Unlike what most suggest, horror is absolutely multi-flavored. Dead Space 3 just dips into a different flavor.
Behind all that muck is a great game. Dead Space 3's initial horror element; the unknown (or otherwise known as "what the **** went so wrong in this place!?") is, for the most part, gone. We the players have grown used to the necromorphs, we know what causes them, and we know how to kill them.
Visceral Games understands that and has decided to take on a different approach; oppressiveness. The necromorphs in DS3 are all faster, more menacing, greater in number, and most importantly; they want you dead. DS3 makes you feel that no matter what room you're in, you're never truly safe. They come out of vents, straight above you, they are smart and will try to surround you... they're all you expect of what you saw in the DS movies (for those who saw them), in a word; deadly.
Of course, to counteract this, you have your new weapon crafting system to sustain yourself. Being able to tailor weapons as you see fit with a common ammo module so as not to clog your inventory is a welcome addition, but its also -necessary-. Tack on the wrong weaponry, and the next necros might just mince you up before you do that to them.
The microtransactions take place in -here-. All crafting is done by way of collecting resources of different types in the game. These resources allow you to craft more powerful handles, engines, muzzles, attachments and barrels for your weapons. Micro-transactions offer you packages which you can buy these resources... only, its not needed. This is nothing else but a shortcut for those people who can't stand not having the most powerful arsenal right off the bat, or those who can't be bothered to explore the beautiful and creepy environments in DS3 (though sometimes there's no choice. You better RUN) to find small caches of materials, or use the scav bots to get more. That's the beauty of it, you don't -need- the microtransactions in order to play the game to its fullest, in fact, if I may say so, it does nothing but take AWAY from the experience. Don't do it.
Story's a bit of a "in the eye of the beholder" issue. Most reviews I've read stem concerns about the story due to Unitologists taking a bit of center stage as the main baddies. I have to say, I'm honestly not surprised. One of two major players was going to do it; EarthGov, or Unitology (Points for Unitology being founded by, initially, EarthGov scientists!). EarthGov had their little "oops! We blew it!" moment in DS: Aftermath and DS2. Unitology taking a crack at the "lets force illumination into the infidels" by releasing a necromorph outbreak made perfect sense to me. This is a turning point in the series where the two biggest factions collided. As far as Isaac and Ellie go... I won't spoil things, though I admit Carver as a character is a tad bland. Though major points for including Mr Simon Templeman (the great Kain, for you Legacy of Kain fans) as an antagonist, I love his voice work.
Finally, difficulty. Despite the additions of dodging and crouching, DS3 is a remarkably difficult entry in the series, and this is with its controllers responding perfectly in a mouse/keyboard setup. You take damage and you take it fast. Enemies will often take you by surprise and you pay in blood for it. Medkits do seem plentiful, but you run through them quickly and without noticing. When you add that to the fact that you have multiple difficulty modes which include survival (massive resource management), hardcore (you only get one life), the game gives you all the options you want if you ever feel the ride's getting too easy. By all means, here's a bunch of harder modes for you, knock yourselves out! Sharing the horror with co-op is just a fun addition. Bring one of your friends for the ride and have a blast. Share blueprints and weaponry, its all well thought out.
All in all, despite being 12-14 hours in, I believe I made a good purchase in Dead Space 3. It hasn't disappointed me, and I doubt it will. I have yet to get deeper into the Co-op system but what I've played so far, I've very much loved.
My message in short is: this game deserves an honest shot, a brand new game kind of shot. Don't buy this used people, its worth a new purchase. Its true EA has left its grubby print on this franchise (Microtransactions and DLC), but Visceral Games has created a unique gem here, and another excellent entry into the Dead Space series.