[9.25/10] A stunning sequel with more horror and gore than ever, engaging and thrilling storyline and more weapons.

User Rating: 9 | Dead Space 2 X360
By JokerPRO10 | Review Date:
Fear is something that's hard-wired into us from an evolutionary standpoint. It heightens the senses, gives us a burst of adrenaline and helps us react to fight or flight situations. So why then, does all of this kick in when we're playing a video game? We're not actually being attacked by monsters for real. We're not in any genuine imminent danger. In fact, the truth is, it's all about immersion, and making you feel like you are there. In Dead Space 2, there's always this all-pervading sense of peril and the ever-looming threat of death lurking around each and every corner, and it still feels real, even if it isn't because of the believable world and moody atmosphere that Visceral has created. Suffice to say then, that Dead Space 2 is bloody terrifying.

* Audio - 100/100
A perfect blend of a spare, subtle soundtrack, filled with incidental sound effects that keep you constantly on your guard. It adds to Dead Space 2's oppressive atmosphere, while pouring on the terror at all the right moments. You'll jump out of your skin on several occasions, that's for sure. And not talking about the Voice Acting which of course are Excellent.

* Visuals - 95/100
Dead Space 2 excels in producing some of the most gloopy, oozing instances of gore and viscera with a remarkable level of detail. It's the environments that steal the show however, with rusting decrepit facilities giving way to dripping cavernous mines and sterile office buildings. Every inch of the Sprawl looks believable, making DS2 a very immersive experience.
Also the Necromorphs this time are really scary.

* Gameplay - 90/100
It's virtually the same as Dead Space 1 in terms of playability, so it's still wonderfully fluid and intuitive, but Visceral have made a clear effort to tighten things up, so movement is slicker, the TK mechanics feel better and the game in general is just massively fun to play. Occasionally, the action does become a bit too overwhelming though.
Dead Space 2 is the complete package with its new multiplayer mode, but Dead Space purists will be happy to know that there's a single-player component of similar size to its forebear, offering a solid 10 hours or so of gameplay and just as much replay value as before. Multiplayer is a fantastic bonus, but might not be quite enough to tear you away from the likes of Left 4 Dead's Versus mode, which does a similar thing, only much, much better.

* SUMMARY -
Dead Space 2 is better than the first game. The audio is still utterly masterful, creating suspense at all the right junctures, while the visuals and gameplay make Visceral's game one of the finest examples of cinematic gaming at its best. The bottom line however, is that Dead Space 2 is one of the most downright terrifying games that you're ever likely to play. It'll give you nightmares, guaranteed.

Dead Space 2 gets an Almost Perfect 9.5/10

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