February NPD: Dead Space 3 Out on Top, Wii U Struggling
The February NPD numbers are in, and Issac Clarke has taken the top spot with his necromorph-slicing weapons in Dead Space 3.
Dead Space 3
Players: 1 Offline, 1-2 Online
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Horror, Third-Person Shooter
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Horror, Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Developer: Visceral Games
MSRP: $59.99
Developer: Visceral Games
MSRP: $59.99
Dead Space 3 brings Isaac Clarke and merciless soldier John Carver on a journey across space to discover the source of the Necromorph plague and uncover the secrets that lay within Tau Volantis. Play alone as Isaac Clarke or with a friend as John Carver in seamless drop-in, drop-out co-op. Amplify the action with Kinect and add voice to your arsenal in single player or co-op.
17 Minute Walkthrough Shows Off the Horror Aspects of Dead Space 3
Posted By Shaun K. about 7 months, 4 weeks ago
17 Minute Walkthrough Shows Off the Horror Aspects of Dead Space 3,
Ruh-Roh.
Between new gameplay elements and some dodgy reporting by a number of websites looking for deliberately sensational headlines, Dead Space 3 has faced its fair share of criticism at the hands of fans in recent months. Now there is a new 17 minute walkthrough lead by the Creative Director and Senior Audio Artist of Visceral Games and we have got it cued up and ready for you to enjoy. Check out the video walkthrough below:
If there is one thing that video makes abundantly clear as far as I am concerned, it is this: Dead Space 3 as a single player experience will absolutely retain the feel and essential nature of the original games. Yes Issac has some new moves at his disposal but they appear to serve mainly to make him move more like a real human being than anything else. I have never been a big believer in the idea that survival horror can only work if your character controls like a lumbering tank; if the character is just supposed to be an ordinary schlub then a lack of fighting skills is one thing. However even those not trained in the art of combat can at least generally move around a room or hallway without having to bump into a wall several times first.
Remember this is Issac’s third time at bat against the Necromoprhs. It only makes sense that he has become more effective at fighting them and/or learned some tricks along the way. None of at however means he will suddenly be an unstoppable action hero though. You can make a character competent and dangerous and still make an overall experience taut and terrifying. See Aliens if you need proof of that.
Also, while Dead Space 3 may indeed by playing up action beats somewhat more than its predecessors, there is also still plenty of the quieter and more atmospheric moments, at least in this walkthrough, as well. Certainly I do not look forward to having to prowl through the dark corridors of that monster infested ship even if I do have some idea of what is coming in advance. Indeed, the sheer thought of it alone is enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. And while I freely admit to being a big wimp when it comes to horror, I still mark that as a sign of success.
Is it possible that Dead Space 3 will eventually go off the rails and become more of something akin to a Halo or Gears of War game than a survival horror title? Sure, but after this substantial look at the game, for my part any doubts I might have had have been quieted. Be sure to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter in the comments section below and look for Dead Space 3 to arrive for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on February 5 2013 in the US and February 8 2013 in the UK and Europe. Also, stay tuned to Blistered Thumbs for continuing coverage of the game.
Dead Space 3 Review
Co-op in my Dead Space? It's more likely than you think.
Sage Reviews: Dead Space 3
The sequel that Dead Space 2 should have been.
Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR
Having not played the previous Dead Space titles, did Daniel enjoy Dead Space 3? Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR 
Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR
Having not played the previous Dead Space titles, did Daniel enjoy Dead Space 3? Dead Space 3 Review (PC) – ZGR
Want a Free Copy of Dead Space 3?
In space, no one can hear you win games. Or anything else, for that matter. Sound doesn’t travel in space.
Dead Space 3's First DLC, Awakened, is Inbound
Dead Space 3 is going to get a bit bigger next month…
UPDATED: Dead Space 3 Includes Permadeath & Classic Modes; Pre-Sales Up Overall
Hardcore Dead Space fans take note: you are going to want to read this story.
Dead Space 3 to Give Mass Effect Fans Tidy Little Bonus
Very snazzy. Now that is killing Necromorphs in style.
February NPD: Dead Space 3 Out on Top, Wii U Struggling
The February NPD numbers are in, and Issac Clarke has taken the top spot with his necromorph-slicing weapons in Dead Space 3.
Want a Free Copy of Dead Space 3?
In space, no one can hear you win games. Or anything else, for that matter. Sound doesn’t travel in space.
Dead Space 3's First DLC, Awakened, is Inbound
Dead Space 3 is going to get a bit bigger next month…
UPDATED: Dead Space 3 Includes Permadeath & Classic Modes; Pre-Sales Up Overall
Hardcore Dead Space fans take note: you are going to want to read this story.
Dead Space 3 to Give Mass Effect Fans Tidy Little Bonus
Very snazzy. Now that is killing Necromorphs in style.
Dead Space 3 Demo Coming Soon, New Trailer Here Now
Get ready for your first taste of the newest fear this January.
Dead Space 3's Gamestop Pre-Order Could Use Some Work
Ladies and gentlemen who made fun of the rivet gun, I present to you the EG-900 SMG.
Dead Space 3 Review
Posted By Austin Yorski about 3 months, 1 week ago
Dead Space 3 Review
17 Minute Walkthrough Shows Off the Horror Aspects of Dead Space 3, 
It seems to be an immutable law: As a horror franchise ages, it becomes more and more action-oriented. It doesn’t matter if it’s Silent Hill or Alien–sooner or later, scares give way to gunfights. The question isn’t whether or not the change is welcome, but rather how well it is executed. A smooth transition begets a Resident Evil 4, combining the best elements of the original atmosphere with appropriate action beats. Go too far… and you reach Resident Evil 6.
| PROS | Shooter/horror hybridization, Weapon crafting, Production values, Co-op |
| CONS | Cover-based segments, Micro-transactions, Story missteps |
| WTF?! | Biomass does not work that way. |
Dead Space 3 walks a precarious line between its roots and the inevitable siren call of mass market appeal. On one hand, the jump scares and body horror are as effective as ever. Visceral Games is uniquely adept at capturing the existential terror of the moments between enemy encounters, even as it throws some of the most disgusting monstrosities ever conceived right into the player’s face. However, the opposite side of that coin is riddled with chest-high walls and the rapid disintegration of plot, motivation, and novelty.
Meet the red shirts–er, I mean new characters.
Take, for example, the game’s basic premise. After two harrowing experiences with The Marker, the necromorph threat, and the Church of Unitology, it seems reasonable to assume that protagonist Isaac Clarke would do everything in his power to stay far, far away from these abominations. Yet, just like poor Sigourney Weaver in James Cameron’s Aliens, the poor engineer somehow finds himself duped into facing the galaxy’s gooiest threat once again. The plot may be contrived, but this introduction does provide a natural departure point for a series that needed to evolve.
Gone is Isaac Clarke the silent everyman. Gone are the convenient power tools, power nodes, and vending machines. Long gone is the sense of merely surviving an unfortunate accident. This time Isaac (and therefore, the player) are on a bug hunt. Is the result less scary? Yes, absolutely. However, that isn’t necessarily the death knell of the Dead Space brand. In real life, fighting for your life against twisted flesh beasts would be traumatic and scarring every single time, but from the safety of our couches and computer chairs three times is asking a bit much. This time around, we are Ripley, Ellie is Newt, and it’s about time to bring down some Markers with a power loader.
See? That’s why you should always wear sunscreen.
Once you accept Dead Space 3 as a third-person shooter with horror elements, it is easier to wrap your mind around its strengths and weaknesses. Said successes are as obvious as they are numerous. Befitting an EA title, the game bleeds polish from top to bottom, whether in attention to graphical detail or in the fantastic sound design. Meanwhile, the addition of human enemies and cover-based shootouts reek of executive mandate. It’s almost as if every shallow attempt to pander to the lowest common denominator is paired with a solid step forward. By the time we get to Dead Space 6, we will have reached some sort of Portal-meets-FarmVille singularity of brilliance and inanity.
Case-in-point: The weapon crafting system is inspired, despite a cloying sense that it was designed with your wallet in mind. Instead of accumulating an arsenal of saws and projectile implements, Isaac instead scavenges scraps from the environment to create new tools of death. This limits your armory to a reasonable two guns, but also opens up limitless possibilities for creativity and experimentation. You can pay for materials if you want, but you will never find artificial difficulty spikes meant to force your hand. The game is not pay-to-win.
I want a shotgun that shoots bees.
Meanwhile, the online pass inside the game case is there for a reason. Before you even see the title screen, you’re going to need to input a code to enable online cooperative play and to make way for the rising tide of incoming downloadable content. While the timing of the first DLC pack is a bit tacky, it is safe to say that the addition of co-op is ultimately for the better. The single-player campaign is already robust and ripe for replays, but with the addition of a unique perspective on the game’s events, the whole package amounts to a considerable value for your dollar.
Make no mistake, John Carver is no Sheva Alomar. The EarthGov soldier isn’t an intensely interesting or rounded human being, but he does have his own hallucinations to contend with and it is clear that effort was put into making his route unique. Whether it be through exclusive gameplay scenarios, his role in a single-player run, or the cooperative aspects of environmental puzzles that are absent during solo play, Carver makes for a fulfilling New Game+ buddy. At the end of the day, you are going to need to play through DS3 at least twice, but with all of the advanced difficulty modes it will likely end up being more.
Fur is murder, isaac. Even in space.
Even if the co-op and gunsmith systems add variety and longevity to the experience, what good is that to fans of the first two Dead Space titles? As it turns out, the results are mixed. The curse of the third game in a trilogy is that the bar has been raised once, but doing so again can seem like spectacle for its own sake. Sure, Isaac confronts huge bosses, free-falls through the black void of space, and mashes his way through some quick-time events, but the experience sometimes gives off a sense of only going through the motions. Very little of the core adventure should be considered outright bad, but those looking for a refinement of the previous formula will likely be left disappointed.
Likewise, Visceral fumbles the storytelling ball a few times before crossing the finish line. The first two games had highs and lows in their plotting, but ultimately delivered satisfying psychological thrillers with a side of religious satire. As others have pointed out, this entry pushes suspension of disbelief to its breaking point. In addition, the writers have taken the character of Ellie and seemingly demoted her to a plot device, before the narrative goes off in new and strange directions for its final act. If nothing else, I was surprised.
Plot twist: L. Ron Hubbard was right!
Despite all of the dessicated corpses, Dead Space 3 is a meaty experience. There is no shortage of things to do, build, and murder, as long as you are willing to engage in said actions without being scared. If you approached this release with skepticism due to the cooperative aspect, DLC, or micro-transactions, consider your fears unfounded. If you were holding out for horror, then it appears that I am the bearer of bad news. You are going to have to hold out for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.
A copy of the game was purchased for review purposes and was completed in about 15 hours. The title was played on PS3, but is also available for Xbox 360 and PC.
Also, follow me on Twitter @austinyorski (please).
7/10
Dead Space 3 Review
Co-op in my Dead Space? It's more likely than you think. Sage Reviews: Dead Space 3
The sequel that Dead Space 2 should have been. Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR
Having not played the previous Dead Space titles, did Daniel enjoy Dead Space 3? Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR-
February 08, 2013 at 06:19pm
There is a shotgun that shoots bees in the new Serious Sam Double D!
-
February 08, 2013 at 04:18pm
I don’t get the fur thing. I mean it looks cool I guess but it just doesn’t make sense that you’d wear it when your armor is some sort of vacuum sealed super armor.
-
February 08, 2013 at 02:50pm
A 7 or 8 is pretty fair I think, though for me the previous two games were more in the 9 range. I think this games biggest weakness is that they didn’t take opportunities to build upon the horror aspects of the optional missions. I won’t spoil anything, but at least three of the optional missions had an excellent premise for horror, but they were generally only touched upon. The thing about horror is that it is highly dependent upon details, and such details can make or break it depending on how they’re used. Corpse Party is a good example of using details to incite horror. If they played more with the warped psychology of people in horrible situations, then this game could’ve been a lot scarier.
Still, the game was pretty good otherwise. The crafting system was brilliant (and admittedly made more sense than the vending machines in other Dead Space games)the gameplay was good, and the environments were impressive. As someone who played RE6 and was completely infuriated with that trainwreck this was much better, if not very scary.
-
February 08, 2013 at 02:40pm
“Once you accept Dead Space 3 as a third-person shooter with horror elements, it is easier to wrap your mind around its strengths and weaknesses.”
Still won’t stop the cries of BETRAYAL though if Resident Evil 6 is anything to go by.
The Microtransactions are bad. I’m glad that the game does not make them a requirement to proceed, but they shouldn’t even be there. It’s step 1 on the path to Microtransaction Hell. Who’s to say this isn’t a trial run and they turn up the Microtransactions for Dragon Age 3 or something similar?
Not to mention game balance is ruined. A standard game would only give you guns that are appropriate for that area. You have weak guns for weak enemies, and when stronger enemies start popping up, you start getting stronger guns to deal with them.
The microtransactions take that out, you have a strong gun for the weak enemies and the strong enemies and the progression system is ruined. That stuff should not happen. Pay-to-Cheat is no better than Pay-to-Win. Why even bother playing a game if you can just buy an “I Win” gun?
That’s what is a major bother to me about the Microtransaction system and it really shouldn’t be there. Suppose it’s ok the game is alright, but it sounds like if I want to get a first time experience of this series. The original is the best one to go with. Then wait for a DLC Complete version or something similar. Espicially if the first DLC pack is one month away (Announcing it on Launch Day just stings as well.)
-
February 09, 2013 at 07:36am
Unlike RE6, Visercal actually salvaged DS3 by still keeping the core elements of Dead Space alive, as much as how bad the microtransactions and the cover sections are – they don’t entirely dumb the game down and Co-op isn’t forced upon. Also the microtransactions are absolutely useless, more useless now that their is an infinite item exploit in chapter 8.
-
February 08, 2013 at 02:35pm
I have been a Dead Space fan ever since the first one, but even though I want to defend this one, I must agree that this game is only a 7/10… well, 8/10 because I’m biased.
It does make me a bit sad to see the horror elements diminish like this, but It is sadly inevitable, not only because of COD mentality but also due to the evolution of the in-game story.If this was a different protagonist, it would be different but Isaac has faced these things twice now, so it was inevitable for the 3rd round to be action over horror.
I am not defending it, nor accepting it but I do understand it. its just sad it happened to this franchise like this. Extraction was a good example of how to do action without losing atmosphere, but DS3 for its detriment did not try to do the same. Another example of why abandoning your roots to appeal to mainstreamtards stunts and damages horror games, even Dead Space.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed it as a fan, but as an objective gamer it leaves me with a sad feeling to know that developers have once again ignored its loyal fans over mainstreamtards. On the upside; its not nearly as horrible as Resident Evil 6.
-
February 08, 2013 at 12:40pm
So if you never need it, why are microtransactions there?
Are we monetizing 1 use only cheat codes now?
If you cheat yourself 9999 metals to build all the guns, is that piracy?
What’s the point of having an overpowered gun that ruins the whole experience anyway?
If the game is too hard and you want to see the end, you can always enable easy mode and bitchslap everything to death in 1 hit.
Is this aimed at people who want to brag about how they beat the hardest difficulty by paying 20 bucks to get the cheat gun or what? -
February 08, 2013 at 12:17pm
I still don’t know if I’ll ever play Dead Space 3, still haven’t even touched 2.
-
February 08, 2013 at 11:52am
As much as I enjoyed the game, this review is actually pretty much spot on. It’s pretty much a 7.5 out of ten for me.
-
February 08, 2013 at 11:20am
I won’t deny some faults with the game but I certainly enjoyed Dead Space 3.
Dead Space 3 Review (PC) - ZGR
Having not played the previous Dead Space titles, did Daniel enjoy Dead Space 3? Dead Space 3 Review (PC) – ZGR
Want a Free Copy of Dead Space 3?
In space, no one can hear you win games. Or anything else, for that matter. Sound doesn’t travel in space.
there’s three things i wonder about the third installment.
1. Will they take a Resident Evil 5 route of forcing me to play in co-op mode no matter what? All though from the video alone it doesn’t seems like it, which is a good thing.
2. How much will they focus on the horror aspect, i want a survival horror game not a shooter.
3. How long will it take to complete the single player campaign? I felt like i could complete the 2nd one over a day, and it just wasn’t worth it.
I can at least confirm that you are not forced to play co-op. They took a rather expensive route of essentially having two versions of the game, one where Isaac is mostly alone and bumps into the other guy on occasion (like how you would occasionally run into other people in the other DS games) and another where they are always together, even changing how certain cinematics play out.
As for your other points, it seems to be the same Dead Space as the other two (even DS1 was fairly action heavy, so I’d expect this one to be as well), and the only way to tell how long it’ll actually be is to wait until it’s in a reviewable state.
“Yes Issac has some new moves at his disposal but they appear to serve mainly to make him move more like a real human being than anything else.”
Ya know, whenever I read sentences like that, it puts up a red flag in my mind. It just seems like anytime I’ve seen someone say that about the sequel of a well established horror game, the new one inevitably sucks.