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Great blog! One moment that has stuck with me from Dead Space 2 was when you have to go on the set of what appears to be a school play and your attacked by The Pack. These were kids who for all I know mere hours ago may have been rehearsing a play to perform in front of their parents. It was chilling and gave the locals of Titan station a life. People had their roles, just like we do in real life and all of that had been turned upside down by and outbreak. It was a moment I honestly hesitated with what I was doing, something Dead Space never achieved
Small note: I never finished the original Resident Evil. I was like 7 years old and it scared the living day lights out of me. Never again!
Small note: I never finished the original Resident Evil. I was like 7 years old and it scared the living day lights out of me. Never again!
Nicely said and though I haven't played Dead Space I fully agree that the horror of the original RE series was the touches of the everyday and the mundane!
Great blog!!
Great blog!!
A good read Rev, it does seem a shame how much the RE series has left behind in terms of that real life feel, the Outbreak games were probably the last time Capcom actually tried to make you feel as though you were just an ordinary guy/girl in a desperate situation, and that failed terribly.
Hopefully even if there isn't a return to that kind of realism with 6 other developers, possibly small ones, will step up to fill the gap.
Hopefully even if there isn't a return to that kind of realism with 6 other developers, possibly small ones, will step up to fill the gap.
Very good blog, and some excellent points made. I noticed some of those similar diaries to the one in the first RE in the third game in the series too. The fact that I've also read a review regarding RE: Revelations stating that it is more back to basics in theme, and has its own 'poignant diary-style' moment, might be of some help to you.
Nice write up! Dead Space brought back a lot of what I missed in the earlier RE games. I haven't got around to playing Dead Space 2, but I hope it doesn't change things up too much from the original.
Wow, what pile of shit. So bad it stinks. Anyways enough of what I'm doing in the bathroom, excellent blog. Dead Space is a fantastic series that nails that vibe that's been missing in a lot of so called horror games lately. You touched on what makes the series so great and I love you for it. On a more serious note, I can't turn this soft serve machine off. It's like noby noby in the bowel. I'm so not flushing.
The grittiness of those old games on tube TVs really made them more believable/frightening too. We're finally getting past the blurry/cleanish age of next-gen and moving into stuff like Samaritan where gritty is HD.
@Jaded
Everything about Dead Space 2 is better, so much so that it's kinda hard to recommend Dead Space 1 at this stage, even though it's a pretty decent game. I would say that Dead Space 2 was my GOTY 2011. Sure Skyrim was more addictive, and Portal 2 had amazing writing, but Dead Space 2 had some completely unforgettable moments. I look forward to whatever comes next from Visceral.
Everything about Dead Space 2 is better, so much so that it's kinda hard to recommend Dead Space 1 at this stage, even though it's a pretty decent game. I would say that Dead Space 2 was my GOTY 2011. Sure Skyrim was more addictive, and Portal 2 had amazing writing, but Dead Space 2 had some completely unforgettable moments. I look forward to whatever comes next from Visceral.
Excellent blog!!
I didn't get very far in either Dead Space game...to be honest, I lost my will very quickly. The atmosphere of those games was absolutely crushing. If I had played it on the PS3, it might have been okay, but on the PC with full surround?
Fuck that scary noise.
I didn't get very far in either Dead Space game...to be honest, I lost my will very quickly. The atmosphere of those games was absolutely crushing. If I had played it on the PS3, it might have been okay, but on the PC with full surround?
Fuck that scary noise.
Nice article, though I tend to get more nervous and spooked in the first game than I do in this one. I think it's for the same reasons you say you love the second so much.
Don't get me wrong, LOVE dead space, it's my favorite horror series behind Silent Hill, but the first setting always felt like I was trapped in a place where the walls were closing in and dangers were crawling all through it. The second one has more life, like it's an actual city, but it lost a little of that scare factor for me since it no longer felt like I was suffocating in a tight box like before and more emphasis in action and surviving the horde as opposed to high atmosphere spooking me into so much nervousness that the monsters didn't have to try too hard.
It's not something I can directly put my finger on, but perhaps for me it's the dehumanizing effect that Ishimura has that messes with me, when things seem slightly wrong, and the entire being of the area you exist in is just waiting to crush you.
I can tell you this much, when Dead space 2 asked me to get back on the Ishimura my nervousness shot up ten fold. >.>'
Don't get me wrong, LOVE dead space, it's my favorite horror series behind Silent Hill, but the first setting always felt like I was trapped in a place where the walls were closing in and dangers were crawling all through it. The second one has more life, like it's an actual city, but it lost a little of that scare factor for me since it no longer felt like I was suffocating in a tight box like before and more emphasis in action and surviving the horde as opposed to high atmosphere spooking me into so much nervousness that the monsters didn't have to try too hard.
It's not something I can directly put my finger on, but perhaps for me it's the dehumanizing effect that Ishimura has that messes with me, when things seem slightly wrong, and the entire being of the area you exist in is just waiting to crush you.
I can tell you this much, when Dead space 2 asked me to get back on the Ishimura my nervousness shot up ten fold. >.>'
Does this mean if u gave resident evil 5 to some poor african kids they would be able to relate to it and actually be scared of it lol ;)
I just finished playing through Dead Space 2 recently and it was a fantastic ride. OK towards the latter half it got a little redundant but the Atmosphere was perfection. The gym and school play set was obviously one of the stand out moments how horrific was that. I enjoyed when there were people trying to evacuate at the beginning the most looking across a hall to see madness and fear and monsters tearing those people apart was one of the most intense things I had ever experienced in a game and I was sad there wasn't more in that regard. They try to mix up the sets enough and mostly accomplish that goal but it might overstay it's welcome just a bit. However I am going to go back in and max out all the weapons to see how they are. Dead Space is truly the best thing to happen to RE fans. I think I played through RE 4 about a million times.
I personally preferred the USG Ishimura. It was a space craft in the middle of space. any there you were. alone. in the middle of fucking space. that idea really sent chills down my spine. having to put things back online to use comm stations and just try to escape, or get help.
Even though you ended up being a super god necromorph killing machine, it still was pretty scary.
Even though you ended up being a super god necromorph killing machine, it still was pretty scary.
Great blog/article...I've been trying to tell people this forever about Dead Space...probably my favorite horror games over the past couple years.
Great blog. Dead Space has become my favorite game franchise of all time. Actually just finished the iOS installment today and it was probably the best "console-like" experience I've ever had on a phone.
Can't wait for the inevitable third installment. Here's hoping EA doesn't find a way to fuck it up.
Can't wait for the inevitable third installment. Here's hoping EA doesn't find a way to fuck it up.
I'm with you 100% on Dead Space carrying the torch. I grew up with Resi, and I can say whole heartedly that Dead Space, 2 especially, knocks any Resident Evil flat on its ass. There's a sort of viceral (oh yeah, I went there) feeling to the tesion DS creates that Resi never could muster. Thanks for writing this.
Can't believe I somehow missed this the first time around. Fantastic blog about the best game of 2011!
As a old school Resident Evil fanatic I approve of this message. Dead Space 2 was a wonderful game, and yes, I also believe that Dead Space picked up where Resident Evil left off, and even added a few other flavors(Doom/Silent Hill/Alien)
I never got a chance to finish my copy of Dead Space 1 before my old PS3 YLOD'd on me and I sold it off. I do know that from what I played of it, it surpassed Resident Evil by a mile.
Once I get another PS3, I'm going to re-buy it along with the second one.
Great blog.
Once I get another PS3, I'm going to re-buy it along with the second one.
Great blog.
Amazing blog! I really get what you're saying , sure the first re's where a bit silly but you could at least imagine yourself in their world and place. However as the series progressed a bit of that relatable human touch was lost in favor for more amazing scenery and characters which is nice but kind of takes you iut of the game. Dead space moptly played it cool with their over the top scenes and paced them right making the diving back to the station scene in 2 truly thrilling. Meh I'm hungover and tired , but i realluy enjoyed reading this!
I loved Dead Space 1, the Ishimura was quite a scary place! Dead space 2 has been in my backlog for a while, looks like it may get bumped up a bit!
Taking the brutal terror of the Necromorph and putting it in a setting that we could relate to made for an amazing game that was all the creepier. I couldn't agree more with this blog. Congrats on the front page.
I COMPETELY disagree. The first DS was a gritty, low tech space adventure that had perfect setting. DS2 was a ramped up neon carnival ride! The best part of DS2 was returning to the ship!
Your argument for Resident Evil flies right in the face of what you say about DS2. In DS1 I could imagine that the first space cruisers would be bulky and the equipment would be somewhat inefficient. Your character was slow and VERY human, and that alone made the game tense.
In DS2 you look like a power ranger and the whole city is sci fi exaggeration. I was never worried about Isaac. The whole space station is unbelievable, and it completely misses the mark, unlike a game like Bio Shock that manages make something absurd seem truly believable. Dead Space 2 forces every aspect of a futuristic world (cradle to grave) in your face but could you really see yourself living there? I agreed far more with the original DS in the sense that living in space was a lonely experience; it's dark, the food isn't as good, it's a profiteering enterprise so there are going to be cracks in the hull and sacrifices to modern amenities. DS2 was like a disney land daycare in space!
Last thing. The world in DS2 is still highly unpopulated, despite the fact that you're in a huge modern city. If you do run into a local they will have -- classically -- shit their pants in a corner and forgot how to speak. What a cop out.
Your argument for Resident Evil flies right in the face of what you say about DS2. In DS1 I could imagine that the first space cruisers would be bulky and the equipment would be somewhat inefficient. Your character was slow and VERY human, and that alone made the game tense.
In DS2 you look like a power ranger and the whole city is sci fi exaggeration. I was never worried about Isaac. The whole space station is unbelievable, and it completely misses the mark, unlike a game like Bio Shock that manages make something absurd seem truly believable. Dead Space 2 forces every aspect of a futuristic world (cradle to grave) in your face but could you really see yourself living there? I agreed far more with the original DS in the sense that living in space was a lonely experience; it's dark, the food isn't as good, it's a profiteering enterprise so there are going to be cracks in the hull and sacrifices to modern amenities. DS2 was like a disney land daycare in space!
Last thing. The world in DS2 is still highly unpopulated, despite the fact that you're in a huge modern city. If you do run into a local they will have -- classically -- shit their pants in a corner and forgot how to speak. What a cop out.
I COMPETELY disagree. The first DS was a gritty, low tech space adventure that had perfect setting. DS2 was a ramped up neon carnival ride! The best part of DS2 was returning to the ship!
Your argument for Resident Evil flies right in the face of what you say about DS2. In DS1 I could imagine that the first space cruisers would be bulky and the equipment would be somewhat inefficient. Your character was slow and VERY human, and that alone made the game tense.
In DS2 you look like a power ranger and the whole city is sci fi exaggeration. I was never worried about Isaac. The whole space station is unbelievable, and it completely misses the mark, unlike a game like Bio Shock that manages make something absurd seem truly believable. Dead Space 2 forces every aspect of a futuristic world (cradle to grave) in your face but could you really see yourself living there? I agreed far more with the original DS in the sense that living in space was a lonely experience; it's dark, the food isn't as good, it's a profiteering enterprise so there are going to be cracks in the hull and sacrifices to modern amenities. DS2 was like a disney land daycare in space!
Last thing. The world in DS2 is still highly unpopulated, despite the fact that you're in a huge modern city. If you do run into a local they will have -- classically -- shit their pants in a corner and forgot how to speak. What a cop out.
Your argument for Resident Evil flies right in the face of what you say about DS2. In DS1 I could imagine that the first space cruisers would be bulky and the equipment would be somewhat inefficient. Your character was slow and VERY human, and that alone made the game tense.
In DS2 you look like a power ranger and the whole city is sci fi exaggeration. I was never worried about Isaac. The whole space station is unbelievable, and it completely misses the mark, unlike a game like Bio Shock that manages make something absurd seem truly believable. Dead Space 2 forces every aspect of a futuristic world (cradle to grave) in your face but could you really see yourself living there? I agreed far more with the original DS in the sense that living in space was a lonely experience; it's dark, the food isn't as good, it's a profiteering enterprise so there are going to be cracks in the hull and sacrifices to modern amenities. DS2 was like a disney land daycare in space!
Last thing. The world in DS2 is still highly unpopulated, despite the fact that you're in a huge modern city. If you do run into a local they will have -- classically -- shit their pants in a corner and forgot how to speak. What a cop out.
I forgot to say: Congratulations on front page! I don't agree with you conclusion, but I'm obviously very interested in the subject matter, and I think the entire piece was masterfully crafted!
I couldn't finish DS because it was a absolutely generic, gritty space station with RE-esque controls and an even bigger focus on shocking scares and even more action and artificial disempowerment despite a huge emphasis on action.
I haven't played DS2, but a colonized space station sound a lot more relatable than the drab location if the first game (that had far less character than Alien's Nostradamus, which was unabashedly ripped off). Watch Aliens, even Ripley spent time in a hospital and corporate building that had holographic forests... Just imagine what a shipping mall would look like on a station.
Also, Rapture was "truly believable"?......
I haven't played DS2, but a colonized space station sound a lot more relatable than the drab location if the first game (that had far less character than Alien's Nostradamus, which was unabashedly ripped off). Watch Aliens, even Ripley spent time in a hospital and corporate building that had holographic forests... Just imagine what a shipping mall would look like on a station.
Also, Rapture was "truly believable"?......
@SlyKill I see your point regarding the population not being there but the locals having gone catatonic and shit themselves, I don't see this as a cop out as much as how people would and should react to hell unfolding around them. The first Dead Space was a scary lonely game that I loved. However, the second one, by setting it in more familiar surroundings (or at least having aspects I could relate to) made the necromorph take over all the more disturbing and brutal. Different strokes but nice to see different opinions on the matter.
"Dead Space 2 threw you into a grade school, gave you a flamethrower, and said, “Here, figure this shit out.”
Fantastic! I really want to go back and play this game again all of a sudden. Great blog!
Fantastic! I really want to go back and play this game again all of a sudden. Great blog!
@SlyKill -- Resident Evil 2 is highly depopulated as well. Take what you said about Titan Station and just change it to Raccoon City, and you still have a sentence that makes absolute sense.
However, Raccoon City still feels like an actual city (especially when it's fleshed out even more in 3) because of just how well they detailed it. Someone mentioned before that if you gave RE5 to Africans, would they see it as familiar as well? I'd say no, simply because the game doesn't take the time to flesh it out and detail it.
Dead Space 2 literally gives you a tour of the entire space station. "Here's where the people live, here's where they shop, here's where they take their kids to school in the morning." Resident Evil 3 did the exact same thing: "Here's the police department, the hospital is over here, the park where everyone chills out on weekends is right down the street."
Resident Evil 5 doesn't do that. "Here's Africa. Find your way out." Dead Space 1 doesn't do that quite either. You learn about the people on there and all the cult stuff going on, but it's still largely: "Here's a spaceship. Find your way out."
It all comes down to personal preferences at the end of the day. I like seeing more everyday environments in games. My favorite maps in any FPSes are the ones set in airport terminals and busy city streets -- that translates into horror games as well. I'm never fond of the rural maps, and I can't say RE4's setting really blew up my skirt either.
However, Raccoon City still feels like an actual city (especially when it's fleshed out even more in 3) because of just how well they detailed it. Someone mentioned before that if you gave RE5 to Africans, would they see it as familiar as well? I'd say no, simply because the game doesn't take the time to flesh it out and detail it.
Dead Space 2 literally gives you a tour of the entire space station. "Here's where the people live, here's where they shop, here's where they take their kids to school in the morning." Resident Evil 3 did the exact same thing: "Here's the police department, the hospital is over here, the park where everyone chills out on weekends is right down the street."
Resident Evil 5 doesn't do that. "Here's Africa. Find your way out." Dead Space 1 doesn't do that quite either. You learn about the people on there and all the cult stuff going on, but it's still largely: "Here's a spaceship. Find your way out."
It all comes down to personal preferences at the end of the day. I like seeing more everyday environments in games. My favorite maps in any FPSes are the ones set in airport terminals and busy city streets -- that translates into horror games as well. I'm never fond of the rural maps, and I can't say RE4's setting really blew up my skirt either.
Really good blog, Revuhl. Though I like the Ishimura more like some here, DS2 has very creepy locations and succeeds in a there-were-people-living-here-now-all-hope-is-lost way. The school for instance had some impact on me. The space station with the rogue AI was suspenseful, as well.
@topgamer101
I don't want to self-promote but I actually wrote something about the Ishimura portion if you're interested.
@topgamer101
I don't want to self-promote but I actually wrote something about the Ishimura portion if you're interested.
I can't agree. In relation to RE, Dead Space is nothing more than the game that people who complain about the lack of strafing and move+shoot are stereotypically believed to have wanted.
I agree with what you said about the environments in old RE games being relatable, but I hope you're not talking about RE4 when you said this:
"You weren’t in some bumfuck village halfway across the globe"
The village and castle in RE4 were easy to relate to for me. I mean, even if I haven't set foot in an abandoned village in the middle of the woods, I've seen them in movies, and it connects with my imagination of being nightmarish. I HAVE been in a small town, and here, it's a small town in Spain with freakish mutants after you.
"You weren’t in some bumfuck village halfway across the globe"
The village and castle in RE4 were easy to relate to for me. I mean, even if I haven't set foot in an abandoned village in the middle of the woods, I've seen them in movies, and it connects with my imagination of being nightmarish. I HAVE been in a small town, and here, it's a small town in Spain with freakish mutants after you.
All of opinions are based off of older games.
Now a days games are just about trying to appeal to an audience. (I'm sure it was the same way then, but it didn't feel like it.)
The games of Yesterday will always be more memorable than the games of tomorrow.
Now a days games are just about trying to appeal to an audience. (I'm sure it was the same way then, but it didn't feel like it.)
The games of Yesterday will always be more memorable than the games of tomorrow.
Nicely written. Yet you somehow seemed to have missed the part where Dead Space 2 was a mediocre 3rd person shooter that barely contained anything "horror".
@wkpsrk:
someone also seemed to have missed the part where YOU'RE a mediocre person that barely contains anything competent.. seriously , you suck!!
LOL!!
Dead Space 2 rocked!!
someone also seemed to have missed the part where YOU'RE a mediocre person that barely contains anything competent.. seriously , you suck!!
LOL!!
Dead Space 2 rocked!!
@Occams and Revolooshun:
Good to hear you guys comment back. I know it's a matter of taste, but I think I can make my point with one good example:
As you moved through the Titan in Dead Space 2 you went to the church, the daycare and the apartments. Instead of having a world with subtle touches, each stage is painfully exaggerated. It's fun -- once -- but it's not very genuine. I just think there are better ways of depicting a sprawling city where people lives there lives than saying, "look here! You're in a day care! Babies are born here! The church is crazy. Look at how crazy the church is!" Hahaha... I can appreciate DS2 for what it is. I had a lot of fun playing it 3 times through!
To specifically address Revolooshun: I guess I didn't feel like DS1 was such a blind escape because you returned to many locations, and you definitely spent more time in single locations. In DS2 you were constantly moving through new territory. DS2's quick scenario changes made the game fun, but far less genuine and atmospheric for me.
I just don't want to see this beloved series turn into another block buster hit that focuses so much on the wow factor that it loses its roots. It's something I can't identify outright, it's just a feeling.
Good to hear you guys comment back. I know it's a matter of taste, but I think I can make my point with one good example:
As you moved through the Titan in Dead Space 2 you went to the church, the daycare and the apartments. Instead of having a world with subtle touches, each stage is painfully exaggerated. It's fun -- once -- but it's not very genuine. I just think there are better ways of depicting a sprawling city where people lives there lives than saying, "look here! You're in a day care! Babies are born here! The church is crazy. Look at how crazy the church is!" Hahaha... I can appreciate DS2 for what it is. I had a lot of fun playing it 3 times through!
To specifically address Revolooshun: I guess I didn't feel like DS1 was such a blind escape because you returned to many locations, and you definitely spent more time in single locations. In DS2 you were constantly moving through new territory. DS2's quick scenario changes made the game fun, but far less genuine and atmospheric for me.
I just don't want to see this beloved series turn into another block buster hit that focuses so much on the wow factor that it loses its roots. It's something I can't identify outright, it's just a feeling.
Bravo, great article. I never realized it but you totally hit the nail on the head. Playing Dead Space did make me feel the same sense of immersion and atmosphere of RE 1. I think Isaac's breathing was a nice touch too.
@SlyKill - I guess it just comes down to preference. I get what you're saying. I just don't think I, or others, found it to be really all that exaggerated. The school looks like a school, the church looks like a church. I didn't really find anything exaggerated or out of the ordinary, but ymmv on these sorts of things.
Great read.i loved the Dead Space 1 and 2 franchise, and I feel it's because it shamelessly dwells in the things the first few RE games set up.
The things you mentioned is what I loved about the Silent Hill games too, when you mix the horror with the mundane it really creates something compelling.
The things you mentioned is what I loved about the Silent Hill games too, when you mix the horror with the mundane it really creates something compelling.
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