Grandios Staged continuation of the Dead Space series

After my predecessor "Dead Space" has fallen very well despite some teething problems such as hakeliger control, of course, I had to know how the story of the brave mechanic Isaac Clarke and the mysterious Marker continues. And advance: Dead Space 2 fully met my expectations of a good sequel.

The story follows on from the events of the first part to: After Isaac Clarke escaped the horror on the USG Ishimura, he finds himself three years later as a patient in a psychiatric ward at the "Sprawl" again, a gigantic space city near the Jupiter moon Titan. Apparently, the events of the first part Isaacs have mind whirled tidy. And when they were still asking what is actually going on exactly, breaks even Sodom and Ghomorrha going to the station. Before you know it Isaac is again in the midst nightmare to the Necromorphs ...

In the following I'll shimmy along to individual sub-items:

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STORY / ATMOSPHERE:

Like its predecessor, Dead Space 2 is not a run and gun action shooter, but a typical representative of the survival horror genre. Again, we do not control any fighting machine in the Super Armor, but a mechanic who relies on his "tools" (eg plasma torch). The ammunition tends to be scarce, the environment bleak and the whole is neatly brushed on horror. This is the developers Visceral Games excellently managed. The shocking moments are a bit more predictable than in the predecessor, make sure graphics, sound design, and especially for staging tidy goosebumps. Especially the latter is in Dead Space 2 really stands out well done: The scripted action sequences and Quick Time Events (QTEs) are varied and exciting. In a creative way these inserts provide a liquid-rousing connection between periods.
Although the story about the Unitologen, the extraterrestrial markers and the gruesome Necromorphs is not age, but in my opinion, are likely to motivate the players and to transport the "horror even" feel. In a prime System Shock 2-style one sets out to unravel the fate of the residents and the secrets behind the events via text, audio and video log. This makes extremely fun, the only downer: The story elements are vielleciht a bit thin on the ground, a little more background might have contributed extremely to generate a good mood.

Positive contrast is striking that Isaac Clarke is now no longer just a faceless player avatar, but this time more lively interacts with its environment. We hear talk about Isaac, and may also quite often times see his face;). That makes our protagonist equal to a piece of sympathetic. Ever Dead Space 2 is also thanks to the good production (see above) livelier than its predecessor: There are characters that really "act", and conduct not only exclusively via video messages Isaac from A to B. This makes the scenario more credible, but overall you get in this part unfortunately very little from the "trappings" with. On a Raumstadtion with several millions of souls was supposed to be going on a little more.

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GRAPHICS:

The graph is in my eyes not a milestone of the genre, but meets all requirements to carry the game feeling. The lighting effects and textures are carefully designed, the faces of the protagonists animated soulful. There is not much to complain about. Thumbs up ... if you can show the appropriate hardware. So urgently check the hardware requirements in the product description!

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SOUND:

Again: nothing to complain about. Orchestral sounds, the usual "stress-promoting" noise peaks like "Whoa, what happened the same!" ... Support the somber horror atmosphere excellent!

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CONTROL:

Here Dead Space 2 has fortunately learned from its predecessor. The owners of the PC version can now look forward to a neatly converted from the console control. And this time, finally, the keys are freely configurable! Although both the movements of the protagonist as well as the objectives with the weapons continue to be a bit sluggish, but you get used to it very quickly, and ultimately this is also likely to assist the "Survival" -Spielgefühl: The Trögheit drives a already the sweat when a horde Necormorphs rushes the player.
An outstanding success, the developers this time, the control in the weightless game sequences. With thrusters and a function "at the bottom align" you get the feeling of heaviness and disorientation beautifully conveys, but without getting lost. Prima!
Finally, it should also be designed for the console inventory and HUD mentioned. All major indicators such as life points and stasis energy we can read back from the images displayed on Isaacs. The inventory, the Textlogs etc. are projected into the room. That looks pretty and fits very well in the scenario, but is sometimes a bit difficult to handle. The same applies to the weapons range. Also affected by the conversion, the console QTEs that in the PC version to plump keys hammers ("E") have degenerated. Too bad. This is only a minor complaint. Overall, the control is well done and compared to its predecessor a clear improvement.

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LEVEL DESIGN:

The programmers have been in the design of spaces trouble. Many details, such as messages, objects, etc. produce a coherent horror scenario. The zero-gravity scenarios, the imposing Cathedral of Unitologen, the gloomy corridors of the space station: It all looks very pretty. Unfortunately, with time but also a bit redundant and cloned.
The level design itself is good but tailored to the plot: Long distances or senseless Herumgelaufe remain actually complete as the cord you will be driven by the story. Where would we even arrived at perhaps the greatest criticism of Dead Space 2: For this game, the term has been invented "linear". There is a way, and only this one. Linear could be just a rail shooter. Then there is the practical, but somehow also logical "guide" function, in us, a light signal indicating the already obvious way. Level maps no longer exists, it no longer needs, too, the levels are all constructed tubularly and guide the protagonist straight through the story. The only hint of freedom lies in the very nice upgrade function of weapons. Too bad, but one can not have everything.

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SCOPE AND AROUND

They say yes EA often by throwing relatively unloving and short Merchandise clones on the market. So Dead Space 2 is not fortunately. The game is well designed and finished with about 10-15 hours provides a decent game for today's conditions circumference. After the first games there's the Singleplayer additional items and other gimmicks, the replay value is actually moderately but. The multiplayer is nice, but not worth mentioning in my eyes, because the game concept for player-versus-player battles is not dynmisch enough. Dead Space 2 is tailored to the single player mode.
Slightly negative to mention is certainly the registry compulsory (Caution: Dead Space 2 can be installed only a few times, after which the license is gone and you have customer support!). Those who do not get along with these things, you should stay away from Dead Space. 2 And to make also about the bad habit, with downloadable content (DLC) additionally Checkout, you may disagree. Fortunately, you can tell Dead Space 2 but no DLC gaps.

Finally, I should like to mention the enormous brutality of the game here. Dead Space 2 bears the label "18" rightly and does not belong in the hands of children! And also kind-hearted adults should stay away from this product. Blood flows hectoliters example, the gameplay is designed to divide his opponents carefully, and the whole scenery is extremely bloody. There are eyes gouged out, slit throats, heads durchbort etc. etc .. The death animations are (unnecessarily) finely elaborated. And for my taste Dead Space is in some places a little about the still justifiable by the horror atmosphere taste limit overshot. I see at least no increased play value therein, mutated diminutive (= children) with spear guns strike down or bloated babies (!) With cutting torches cut off the head, or to explode. Needless. And therefore again a total perception: Dead Space 2 is not for children or people with weak nerves!

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CONCLUSION:

"Dead Space 2" leads the series more worthy and shines with a brilliant staging, a proper story and an acceptable season. The game grabs you, a tear with and chasing shivers down your spine. Most likely you could describe with Dead Space 2 System Shock 2 minus RPG elements and story but with plus blood, gore and staging. Overall, I find this game extremely well done and only the aforementioned linearity, the unnecessary brutality and some small niggles prevent my personal highest score.

Who can start with the genre something and has no problem with registration compulsory and tidy brutality, receives as well as its predecessor a strong buy recommendation! I look forward to an eventual third part.