Terrifying and intense! This game is a must play.
When I first sat down to play Dead Space in October 2008, I remember the instant gratification I had toward it. I had to get a change of shorts when the game opened up almost instantly with one of the most horrifying scenes I've ever experienced! This game, from beginning to end, made me feel like something was lurking around every corner, much like the original Resident Evil. The graphics were truly fantastic, and with new frightening enemies appearing each chapter, getting comfortable was almost impossible.
The story in Dead Space was nothing spectacular, but it had plenty of twists and turns to keep me hooked and interested. Whenever it felt like I was just getting close to my main objective, the plot would turn in a way that I could not have seen coming. Though you never hear the protagonist's voice in the game, you do start to feel for him as his quest to find his wife/girlfriend and get off the USG Ishimura continues to unfold. The game is full of action though, which takes away from the story, and I often found myself just following the objective lines, not thinking about what I was actually doing.
Difficulty wise, the game feels just right. Easy mode is best for those just starting out because you still get to experience the horror and the story without having to stress about lack of ammo. On the higher difficulties, normal and impossible, always remember that Stasis is your friend. Though you do not have as much ammo, and the enemies are tougher, you can use the Stasis ability to slow them down temporarily (And with the help of a pause-menu cheat code, more permanently).
Overall, this is one of the best horror games I have ever played. It is very much like Resident Evil 4, which I would say is a very good thing. The replay value depends on how much you enjoy to achieve trophies or achievements and how much you enjoyed the story. In my opinion, at least rent it because it is a must play. I recently rented this myself for another playthrough, and I have to say, it was just as terrifying and breathtaking over two years later.