General Gaming Dead Space really holds up

[ShreddieMercury]

I bought all three Dead Space games in a recent sale having never played them before, and I'm surprised at how well they hold up.  I am nearing the end of the first game, and while the environments are sort of bland and repetitive, the visuals and the gameplay are really excellent.  I don't know if these are enhanced on the Xbox One X, but even on the One S there is a noticeable increase in the visuals over the 360.  What's the consensus with these?  I understand 2 is maybe the best, and 3 is not as well liked.

[Xbob42]

1 nails the more "pure" horror experience best, while 2 plays the best and has the best action, sometimes at the cost of atmosphere. 3 isn't terrible or anything but it's a big fall from grace and a real shame. Still worth playing in my opinion, and despite it being one of those games of that generation where they tacked-on co-op, I think if you find a co-op partner willing to just play the game (for the first time) with you, it can be pretty cool, as there's some pretty unique stuff that goes on.

 

I think the games definitely hold up, and enjoy them very much. Was playing DS1 in 4K on Steam just a week or two ago and was just as in it as ever.

[Bloodporne]

I think DS2 is the best one overall. It's not as Survival Horror as the first one but I think it nails a good balance between Action and Horror and the gameplay improvements are worth the sacrifice in overall mood to me. I never played DS3. 

 

What I will say is that I noticed just how repetitive and somewhat, and I hate to use the word, lazy the encounters get. DS2 especially gets into that big set piece, quiet walking around, big set piece, quiet walking around rut. Usually the action set pieces involve being locked into an arena with two or three waves of seemingly random enemy types. It's still really fun more often then not but yeah, it really stuck out because I had played Resident Evil 4 shortly before replayed DS1 and DS2.

[XxEvil AshxX]

When you get to Dead Space 3, you get to see the early days of EA's "Let's cram MTX into literally everything!" philosophy. It also shows what happens when EA forces shit into a game that doesn't need it, which results in a dumpster fire of a game development and a final product that underperforms, which THEN results in EA taking Visceral Games behind the shed and doing what Poppa EA does best.

 

If you play 1-3 back to back, you'll see the EA rollercoaster giving a dev a meager budget, seeing success, giving them a bigger budget, seeing more success, then pulling an EA and completely fucking ruining it for everyone.

 

It's not a bad game but you'll definitely see the change in direction.

[Brick]

Still need to play the third game, but the first two are some of my favourites from last gen; they just bleed atmosphere, and the sound design is excellent. Shame EA had to end Visceral, but I would love to see a revival of the series for next gen, and return as a proper, atmospheric, survival-action horror game, with more emphasis on the survival side. Imagine playing it with 3D audio, and ray traced lighting. Survival horror as a genre is really going to shine next gen, I think.

[skillzdadirecta]

I love the series with 3 being my least favorite of the trilogy. Issac's campaign in the third game but I never went back and played the other guy's. I wouldn't mind replaying the game though as I was always impressed by the atmosphere and production design of the game. I played the series on the PS3 for some reason but is it BC on either system? I wouldn't mind running through all three games again.

[XxEvil AshxX]

8 minutes ago, skillzdadirecta said:

I love the series with 3 being my least favorite of the trilogy. Issac's campaign in the third game but I never went back and played the other guy's. I wouldn't mind replaying the game though as I was always impressed by the atmosphere and production design of the game. I played the series on the PS3 for some reason but is it BC on either system? I wouldn't mind running through all three games again.

 

All three are BC on XBO.

[skillzdadirecta]

5 minutes ago, XxEvil AshxX said:

 

All three are BC on XBO.

[stepee]

ur mom really holds up

[Brick]

56 minutes ago, BlueAngel said:

Never played the series, I apparently have first one on Steam maybe I should give it a go.

 

Yes you should.

[Greatoneshere]

I love the entire trilogy. Each game is uniquely horror, each in a very different way. The co-op in the third was boss. Definitely recommend people should play them all, just know it all ends on an enormous cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

 

I honestly think Dead Space 3 is underrated. If you ignore all the EA advertising bits, the game truly is pretty epic. If you play co-op, the way you get the dynamic between the two characters is very involving. And there's still plenty of horror. And you travel space a lot, which feels so cool in Dead Space. It's still a Visceral game, which means it's incredibly well made.

 

Hell, even the Dead Space: Extraction on rails game was awesome, and involved a very interesting subplot in the overall Dead Space mythos that continues with Dead Space 2 DLC. That storyline too, unfortunately, ends on a massive cliffhanger that will never be resolved. 

 

*sigh*

[Brick]

17 hours ago, Greatoneshere said:

I love the entire trilogy. Each game is uniquely horror, each in a very different way. The co-op in the third was boss. Definitely recommend people should play them all, just know it all ends on an enormous cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

 

I honestly think Dead Space 3 is underrated. If you ignore all the EA advertising bits, the game truly is pretty epic. If you play co-op, the way you get the dynamic between the two characters is very involving. And there's still plenty of horror. And you travel space a lot, which feels so cool in Dead Space. It's still a Visceral game, which means it's incredibly well made.

 

Hell, even the Dead Space: Extraction on rails game was awesome, and involved a very interesting subplot in the overall Dead Space mythos that continues with Dead Space 2 DLC. That storyline too, unfortunately, ends on a massive cliffhanger that will never be resolved. 

 

*sigh*

 

I heard Dead Space 3 has DLC that is basically the full ending of the game (thank you EA for making DLC that should have been part of the main game, just like with Mass Effect 3), but is that the cliffhanger ending you're talking about? Or are you referring to the main game, and you haven't played the DLC. 

 

I remember I rented the on rails game for the Wii from Blockbuster, and yeah it's pretty damn fun. I don't know anything about the Dead Space 2 DLC though. 

[Greatoneshere]

10 minutes ago, Brick said:

 

I heard Dead Space 3 has DLC that is basically the full ending of the game (thank you EA for making DLC that should have been part of the main game, just like with Mass Effect 3), but is that the cliffhanger ending you're talking about? Or are you referring to the main game, and you haven't played the DLC. 

 

I remember I rented the on rails game for the Wii from Blockbuster, and yeah it's pretty damn fun. I don't know anything about the Dead Space 2 DLC though. 

 

The DLC adds much more story, but it ends on an even bigger cliffhanger. So I'm referring to the Dead Space 3 DLC final ending.  I was a pretty obsessive Dead Space fan so I pretty much played/read/watched everything.  

 

Dead Space: Extraction (the on-rails shooter Wii game) was bundled with the release of Dead Space 2 on the PS3 to be played with the Sony motion controller (could also play Extraction with a regular PS3 controller, which is what I did). Dead Space: Extraction ends on a cliffhanger that implies a pretty significant subplot to the Dead Space story and mythos. So Dead Space 2 DLC specifically follows up on the characters who survived by the end of Extraction. Unfortunately, the Dead Space 2 DLC that connects to Extraction also ends on a huge cliffhanger ending with a lot of potentially interesting implications for Dead Space.

 

Dead Space 3, nor its DLC, picks up those pieces (presumably, further DLC, another Extraction-type game, or Dead Space 4 would have picked it back up). I'm still pretty sour on EA for how they treated Visceral and Dead Space alone, much less all their other shit.

[Brick]

4 minutes ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

The DLC adds much more story, but it ends on an even bigger cliffhanger. So I'm referring to the Dead Space 3 DLC final ending.  I was a pretty obsessive Dead Space fan so I pretty much played/read/watched everything.  

 

Dead Space: Extraction (the on-rails shooter Wii game) was bundled with the release of Dead Space 2 on the PS3 to be played with the Sony motion controller (could also play Extraction with a regular PS3 controller, which is what I did). Dead Space: Extraction ends on a cliffhanger that implies a pretty significant subplot to the Dead Space story and mythos. So Dead Space 2 DLC specifically follows up on the characters who survived by the end of Extraction. Unfortunately, the Dead Space 2 DLC that connects to Extraction also ends on a huge cliffhanger ending with a lot of potentially interesting implications for Dead Space.

 

Dead Space 3, nor its DLC, picks up those pieces (presumably, further DLC, another Extraction-type game, or Dead Space 4 would have picked it back up). I'm still pretty sour on EA for how they treated Visceral and Dead Space alone, much less all their other shit.

 

Can you remind me what happened in Extraction, and the DS2 DLC? It's been years since I played Extraction, and like I said I never played the DLC for 2 (doesn't even look like it's on Steam). 

[Greatoneshere]

12 minutes ago, Brick said:

 

Can you remind me what happened in Extraction, and the DS2 DLC? It's been years since I played Extraction, and like I said I never played the DLC for 2 (doesn't even look like it's on Steam). 

 

I don't do this to be dismissive, it's hard to summarize in my own words so I'll link you (the Wiki summaries are short!):

 

http://en.wikipedia.org//static/favicon/wikipedia.ico Dead Space: Extraction - Wikipedia

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

http://en.wikipedia.org//static/favicon/wikipedia.ico Dead Space 2 - Wikipedia

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

Those will take you directly to each. Basically though, Lexine has hints (the main female character of Extraction who survives it and Dead Space 2 DLC: Severed) that she can communicate with the Markers in the game and provide immunity to necromorph infestation to those in her close proximity. It's also hinted at that government agents keep trying to experiment on her (similar to Isaac Clark) and that Clark and Lexine (and others the government may be hunting) are connected to each other and the Markers in some way. The implications here were that the Extraction plotline was going to become a major piece eventually with the main narrative. That the spin-off storyline was important. Not easy to summarize haha. 

[Nokt]

On 11/6/2020 at 11:30 AM, ShreddieMercuryRising said:

I bought all three Dead Space games in a recent sale having never played them before, and I'm surprised at how well they hold up.  I am nearing the end of the first game, and while the environments are sort of bland and repetitive, the visuals and the gameplay are really excellent.  I don't know if these are enhanced on the Xbox One X, but even on the One S there is a noticeable increase in the visuals over the 360.  What's the consensus with these?  I understand 2 is maybe the best, and 3 is not as well liked.

Having finished up the first game about a week ago I agree. I really think the first game could use a good mod or "remaster". Its textures are really dated.

 

On 11/6/2020 at 11:50 AM, Bloodporne said:

I think DS2 is the best one overall. It's not as Survival Horror as the first one but I think it nails a good balance between Action and Horror and the gameplay improvements are worth the sacrifice in overall mood to me. I never played DS3. 

 

What I will say is that I noticed just how repetitive and somewhat, and I hate to use the word, lazy the encounters get. DS2 especially gets into that big set piece, quiet walking around, big set piece, quiet walking around rut. Usually the action set pieces involve being locked into an arena with two or three waves of seemingly random enemy types. It's still really fun more often then not but yeah, it really stuck out because I had played Resident Evil 4 shortly before replayed DS1 and DS2.

I'd still have to give it to DS1. It just really nails the presentation and atmosphere. Isolated, persistent fog around the ship/lack of sight, sound cues, etc. It can get a little predictable with enemies later on, but I don't think its really a huge deal breaker.  I like the fact that DS2 goes into Isaac's psyche, dementia, and hallucinations, but I just don't think Titan Station is anywhere near as good as the Ishimura. The areas are more varied, but it loses its claustrophobia often and is rarely scary. 

 

I guess another issue (if you can call it that) is that the Plasma cutter is probably the best gun in DS1. The only reason I even took the Pulse Rifle with me is for situations when I didn't have time to reload or I would run low on ammo. DS2 has some outright OP weapons though. Force Gun and Contact Beam together can obliterate pretty much any situation. If I had to recommend anything in DS2 its that you don't touch any of the DLC weapons until you unlock them in game.

 

19 hours ago, Greatoneshere said:

I love the entire trilogy. Each game is uniquely horror, each in a very different way. The co-op in the third was boss. Definitely recommend people should play them all, just know it all ends on an enormous cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

 

I honestly think Dead Space 3 is underrated. If you ignore all the EA advertising bits, the game truly is pretty epic. If you play co-op, the way you get the dynamic between the two characters is very involving. And there's still plenty of horror. And you travel space a lot, which feels so cool in Dead Space. It's still a Visceral game, which means it's incredibly well made.

 

Hell, even the Dead Space: Extraction on rails game was awesome, and involved a very interesting subplot in the overall Dead Space mythos that continues with Dead Space 2 DLC. That storyline too, unfortunately, ends on a massive cliffhanger that will never be resolved. 

 

*sigh*

Its been awhile since I've played DS3, but it brings a lot of the same issues I have with 2, but even more. Gameplay in general feels more actiony and while it has some really beautiful set pieces, they rarely evoke a feeling of horror. The maps feel even larger is scope than 2. Does it have scary moments, sure. If I had to rank the genres by what is most prevalent it would be something like DS1 is a horror sci-fi shooter, DS2 is a sci-fi horror shooter, and DS3 is a Sci-fi shooter with some horror. I don't hate DS3, it just distanced itself further from what I enjoyed about the series than I would have liked.

 

I don't remember much about reading Martyr, but I do remember enjoying it. Have you read any of the books and are they worth reading?

[Greatoneshere]

15 minutes ago, Nokt said:

Its been awhile since I've played DS3, but it brings a lot of the same issues I have with 2, but even more. Gameplay in general feels more actiony and while it has some really beautiful set pieces, they rarely evoke a feeling of horror. The maps feel even larger is scope than 2. Does it have scary moments, sure. If I had to rank the genres by what is most prevalent it would be something like DS1 is a horror sci-fi shooter, DS2 is a sci-fi horror shooter, and DS3 is a Sci-fi shooter with some horror. I don't hate DS3, it just distanced itself further from what I enjoyed about the series than I would have liked.

 

I don't remember much about reading Martyr, but I do remember enjoying it. Have you read any of the books and are they worth reading?

 

I agree completely with your assessment. I was just simply okay with where DS3 headed. I'm not just in it for horror, so I probably minded less.

 

The only Dead Space stuff I read was the initial comic that then led into the animated film that then lead into Dead Space 1. Sounds like you read even more than I did! 

[Bloodporne]

2 hours ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

The DLC adds much more story, but it ends on an even bigger cliffhanger. So I'm referring to the Dead Space 3 DLC final ending.  I was a pretty obsessive Dead Space fan so I pretty much played/read/watched everything.  

 

Dead Space: Extraction (the on-rails shooter Wii game) was bundled with the release of Dead Space 2 on the PS3 to be played with the Sony motion controller (could also play Extraction with a regular PS3 controller, which is what I did). Dead Space: Extraction ends on a cliffhanger that implies a pretty significant subplot to the Dead Space story and mythos. So Dead Space 2 DLC specifically follows up on the characters who survived by the end of Extraction. Unfortunately, the Dead Space 2 DLC that connects to Extraction also ends on a huge cliffhanger ending with a lot of potentially interesting implications for Dead Space.

 

Dead Space 3, nor its DLC, picks up those pieces (presumably, further DLC, another Extraction-type game, or Dead Space 4 would have picked it back up). I'm still pretty sour on EA for how they treated Visceral and Dead Space alone, much less all their other shit.

Extraction was great. I had it on the Wii at some point and really enjoyed it for what it was.

 

 

[ShreddieMercury]

I beat Dead Space 1 and really liked it.  It seems like they were trying to make Event Horizon: The Game, and they completely succeeded.  I then played about 3 hours of DS2, and while I can certainly see that it's more action-focused and less atmospheric, it's a better game in almost every way.  Whereas the first game's levels followed a pattern that wore thin toward the end, the variety of set pieces and level designs in just the first couple hours of DS2 make it much more interesting and compelling to play in my experience.  From what I've read here, it sounds like I won't mind the direction taken with DS3, though I won't be playing co-op so hopefully it's just as fun single-player.

[Bloodporne]

5 minutes ago, ShreddieMercuryRising said:

I beat Dead Space 1 and really liked it.  It seems like they were trying to make Event Horizon: The Game, and they completely succeeded.  I then played about 3 hours of DS2, and while I can certainly see that it's more action-focused and less atmospheric, it's a better game in almost every way.  Whereas the first game's levels followed a pattern that wore thin toward the end, the variety of set pieces and level designs in just the first couple hours of DS2 make it much more interesting and compelling to play in my experience.  From what I've read here, it sounds like I won't mind the direction taken with DS3, though I won't be playing co-op so hopefully it's just as fun single-player.

I'll be honest, despite being a massive Horror buff, I don't really see how DS2 is a huge step down in terms of Horror so I wouldn't worry. To me, DS1 wasn't near Survival Horror either, it was always basically Resident Evil 4: Event Horizon. DS2 is more 'big budget-y' but I don't think it's a jump like Alien to Aliens for example.

 

There are some really hair-raising areas in DS2, that's for sure. And goddamn is pinning enemies against the wall with random environmental shit cool.

[ShreddieMercury]

2 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I'll be honest, despite being a massive Horror buff, I don't really see how DS2 is a huge step down in terms of Horror so I wouldn't worry. To me, DS1 wasn't near Survival Horror either, it was always basically Resident Evil 4: Event Horizon. DS2 is more 'big budget-y' but I don't think it's a jump like Alien to Aliens for example.

 

There are some really hair-raising areas in DS2, that's for sure. And goddamn is pinning enemies against the wall with random environmental shit cool.

 

Awesome, yeah it's definitely still horror, but it feels more bombastic and less creepy than the first one.  Agreed about the physics, they really made kinesis a viable weapon.  Aside from some textures here and there, it could easily be mistaken for a current-gen game.  The combat is much more dynamic than I thought it would be, and there have been some crazy awesome combinations of stasis, kinesis, and exploding body parts that are super impressive.

[Bloodporne]

1 hour ago, ShreddieMercuryRising said:

 

Awesome, yeah it's definitely still horror, but it feels more bombastic and less creepy than the first one.  Agreed about the physics, they really made kinesis a viable weapon.  Aside from some textures here and there, it could easily be mistaken for a current-gen game.  The combat is much more dynamic than I thought it would be, and there have been some crazy awesome combinations of stasis, kinesis, and exploding body parts that are super impressive.

I don't know if the game explains it and if you've tried this yet but you can actually fire those "blade"-armed enemies' severed arms back as projectiles and they're pretty damn damaging as far as I recall. I remember hitting them with stasis, shooting one arm off, grabbing it with kinesis and impaling the same enemy with its own arm.

 

[Nokt]

14 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

There are some really hair-raising areas in DS2, that's for sure. And goddamn is pinning enemies against the wall with random environmental shit cool.

If you've never played FEAR I highly recommend it just for the Penetrator. Same concept, a lot more enemies to slam into the wall.

[Bloodporne]

55 minutes ago, Nokt said:

If you've never played FEAR I highly recommend it just for the Penetrator. Same concept, a lot more enemies to slam into the wall.

I have, the combat was great as far as I recall and it was really moody. 

[Brick]

The Javelin is 2 is so satisfying to pin an enemy to the wall. Then alt fire to electrocute nearby enemies. 

[HardAct]

I so loved DS1 & 2 and with all these remakes being done, these are my most anticipated games to get the same treatment. They are/were so great back then...