Dead Space 3 (2013) Fumbles the Landing

When the original Dead Space came out in 2008, it was a smash hit. Players loved the atmospheric setting, challenging combat, and immersive storytelling. Sales were impressive, and a sequel was quickly greenlit.

Dead Space 2 was released in 2011 and, like its predecessor, did well both critically and commercially. The way it built on the existing lore, the tighter corridors, and new enemy types gave players something that was both familiar and fresh. The ending with Isaac and Ellie flying off into space together was the perfect setup for a sequel too. Would they be on the run in the next game? Would they be married with kids? What was next for these two survivors?

Thankfully gamers didn't have to wait long. As 2013 got under way, the third chapter in the Dead Space saga was released. Now, to be clear; the game isn't bad, but the title should give an idea of my thoughts. Okay, let's rip off the band-aid and just get into Dead Space 3.

The Final Chapter

Sometime after the events of the previous game, Isaac Clarke and Ellie Langford have parted ways. Clarke is living on a lunar colony when he's shanghaied by Capt. Robert Norton to go on a rescue mission to locate Ellie who went looking for a way to destroy the markers.

They end up in orbit around Tau Volantis, and surrounded by 200 year old warships from the Sovereign Colonies - presumably an early group of space settlers. Of course, all hell breaks loose as soon as they set foot on the C.M.S. Roanoke - the ship where Ellie's SOS originated.

From here, the group has to work together to survive the dangers of the planet - including a religious fanatic named Danik - and put a stop to the necromorphs once and for all.

What I Liked

Okay, let's start off with what I liked about this game.

• First off, the sound design is great between the great music and creepy ambience, it's just great.
• Visually, Dead Space 3 is gorgeous. The environments are really well done with the derelict ships feeling much like the Ishimura from the first game and the planet and abandoned facilities adding their own creep-factor.
• The crafting system is easy enough to work with and the different suits are all really cool.
• The weapons are also great - though some are more useful than others - and you only have to worry about one type of ammunition which cuts back on the trouble of having to find specific ammo types for each weapon.
• The various backstories are really great as well.

What Didn't I Like?

For all the things Dead Space 3 did well, it also did a few things that I really didn't appreciate.

• The story is confusing, there are plotlines and backstories that are there and gone in a flash - taking away any real meaning.
• The crafting system is explained, but there's no way of knowing what specific combinations will make. You're blindly putting stuff together and hoping it works.
• Danik, the religious nut who's chasing Isaac around, feels really out of place. He feels more like a Bond villain who's got his act together and it really doesn't gel with the overall tone. He's like that cartoon parody of a villain.
• Speaking of tone, let's cover that next. Dead Space 3 doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. Is it an action game? A survival/horror game? What's going on here?
• The characters are mostly unlikable with only Isaac and Ellie being genuinely likable from the start. Buckell isn't around long enough to make a real impact on the story, Santos spends a lot of the latter portion of the game whining, and then there's Norton. Ellie's new boytoy is the stereotypical jock, he's arrogant, pushy, and jealous of Ellie and Isaac's relationship - completely ignoring what the two have experienced together.
• Combat is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's still really satisfying to take down a tough necromorph. On the other hand, some of the newer enemies are damn-near impossible to deal with unless you have a kicker of a weapon (i.e. grenade launcher with a shotgun). The problem is that you don't know what works and what doesn't until you're in the thick of it and many of the newer enemies are faster, stronger and far more aggressive.
• Side missions. Oh boy, okay so throughout the game you get either text or audio logs, or one of the other characters will make a note of something and line up what is essentially a side-quest for you to complete. They aren't necessary, but you are handsomely rewarded for doing them. My main issue here is that the story is already long enough - clocking in at around 19 or 20 chapters. Some of them are also co-op only, which sucks. The side missions, as much as I enjoyed the ones that I did, only serve to make the whole game longer than it needs to be.

So, is Dead Space 3 Worth your Time?

Overall, Dead Space 3 isn't a bad game. It does a lot of good things, but it also does a lot - if not more - wrong. The opening act is great, but the unlikable characters, increased length, and confusing plotline could make this one a hard sell for players. After all, there's only so much that pretty visuals can do for a game.

Ultimately, it's up to you to play this one and draw your own conclusion - make up your own minds! Before I sign off, I do have one more Dead Space project coming up and I hope you'll tune in for that one.