Jammin'!
I began playing and immediately noticed that the camera was annoying, Isaac's movement was awkward and the controls felt generally bad but after playing for a few hours and after I'd killed a load of grotesque monstery things I noticed that the frustrating camera and generally awkward movement got my heart pumping more than if they were perfect. The controls didn't make me want to pull out my hair, they just added to the game.
The lack of HUD is a stroke of genius in my opinion and is one of the reasons that this game is so immersive, it hardly ever takes you out of game and you try to hurry whenever you go into your inventory or map just in case a monster attacks as your reading, trying to find a place on the map or going through your items.
The graphics are very good, audio is amazing and the noises in the vents are simply superb, making you feel as if you are surrounded at all time.
I do, however have a few major complaints.
There are weapon stores and ammo all over and although this isn't my complaint it does lead me to the question: Why has no one survived? Almost everyone is dead despite the fact there are buzz saws, machine gun things and laser-type things costing very little in store. And if there are survivors (perhaps I just haven't reached that bit yet) why can I not hear gun fire, shouts, explosions or even attempted radio contact, it makes no sense.
Another complaint, that isn't complaint for me but probably is for loads of other people is, the game isn't very scary. There's lots of tension, atmosphere and creepiness but the enemy traps are predictable and music tends to sound whenever there's an encounter. I like this though as I was never any good at survival-horror games and this is one even I can enjoy because it's so good, I don't want to hide in a safe spot, scared of what's in the next room, I want to go in there and start chopping off limbs!
My last complaint is strategic dismemberment; one, what's so strategic about, you cut off their legs and arms and then they die, simple. And two, you're very restricted as to what you can cut off, you can cut off the legs and arms and head and then something else depending on the enemy but I just want to cut them in half through the chest, I think a super-heated laser should be able to do that.
My final comment is that, although there are many flaws in the game they're not technical or anything vital, they're just missed opportunities so I give Dead Space an 8.8 out of 10.
If you like shooters and want one with tension, atmosphere and super creepiness then this is about as good as they get!