Dead Space 3 Review

Collectibles & Misc Stuff
Collecting text and audio logs are one of the things I enjoyed in the past two Dead Space series. In the third entry, you will get to do the same thing. Those who wants to get all the achievements or trophies within the game will have to collect every text an audio logs that are scattered throughout the game. Not only are they a collectible, they also add more background to the game’s plot. In the nineteen chapters in the game, always keep on a lookout for these collectibles as it will give you more insight to the game’s story.

Since Dead Space 3 can be finished in roughly seven to eight hours, you can extend that by doing a plethora of side missions the game has. By doing side missions, you will get to learn more of the game’s lore and get rare resources that you will not find anywhere else. Each side mission can be quite lengthy, but it makes it worth it when you get a worthy resource at the end. For those seeking a more challenging experience, finishing the game will unlock the hardest difficulty mode called ‘Pure Survival’ where you can expect every hit of Necromorphs to be hard.

NOT

Non-Stop Action Awaits
Fans who are expecting Dead Space 3 will have the survival horror aspect will be disappointed as Visceral officially threw it out. Instead of giving fans the gameplay where they will feel tension and fear as they explore the game, they will still feel it but at a different flavor. Those who have played games like Uncharted or any other third person shooter will find its similarities in Dead Space 3. In the early chapters, fans of the series will have the impression that it still retains the survival horror aspect as you will venture through dark areas of different kind of spaceships. As soon as you get midway through the end, you will then see how the game has changed: you will be fighting wave of enemies non stop until you get sick of it.

Dull & Bland Environments
Nothing has changed when it comes to the visual department of Dead Space 3. Most of the game’s environment are used in many areas of the game especially in Tau Volantis. The very first time you set foot on the icy planet, you will be enthralled on its environment. After spending couple of hours and going through caves and different areas of the planet, you will see how dull and bland the environments are. Same textures are used throughout and there will be times it will be hard to differentiate the areas you’ve been to. Between the visuals of the two Dead Space games to the third one, it’s clear that Visceral did not improve any of the game’s graphics at all.

Gameplay Falls Flat
Nothing revolutionary can be found in Dead Space 3’s gameplay. Just like other mindless shooters out there, Dead Space 3 follows the same suit – especially when you reach the later chapters where all you do is battle wave of enemies until you reach the last boss. The challenge is there, but it’s due to the fact the enemies are spamming. No strategy or any effort is required to play this game as you can just stay in one spot and continuously shoot Necromorphs until all are gone.

VERDICT

Dead Space 3 is not the game fans have been waiting for, since the original style is scraped for a more action feel. Sadly this has also resulted in most of the tension being removed, but the heart pounding action is still there. The addition of weapon crafting is nice for those who that want to experiment with different types of weapons, and the ability to co-op with friends will make the game more fun when taking down Necromorphs. As a Dead Space fan, I was disappointed but looking at the bright side, Dead Space 3 still has redeeming qualities, although these qualities are dwarfed by the new direction.

[Editor’s Note: Dead Space 3 was reviewed on the PC platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]