Dead Space 2

Not going to be a long review since I'm doing this on the spot but Dead Space 2 was a fantastic sequel to one of my favorite horror games ever. Literally right after the first cutscene you're thrust back into the nightmare-ish universe of Dead Space, this is a terrifying and awesome way to start a game like this. Basically Dead Space seeks to mix fast paced FPS elements with the horror genre, a combination we've seen for quite a long time. However, Dead Space does a fantastic job of immersing you into it's freakish world and give you that sense of isolation...then hope...and then having that little glimmer taken away from you leaving you not knowing what exactly is going on...a very familiar feeling from the first game due to Issac's severe dementia.

The game's mechanics work well and there are multiple weapons you can upgrade to suit your playstyle and advance through the game any way you see fit...whether it be with a flamethrower or everyone's best friend, the plasma cutter. The bossfights all work well, although I wasn't blown away by any of them like I was in the original Dead Space since a few early "bosses" become typical encounters later on. Another thing I have to mention here is the zero gravity sections which were kinda frustrating in the original Dead Space. They improved exponentially on this mechanic giving you full control of Issac's movement you can go in any direction you can think of...flip upside down...and it all works well enough that you can dodge projectiles with relative ease. Overall, Dead Space 2 improved on a lot of things that the first was lacking in, a welcomed upgrade.

Next I'd like to mention the fantastic graphics that just add to the effect of the nightmare that is Issac's life. The sheer brutality of the game is played out in a chaotic and visceral way thanks to the wonderful representation. The cutscenes were also some of the coolest and most intense things I have ever seen in a game...such as being launched through space from one end of the space station to another and then crashing through a vent and emerging relatively unharmed back on the other side. Very cool visuals all around.

Last thing I'll talk about is the various new types of necromorphs we encounter. They got pretty creative with a few of them and that's always cool to see the enemies evolve along with the game itself. One in particular that I felt was well designed and quite terrifying the first time around were the raptor-like necromorphs that will literally toy with you as they find openings and flank you with other members of their pack. These little bastards pack a punch and its a bit difficult to deal with them when you first encounter them since one will bait you while another rushes you from a blindspot. There are various other enemies that were new additions to the necromorph cast such as the new and improved "baby-boomers"(ahahah wordplay) and the creepy hoards of children turned necromorph that zerg rush you.

Dead Space 2 was a solid game overall that fans of the first, as well as new players, will be able to pick up and play and have a nice and terrifying experience. Love the game, totally worth the buy.