Finally have gotten around to playing these games (still midway through 2 though) and in every Dead Space thread I've been in — or at least the recent ones— it seems like most folks prefer the first one. I'm kind of surprised though, because playing them back to back makes it feel like an Uncharted 1 to Uncharted 2 jump. I thought I would like the first game more just based on everyone saying it was the better horror experience, but I don't think it really delivered on that aspect.
The fire that Dead Space is a solid game, don't get me wrong. Rock solid mechanics, tons of polish, some nice atmosphere. But it also feels like it's caught between trying to be a horror game and an action game and never really satisfying as either.
As a horror game, it's simply far too linea. I was excited when I opened the map and started running into locked doors because I assumed the game would be akin to classic Resident Evil where you do a bunch of backtracking as you slowly unlock an area, and while there is backtracking it's all scripted and linear. I turned out to never have to use the map at all in the game, because the levels were so linear and the "secret" rooms were all along the main path anyway. I didn't find the game scary either, but I'm aware that's totally subjective, because the hallway encounters were too predictable.
The game is at its best when you're in the super chaotic encounters that mix multiple enemy types, but because the game wants to try to build dread, it takes several hours before the game starts throwing these types of encounters at you and they're fairly far between. It's the interstitial segments that feel like a bit of a slog as the environments are too repetitious, as are the objectives and pacing beats (basically every chapter is structured the same way), and the boss fights were not good at all.
Like I said, solid game, but it feels a touch uninspired in its execution despite a great foundation and good mechanics. Moments like where you have to move the bunk beds around to block the unkillable enemy as you're being chased were great tense setpieces though to spice up the mundanity though.
Dead Space 2 though? This is the closest a western game has come to Resident Evil 4. Of course this game is also most closely aping it, but in terms of western action games I can't think of one that so consistently throws new things at the player, with the brisk pacing constantly moving you through gorgeous and varied environments, great encounters with new enemy types, brief uber polished setpieces, and other pacing shake ups.
It doesn't feel tired in the way the first game did, and right from the jump the game throws you into an insane spectacle driven setpiece (as opposed to the opening of the prior game where you're given no control a time all) and wastes no time at all in giving you new tools, weapons, and getting right to the good stuff in the encounters.
The sprawl is a way better location than the Ishimura too, as each section has so much detail and feels distinct from one another. The Unitology Church (this feels like the prototype for the mansion level in Evil Within, which did a better job of making it a mini-classic Resident Evil area where you backtrack around) was a great area and just as soon as I was getting tired of it moves you along to the elementary school with all sorts of varied interstitial stuff in between.
I'm not done with the game, I just finished the elevator encounter that yooo me up to a Solar Array, but if this game doesn't let up for the remainder I could see this entering my top 5 third person shooters, and like The Evil Within it feels like a worthy fallow up to everything I liked about RE4.
What do y'all think about these games?
The fire that Dead Space is a solid game, don't get me wrong. Rock solid mechanics, tons of polish, some nice atmosphere. But it also feels like it's caught between trying to be a horror game and an action game and never really satisfying as either.
As a horror game, it's simply far too linea. I was excited when I opened the map and started running into locked doors because I assumed the game would be akin to classic Resident Evil where you do a bunch of backtracking as you slowly unlock an area, and while there is backtracking it's all scripted and linear. I turned out to never have to use the map at all in the game, because the levels were so linear and the "secret" rooms were all along the main path anyway. I didn't find the game scary either, but I'm aware that's totally subjective, because the hallway encounters were too predictable.
The game is at its best when you're in the super chaotic encounters that mix multiple enemy types, but because the game wants to try to build dread, it takes several hours before the game starts throwing these types of encounters at you and they're fairly far between. It's the interstitial segments that feel like a bit of a slog as the environments are too repetitious, as are the objectives and pacing beats (basically every chapter is structured the same way), and the boss fights were not good at all.
Like I said, solid game, but it feels a touch uninspired in its execution despite a great foundation and good mechanics. Moments like where you have to move the bunk beds around to block the unkillable enemy as you're being chased were great tense setpieces though to spice up the mundanity though.
Dead Space 2 though? This is the closest a western game has come to Resident Evil 4. Of course this game is also most closely aping it, but in terms of western action games I can't think of one that so consistently throws new things at the player, with the brisk pacing constantly moving you through gorgeous and varied environments, great encounters with new enemy types, brief uber polished setpieces, and other pacing shake ups.
It doesn't feel tired in the way the first game did, and right from the jump the game throws you into an insane spectacle driven setpiece (as opposed to the opening of the prior game where you're given no control a time all) and wastes no time at all in giving you new tools, weapons, and getting right to the good stuff in the encounters.
The sprawl is a way better location than the Ishimura too, as each section has so much detail and feels distinct from one another. The Unitology Church (this feels like the prototype for the mansion level in Evil Within, which did a better job of making it a mini-classic Resident Evil area where you backtrack around) was a great area and just as soon as I was getting tired of it moves you along to the elementary school with all sorts of varied interstitial stuff in between.
I'm not done with the game, I just finished the elevator encounter that yooo me up to a Solar Array, but if this game doesn't let up for the remainder I could see this entering my top 5 third person shooters, and like The Evil Within it feels like a worthy fallow up to everything I liked about RE4.
What do y'all think about these games?
