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Dead Space (2008 video game)

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Dead Space
Developer(s)EA Redwood Shores
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Designer(s)Glen Schofield (Exec Producer/Creator)
Bret Robbins
Composer(s)Jason Graves
EngineGodfather game engine[2]
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)Survival horror
Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Dead Space is a third-person survival horror-action video game, developed by EA Redwood Shores for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. The player takes on the role of an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who battles a polymorphic, virus-like, alien infestation called the "Corruption", which turns humans into grotesque alien monsters called "Necromorphs", on board a stricken interstellar mining ship.[4]

Gameplay

The player takes the role of Isaac Clarke (named after science fiction writers Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke[5]), an engineer who must fight his way through a stricken mining ship infested by the Corruption, a hostile, virus-like, free-roaming alien DNA with the ability to reanimate the bodies of the dead, turning them into grotesque monstrosities called Necromorphs. The game features an 'over the shoulder' third-person perspective,[4] similar to games Resident Evil 4, Dark Sector and Gears of War. The interface does not feature a traditional head-up display. Instead, information is relayed to the player via holographic projections, which hover over Isaac's weapons and armor.[6] An in game store can be accessed where items can be bought and sold.

Zero gravity and decompressed environments also appear in Dead Space, and Isaac can navigate through them using his pressurized suit and magnetic boots. Some levels even lead out onto the surface of the ship's hull. Floating debris presents a hazard, however, and Isaac can lose his footing and simply float off into space.[6] Isaac's suit also has a limited amount of air while in airless environments, which can cause him to suffocate, forcing the player to move faster when in these situations. In keeping with Isaac's profession as an engineer rather than a soldier, weapons in the game are mostly improvised from mining tools, such as a plasma cutter, hydrazine torch used as a flamethrower, and a force cannon emitting powerful shock waves, although a triple-barreled automatic military rifle is also available. Stasis can be used in the game to slow down enemies and objects temporarily, and a kinesis module to pick up and throw items. Text, audio and video logs can be found throughout the game which detail the final moments of the crew, and sometimes provide a bit of information on the story.

The game's themes pay heavy homage to director Andrei Tarkovsky's famous science fiction film Solaris, and appear to have been especially included by the game producers[citation needed]. The player is constantly pestered by visions of his girlfriend, in exact parallel to the film (itself based on the Polish book by Stanislaw Lem), and all the inhabitants on the ship are similarly haunted and controlled by visions of loved ones, raising the theme of mind control based on emotional attachments in outer space. Furthermore, like Solaris, the alien planet the ship orbits is later discovered to ultimately be the source of the mind control and devastation onboard. Free will, the limits of human mind versus the heart, and how far the mind persists in hallucinations to recover the memory of loved ones are explored in this game.

The Corruption

The major antagonists of Dead Space are a species of violent aliens known as "Necromorphs", most of which are human corpses that have been reanimated by a strange alien infection known as "The Corruption". The exact origin and nature of The Corruption are unknown as of the events of Dead Space, but it is believed to originate in the subterranean hollows of the planet Aegis 7.

File:Deadspace1.jpg
Isaac battles the Necromorphs.

The main strategy employed by the Corruption is the rapid transformation of deceased humans into Necromorphs, a process called "Recombination". This is usually performed by a race of smaller, flying creatures that latch onto a corpse, penetrating the braincase with a sharp proboscis. An unknown process initiates a rapid mutation in the host body: with a series of violent convulsions, the spine elongates to accommodate a pair of grasping arms that burst from the abdomen; the shoulders are contorted, and long scythe-like bones extend from the wrists. Other mutations are largely variable, including short tentacles, large tumorous growths, and corroded flesh. This is the main form of Necromorph, but many others exist, including tentacled baby-like creatures and heavily mutated crawling variants.

Combat in Dead Space becomes complicated when Necromorphs do not simply "die" after receiving a certain number of gun rounds. In fact, depending on how they are wounded, Necromorphs can adopt new stances and tactics, even sprouting new limbs and giving birth in the process.[7] To defeat the Necromorphs, Isaac must use "strategic dismemberment," the methodical severance of specific limbs or sections of the Necromorphs.[8] Dead Space's executive producer, Glen Schofield, has said that "the primary theme of Dead Space is dismemberment,"[6] and early previews of the game noted the high levels of gore.[4][6][7] A large amount of the weapons in the game are designed specifically for this purpose, such as a plasma cutter and a projectile buzzsaw.

Plot

Characters

  • Isaac Clarke - The main character and silent protagonist of the game. Isaac is a systems engineer traveling aboard the shuttle Kellion to investigate and repair the USG Ishimura in company with three security personnel and a computer specialist. Unfortunately for them, they are thrust into the middle of the nightmare that the USG Ishimura has become. Clarke is also trying to find his ex-girlfriend, Nicole, a medical specialist assigned to the ship, whose fate is unknown at the start of the game. Throughout the game Isaac stumbles onto something much bigger than him involving the Church of Unitology, the government and the realm of possibilities. Through logs activated after clearing the game we learn that Isaac's father, Paul Clarke, left for space when he was just a child and the anguish of losing her husband made his mother, Octavia Clarke, into a devout Unitologist who gave all her money to the church rather than finance her son's education. He went to a lesser-known college than the one he strives for but graduates with high honors, taking after his father and becoming a system engineer.
  • Kendra Daniels - Kendra is a technology expert and part of the team sent aboard the Ishimura once the ship goes silent. She helps the player through the Ishimura in many ways, giving directions and assisting through areas of the ship that would otherwise be inaccessible. She frequently expresses distrust of Hammond, but turns out to know more about the situation than anyone previously thought. In a log after clearing the game, it is stated that she was hand picked for the mission by higher-ups.
  • Zach Hammond - The senior security officer on board the Kellion who travels with both Isaac and Kendra to the Ishimura. Hammond's initial desire to complete the original mission and not immediately abort puts him at odds with Kendra, who finds this suspicious. Throughout the game he works to fulfill their original mission, but as time goes on, he becomes more disillusioned and focuses instead on getting himself and the rest of the surviving team off the ship. In a log after clearing the game it is revealed he asked for the information for both Isaac and Kendra, though the reason for this inquiry is not revealed.
  • Dr. Challus Mercer - A doctor aboard the USG Ishimura and a devout Unitologist. In the wake of the calamity that has gripped the Ishimura, Mercer has become a religious fanatic, and attempted to convince the crew of the Ishimura to commit mass suicide. Mercer often works to bar the progress of Isaac and even attempts to kill him outright. Mercer sends a "prototype", regenerating Necromorph after Isaac several times through the course of the game. To Mercer, everything that has happened is God's will, and Isaac should die and allow their "children" to take over.
  • Doctor Terrence Kyne - The Chief Science Officer of the Ishimura who appears later in the game and asks for help from the surviving members of the Kellion team. He seems to be a bit eccentric, perhaps deranged, but offers to aid Isaac in stopping the nightmare that has gripped the Aegis System and the Ishimura. Kyne attempted to relieve Captain Mathius of duty during the crisis on the ship but instead seems to have been complicit in the captain's death either in whole or in part. He regularly interacts with his dead wife, an apparition caused by the Marker that can't be seen by the player. He is one of the main characters of Dead Space: Downfall, which confirms rumors that he is a Unitologist. Downfall also shows that Kyne was the cause of the engine's shutdown in an attempt to crash the ship into the planet to return the Marker.
  • Nicole Brennan - Isaac's ex-girlfriend and a medical specialist assigned to the Ishimura. She sent him a video asking for help and is one of the reasons he came to the Ishimura. He both sees and hears her as he moves through the ship and she repeatedly asks Isaac to "make us(/them) whole again." For the majority of the game it is unknown if it is really her.
  • Jacob Temple - Jacob is an engineer on the USG Ishimura who is, like Isaac, trying to find his own girlfriend, Dr. Elizabeth Cross. The player often finds audio logs left behind by him as he progresses throughout the game. They find each other in the crew quarters but their reunion is cut short by Doctor Mercer. Temple never makes direct contact with the player, he is a witness to his death. Isaac comes across several of Jacob's audio recordings throughout the game, especially in chapter three, where Isaac must travel down to engineering.
  • Elizabeth Cross - Originally assigned as a horticulturalist aboard the USG Ishimura, Elizabeth Cross's experiences after the arrival of the Marker can be heard, like her boyfriend Jacob Temple, through the various audio logs you can find in many areas of the ship but particularly the herbology deck. She is captured (with Temple) by Dr. Mercer and stabbed in the head. While her death is not shown, a female body can be found next to Temple's which contains the same wound. It is assumed this is Dr. Cross.
  • Corporal Chen - Pilot of USG Kellion, the shuttle which crashes onto the USG Ishimura, and one of the security troopers who comes aboard under Capt. Hammond.
  • Corporal Johnston - The co-pilot of the USG Kellion. Johnston is also under the command of Sergeant Hammond.
  • Captain Benjamin Matthius - The captain of the Ishimura. Matthius was revealed to be a Unitologist who is strong in the belief the Marker belongs to the church. His fate is shown in a video log found on the fourth level. He redirected the ship to collect the Marker and was experiencing dementia like so many of the exposed. He is relieved of duty by Dr. Kyne. He was killed when Dr. Kyne accidentally stabbed him in the eye with a hypodermic needle that contained a sedative, the fact it was a sedative was shown in Downfall. He is later resurrected into a Enhanced Slasher by an Infector, and is the first one you fight in the game. He is one of the main characters of Dead Space: Downfall.

Spaceships

  • USG Ishimura - Massive Planet Cracker-class ship where most of the game is set.
  • USG Kellion - Small long-range craft on a repair mission to USG Ishimura.
  • USM Valor - Military vessel in the area that has been waiting for the Ishimura to transmit its coordinates but later crashes into the hull of the ship after the crew has been killed by Necromorphs.
  • USG Ishimura Executive Shuttle - The shuttle previously used by the higher ranked personnel of the Ishimura but later commandeered by Isaac to travel to the Aegis 7 colony.

Summary

Set in the 26th century, Dead Space revolves around Isaac Clarke, a space engineer who works for the Concordance Extraction Corporation (C.E.C.), a company that operates giant mining ships throughout the galaxy. When the C.E.C. receives a distress call from the USG Ishimura (a “Planet Cracker”-class ship that destroys planets in order to extract valuable ore), Isaac and four other C.E.C. employees set out on the USG Kellion to rendezvous with the Ishimura in orbit above Aegis 7. Their assumption is that a mechanical failure is the only problem. At the beginning of the game, Isaac is seen watching a video sent to him by his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Brennan, who is currently on board the Ishimura.

Shortly after crash landing on the Ishimura's flight deck, the crew of USG Kellion is attacked by hostile creatures called Necromorphs. These creatures reproduce by reanimating deceased human bodies, violently mutating and assimilating them to become one of their own (A process referred to by a scientific backstory log as "Recombination"). Isaac escapes down an elevator, and is separated from the rest of the team. At this point, Isaac, Kendra Daniels, and Zach Hammond are the only surviving members of the USG Kellion.

Throughout the rest of the game, Isaac is tasked with repairing different areas of the Ishimura while constantly under attack by Necromorphs. Eventually, Isaac, Kendra, and Hammond get a S.O.S beacon sent out on an asteroid, which attracts a military vessel, the USM Valor. Unfortunately, the USM Valor is infected with Necromorphs and crashes into the Ishimura. In an attempt to get to the Valor, Hammond is killed by Necromorphs. Isaac, with the help of Dr. Kyne, retrieves the Valor's power core and uses it to attempt to escape with Kendra and Dr. Kyne in order to return the Marker, an artifact of unknown origin that Unitoligists believe to be divine, to Aegis 7.

Just before the ship lifts off, Isaac is betrayed by Kendra, who kills Dr. Kyne and reveals that she is a government agent attempting to salvage the marker, which is actually a recreation of the real marker found on Earth. Isaac, left to die on the Ishimura, is saved by his love interest Nicole, who recalls Kendra's ship and sets it to fly her and Isaac to Aegis 7. After a long transport to the crater, the Marker finally brings the Necromorphs under control. Unfortunately it also causes interference with the gravity tethers holding a large chunk of Aegis 7 that was removed by and was still being carried by the USG Ishimura. Isaac attempts to flee the impending destruction of the planet by heading back to the shuttle, but Kendra removes the marker and begins to try to bring it back to Earth. She tells Isaac that he is as demented as Dr. Kyne, and urges him to watch the final half of Nicole's message: her suicide. It is then revealed that the Marker used an image of Nicole to get Isaac to return it to Aegis 7.

Just before Kendra lifts off, the Hive Mind rises out of the crater and kills her, at which point it then attacks Isaac. He defeats the Hive Mind and manages to lift off the planet just as the cracked chunk of Aegis 7 re-enters the atmosphere. Though the impact is not explicitly shown, it is suggested that Aegis 7 was destroyed. Isaac then removes his helmet, giving a first glance at his face, as he watches Nicole's distress message, stopping it before playing her death.

As Isaac senses something amiss, he turns his head to the passenger's seat, at which point he is then attacked by a Necromorph that looks like a grotesque version of Nicole. Isaac can be seen raising an arm to shield his face as it lunges towards him just before the credits roll, thus leaving his fate unknown.

Development

Electronic Arts first announced Dead Space in September 2007. The game was developed at their studio in Redwood Shores, California, whose other titles include The Godfather and The Simpsons Game. The game's executive producer, Glen Schofield, said that the team aimed to create something 'darker and creepier' than their previous titles: "We are all such huge fans of the horror and sci-fi genres; we wanted to create the most terrifying game we could, and keep the player on the edge of their seat the entire time."[9] The design team reportedly spent time analyzing a wide variety of horror films in order to find inspiration for in-game scares.[10]

Previews of the game have universally drawn attention to the high levels of gore and violence in the game, in particular the tactic of "strategic dismemberment" when battling the Necromorphs. The aliens cannot be subdued by a single shot, rather they have to be incapacitated by shooting off their tentacles and appendages. A series of developer diaries released for the game had featured one episode about the system, in which developers mentioned that using conventional tactics, such as aiming for the head or torso would only serve to aggravate some of the Necromorphs.[11] In order to make the corpses look more realistic, the development team studied photos of car crash victims. [12]

Audio

Dead Space’s credits refer to two different people for the music composition. To be more specific, Dead Space Audio Director Don Veca was quoted in an interview[13] saying “The music credits read ‘Music Composed and Conducted by "Jason Graves". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) in Association With Rod Abernethy.’ Early on, Rod was involved in initial brainstorming, but Jason actually composed, conducted, and arranged all the music.”

On November 11th, 2008, Amazon.com released the soundtrack to Dead Space for download.

DRM

The PC version of Dead Space uses the same SecuRom Copy Protection scheme as Spore and Mass Effect, which requires online authentication and limits the number of times a user can install the game to five. Dead Space has received mixed reviews by gamers because of its DRM. [14]As of November 9, 2008, out of 58 reviews, it has an average rating of two stars on Amazon.com.[15] The game's inordinately low score when compared with other published reviews is attributed by user reviews to public protest against the copy protection used in the game, which restricts the usability of purchased software.

Marketing

Electronic Arts and Image Comics announced a comic book series based upon the game on February 21, 2008. Illustrated by Ben Templesmith and written by Antony Johnston, the six-book Dead Space comics are a prequel to the game. Set on Aegis 7, the planet that the USG Ishimura is orbiting, the deep space mining colony pulls an ancient artifact called "The Marker" from the planet which begins to affect everyone in the colony. The first issue was released on March 3, 2008. However, a limited edition version of issue #1 with exclusive cover art was made available at WonderCon 2008 to the first 25 people who went to the convention each day.[16]

Electronic Arts and Starz also announced an animated movie, Dead Space: Downfall, a prequel to the events of the game, taking place after the Necromorphs invade the USG Ishimura. The movie, being developed by Film Roman, was released on October 28, 2008.[17]

Electronic Arts released an Ultra Limited Edition of the game limited to only 1,000 copies. The package includes the game, the animated movie Dead Space: Downfall, a bonus content DVD, the Dead Space art book, a lithograph, and the Dead Space comic.[17] People who also bought the game within the first two weeks of the release could also download exclusive suits: the Obsidian Suit for the Playstation 3 and the Elite Suit for the Xbox 360.[18]

Italian horror director Dario Argento lent his voice to Doctor Terrence Kyne character for the Italian release of the game.[19]

No Known Survivors

On August 22, 2008, No Known Survivors was launched, a website similar to an alternate reality game that provides an opportunity for visitors to explore the narrative world of Dead Space. The site depicts two stories, each divided into four chapters and using 3D animations, voice acting, original video, Papervision 3D technology, and various other interactive components.[20] The first, Misplaced Affection, tells the story of an organ replacement technician who falls in love with a capable P-Sec officer and slowly loses his sanity as Necromorphs attempt to break down the door to his shelter. The second, Thirteen, follows a sleeper agent who "makes the wrong decision for the right reason." set after Isaac launches the distress beacon. The site is less like a typical alternate reality game and more like a PC adventure game, such as Myst.

The site is based around a hub featuring nine severed body parts, each of which represent a content release. The week before a content piece was released, its assigned body part would mutate, finally evolving into a mature Necromorph part. Starting on August 25th and ending the week of the PC release, a new Necromorph part became active every Monday, allowing visitors to continue the stories featured on No Known Survivors up until Dead Space's release. Following the release of Dead Space, ninety third prize winners were awarded a copy of the game on a platform of their choosing, while nine second prize winners were awarded the limited collector's edition of the game and one grand prize winner was awarded the limited edition of the game in addition to a life-sized replica of Issac Clarke's level three Rig helmet.

Reception

According to EA Dead Space has received critical acclaim. Xbox World 360 awarded the Xbox 360 version a 91 out of 100, stating the game was a "nail-biting experience," driven forward by a "film-worthy" script and "inspired" setting, and that it was "Rapture in space [a reference to the underwater setting of hit game BioShock]: every bit as disturbing, just as meticulously designed and easily as believable."[31] PlayStation World awarded the game 9/10 and a PSW gold award, stating that Dead Space is the "world's scariest game", saying "This is bold, bleak gaming from the haunting opening credits to the pulse pounding finish."[32] IGN rated the game 8.7/10, saying it was "visually striking, everything from the holograms to the Necromorphs is incredible." Game Pro awarded the game a 5/5. 1UP.com gave the game a B+, saying that it is "incredibly polished", but slightly repetitive. Eurogamer gave the game a 7/10, saying "Dead Space easily delivers on that promise, but fails to turn its polished production values into something truly memorable over the long haul." GameSpot rated Dead Space at 9.0 out of 10 claiming, "An incredibly atmospheric and disturbingly gruesome deep-space adventure that will haunt your dreams and leave you begging for more." Game Informer rated the game at 9.25 out of 10, saying "Although the reasons for most missions are mundane, the game always falls back on its great gameplay and atmosphere." The Guardian gave Dead Space four stars. X-Play has also given Dead Space four stars out of five. Game review site Giant Bomb gave Dead Space 5 out of 5, saying it was extremely atmospheric and very good on the technical side of things as well. Gametrailers.com gave it 8.8 out of 10, praising the audio, the atmosphere, and the dismemberment, saying that "it was interesting to unlearn the head shot". Its main criticism was a lack of enemy types, and no hot buttons for certain items, but claimed that the item problem only amplified its already frightening atmosphere.[33] Initially, Dead Space community manager Andrew Green stated that China and Japan had banned the game.[34]

Sequels

A sequel to the game is in development.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "EA Announces That Dead Space Has Gone Gold" (html). 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  2. ^ "Dead Space uses The Godfather engine". 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  3. ^ http://www.mahalo.com/Dead_Space_PC_Requirements
  4. ^ a b c Wales, Matt. "Dead Space Preview" (html). IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  5. ^ Eddy, Andy (2007-10-09). "Dead Space First Look Preview (Xbox 360)". Team Xbox. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  6. ^ a b c d Graziani, Gabe (2007-10-09). "Previews: Dead Space" (html). GameSpy.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  7. ^ a b Haynes, Jeff (2008-05-17). "Dead Space Hands-on" (html). IGN.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  8. ^ "Dead Space: Strategic Dismemberment Featurette". 2008-6-23. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ "EA Announces New Sci-Fi Survival Horror Title" (html). Gamespy.com. IGN Entertainment. 2007-09-24. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  10. ^ Haynes, Jeff (2007-10-09). "Dead Space First Look" (html). IGN.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  11. ^ Fahey, Rob (2008-02-08). "Dead Space Preview" (html). Eurogamer.net. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  12. ^ "Dead Space Team Studied Car Crash Victims" (html). Edge-Online. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  13. ^ "Dead Space Sound Design". 2008-8-22. Retrieved 2008-10-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "A Note to Our Community on DRM". 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  15. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Space-Pc/dp/B0019C4MU2/ref=pd_sim_sw_7
  16. ^ Berardini, César A. (2008-02-21). "Dead Space Comic Book Announced" (html). TeamXBox.com. IGN Entertainement. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  17. ^ a b "Ben Swanson: The Ultra Limited Edition is Here!". 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  18. ^ "Kotaku: Dead Space Gold, Platform Exclusive Suits For Launch Players". 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  19. ^ "Wired Blog Network: Dario Argento Joins Italian Dead Space". 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  20. ^ "Dead Space Expanded". 2008-8-22. Retrieved 2008-08-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Dead Space Review". 1up.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  22. ^ "Review: Dead Space - ComputerAndVideoGames.com". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  23. ^ EA. "Review : Review: Dead Space (360) [Xbox 360] - from GamePro.com". Gamepro.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  24. ^ "Game Informer Online". Gameinformer.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  25. ^ "Dead Space for Xbox 360 Review - Xbox 360 Dead Space Review". Electronic Arts. DS. Retrieved 2008-10-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Dead Space: Reviews, Trailers, and Interviews". MTV Entertainment Group. 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  27. ^ IGN Review
  28. ^ Rossignol, Jim (December 2008), "Dead Space", PC Gamer UK
  29. ^ Stapleton, Dan (2008). "Dead Space". PC Gamer (182): 68. ISSN 1080-4471.
  30. ^ Abbie Heppe. "X-Play: Dead Space Review". g4tv.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  31. ^ Andy Robinson (2008-10-02). "Dead Space: First verdict spotted". Computer and Video Games.
  32. ^ Mike Jackson (2008-10-08). "Dead Space: Dead Space review: "world's scariest game"". Computer and Video Games.
  33. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41717.html
  34. ^ "Report: Dead Space Banned in Germany, China, Japan". 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  35. ^ "Army of Two sequel, Dead Space movie talks, and more on EA's new approach to original properties". 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-23.