn't dampen the single player experience, although there are few side missions that require a teammate to complete. The size of the game is larger than previous ones, more areas to explore, some side missions here and there and lengthier story. Boss battles are few but well done. Although even with these improvements, I can't help but noticing the lack of thrill, imposing atmosphere and that gripping terror that once decorated previous titles.
Sound department is doing their best to establish the scare, creaking noise of closed doors, unusual hums that might or might not be lurking hostiles, or blatant scream thirsts for your blood. It's just the setting doesn't invoke such ambiance, and after some time the effect wears off significantly.
Dubbing is solid, I especially like Ellie's and Danik's accent. Isaac sounds so tired, yet lingering hope for reconciliation remains. There's not much of dying message to increase the sense of danger though. Music is bare, nothing stands out too much, it does work for more subtle approach. Sound effect delivers the gore adequately, the sound of bone-crunching of your enemies' demise is utterly satisfying.
Playtime will take approximately twenty hours, multiple new game+ are available afterwards. Story isn't really up to par with the predecessors, at the latter part of the game just trudged with little expectation ahead. Dead Space 3 offers more diverse gameplay with crafting, all the basics are intact, but sadly it loses some of the horror allure.
Graph: Interesting graphic display in larger areas, good designs throughout, but some awkward glitches or motions dwindle the value.7.5/10 Sound : Voice actors deliver their performance well, eerie voices and sound effects are ever-present. 8/10 Gameplay: Great crafting addition, more varied resources and weapon usage while preserving the core of its fast action. 8.5/10 Presentation : Sadly it's only a low level of intimidating atmosphere. The new story offers longer experience but with less substance. 6/10 Overall 7.5
Even though the settings are less riveting than previous ones, especially towards the latter half of the game, but it does have some breathtaking pieces. With most parts featuring either spaceships rustic interior or abandoned icy planet, it seems dull in comparison with Dead Space 2. The scare isn't prominent anymore, there are only a few creepy moments, and that's not nearly the level of previous ones. At some points, the game even looks like it's a B-rate sci-fi flick.
Visual and motion are good, it doesn't change much from practical no HUD display. Lighting in dark areas are accommodating for the fright as darker places must be aimed, thus forcing you to focus your attention elsewhere when the Necromorphs could assume their attack. They do so in religiously frantic fashion, more often sprinting right up to your face. This will be a problem since the camera is just as hectic in extreme close-up, not very accommodating for survival. Characters facial isn't that impressive as well, they look inconsistently and a bit rigid at several events.
Designs for enemies don't differ much, aside for the addition of more human-like foes. Players will most likely have reminiscence of the previous games, up until some corpses decide to pick up axes and try to be dangerously intimate. A minor issue comes in the form of weight detection mechanism, things and dead bodies often hover about like they possess little to no weight, and occasionally stuck in your feet as you try to squeeze last bit of ammo or health pack they had. There are also some glitches, such as Isaac trapped in a corner, fell to oblivion, items reappearing or characters disappearing.
Gameplay has diversified due to new weapon crafting system. Unlike the old days when you must content with pre-designed arsenal, you can now assemble your own weapons with frames, tools, circuits and more, creating a freedom of what combination of arsenal you will have. Frame decides what parts it could assemble into, light or heavy, and what addition stat it would carry. Lighter frames can't support heavy parts, so while having rocket launcher with plasma cutter is an amazing idea, unfortunately it's not physically possible.
It may sound complex compared with the old stick-power-node-in-it system, but give it some time. When you're familiar with it, the new system is very useful, and it simplifies the gameplay drastically as now you only have two slots, but up to four weapons in play. Ammo pack is now usable to every weapon correspondingly, for example, firings a few rounds from weapons with higher ammo capacity will use the same amount of one grenade in comparison.
Core of the game is unchanged, plow through hordes of Necromorphs until certain objectives are met. They are somewhat faster this time, though it's more of a frantic scare and less of frightening suspense. Limb chopping is still the key to survival, Telekinesis is as strong as ever and doesn't require ammo, but I often find myself unable to find some brooms, pipes of some sort of serendipitously placed items to throw at them, not to mention the axe-wielding bunch drop their axes in tight precarious positions.
Co-op doesn't dampen the single player experience, although there are few side missions that require a teammate to complete. The size of the game is larger than previous ones, more areas to explore, some side missions here and there and lengthier story. Boss battles are few but well done. Although even with these improvements, I can't help but noticing the lack of thrill, imposing atmosphere and that gripping terror that once decorated previous titles.
Sound department is doing their best to establish the scare, creaking noise of closed doors, unusual hums that might or might not be lurking hostiles, or blatant scream thirsts for your blood. It's just the setting doesn't invoke such ambiance, and after some time the effect wears off significantly.
Dubbing is solid, I especially like Ellie's and Danik's accent. Isaac sounds so tired, yet lingering hope for reconciliation remains. There's not much of dying message to increase the sense of danger though. Music is bare, nothing stands out too much, it does work for more subtle approach. Sound effect delivers the gore adequately, the sound of bone-crunching of your enemies' demise is utterly satisfying.
Playtime will take approximately twenty hours, multiple new game+ are available afterwards. Story isn't really up to par with the predecessors, at the latter part of the game just trudged with little expectation ahead. Dead Space 3 offers more diverse gameplay with crafting, all the basics are intact, but sadly it loses some of the horror allure.
Graph: Interesting graphic display in larger areas, good designs throughout, but some awkward glitches or motions dwindle the value.7.5/10 Sound : Voice actors deliver their performance well, eerie voices and sound effects are ever-present. 8/10 Gameplay: Great crafting addition, more varied resources and weapon usage while preserving the core of its fast action. 8.5/10 Presentation : Sadly it's only a low level of intimidating atmosphere. The new story offers longer experience but with less substance. 6/10 Overall 7.5