Trusting that players will have already completed the first game and will therefore be relatively familiar with the franchise’s unique gameplay mechanics, developer Visceral Games makes the returning ‘Stasis’ and ‘Kinesis’ modules available very early on, allowing players to freely slow down enemies and manipulate objects as they hack off limbs – still the staple gameplay element. It is a superb opening that gets straight to the point and simultaneously showcases Isaac as a new, improved protagonist with both a face and a voice that players can emotionally buy into, iconic suit aside.ĭead Space 2 is a true sequel in nearly every sense of the word.

Inevitably, there is an outbreak of Necromorphs and before long, Isaac is running down dark corridors without the use of his arms, fleeing from a whole host of unspeakable horrors. He is wearing a straitjacket in a hospital on the Sprawl, a densely populated metropolis built on a shard of Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. As the game begins, Isaac finds himself waking up with no memory of the past three years. Which is just as well, as Dead Space 2 wastes no time getting started. If this all sounds somewhat vague – or perhaps entirely unfamiliar to you – fear not: the sequel offers a handy catch-up video for forgetful fans and newcomers alike to get themselves well and truly up to speed.

The original Dead Space ended on something of a cliff-hanger when sole USG Ishimura survivor Isaac Clarke destroyed the mysterious ‘Marker’ behind the Necromorph infestation and escaped into space, only to have his dead girlfriend jump out at him from the shadows as the final credits rolled.

Dead space 3 limited edition save game