Just beat Dead Space 2.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Not to stray off-topic, but...

If you want to talk about stupid hacking mini-games... then I think Bioshock deserves a mention. What a complete waste of time and disc space that was!

Thank God someone had the common sense on the development team to come up with the buyable "Automatic Hack Tool," or I seriously would have punched someone.. for real!

[MrHealthy]

It was ok. Better and less retarded than the first game, anyway. ...I never beat it

Stopped reading here. The first Dead Space is awesome all the way to the finish and easily one of the best survival horror games ever/one of the best this gen. The asteroids part was cool, and not hard. I am 1/4 of the way into DS2 so far and loving it. I wish RE would have developed in this way. Survival horror has a new king.

Agreed. Except for the asteroids part being cool. Didn't need to be there, wasn't rewarding, was glad to move on.

I'm on chapter 8 in Dead Space 2 right now and my god, what a ride so far. There have been a few things I have disliked (the tram section in chapter 2 was underwhelming) but overall everything is improved. The combat is less repitive with a whole slew of new enemy types. As well, more of the weapons are useful, opening up more combat strategies, including kenisis and melee being actually viable in combat now. Music and lighting have both been used much more effectively to put you on edge. And a very solid and unique multiplayer mode to boot.

Dead Space is one of, if not, my favourite new IP's this generation.

[J T]

Dead Space was one of the most finely crafted horror games to date and you forget everything else because you are hung up on the fact that you had to use manual controls on automated guns? Seriously?

[indecks]

I don't agree that it was finely crafted. It was generic and predictable. It wasn't scary. It wasn't 'dark and foreboding', it was poorly lit and annoying.

I honestly think that most people feel the game is 'one of the greatest evar' because of the gore factor. Even then it doesn't make it a great game. It was completely average.

[dsheinem]

I don't agree that it was finely crafted. It was generic and predictable. It wasn't scary. It wasn't 'dark and foreboding', it was poorly lit and annoying.

I honestly think that most people feel the game is 'one of the greatest evar' because of the gore factor. Even then it doesn't make it a great game. It was completely average.

Survival horror games are poorly lit. It's part of the genre and adds to the atmosphere.

I would like to know what recent survival horror game you think does a better job creating a tense mood, incorporating a variety of gameplay mechanics to keep things interesting, or delivering a more interesting story. Sure, fright in space is not new, but Dead Space has created a believable universe and a compelling horror story that isn't entirely derivative. That's rare in games generally, and especially in this genre.

[AppleQueso]

I've always felt personally that the main reason Dead Space stands out is because this gen has been pretty dry as far as good survival horror goes. Most of the classic franchises have gone down the toilet.

[dsheinem]

I've always felt personally that the main reason Dead Space stands out is because this gen has been pretty dry as far as good survival horror goes. Most of the classic franchises have gone down the toilet.

I agree - I don't think it is the best survival horror game ever, but it is certainly the best one this generation. It is one of the best all time, but there have been better.

Few survival horror games actually frighten me to the extent that I can feel my heart pumping, my attention become fixed, and I start to feel like I am actually in the game instead of playing one. About the best that most survival horror games can hope for are a few "jump" moments and some creepy atmosphere. Dead Space did a good job of pushing past that baseline and actually delivered some genuine psychological scares and in its better sections it was immersive in the way that some of the best survival horror games have been.

[Gamerforlife]

I've always felt personally that the main reason Dead Space stands out is because this gen has been pretty dry as far as good survival horror goes. Most of the classic franchises have gone down the toilet.

Yup, that's the truth I think. Dead Space is alright, but not NEARLY deserving of all the praise in this thread IMO

[elmagicochrisg]

[indecks]

Yup, that's the truth I think. Dead Space is alright, but not NEARLY deserving of all the praise in this thread IMO

Opinions differ...

To me Silent Hill is king, Dead Space is the runner-up...

Ah, Silent Hill. See that one, when it first came out actually was pretty terrifying. Well, Im not sure I played it when it came out, I played it maybe 2001? The 2nd was actually a half decent game too, but not scary at all.

Dead Space wasn't scary at all. Like - at all.