'Dead Space’ Gives Console Games A Run For Their Money

[Editor's Note: This review was written on January 25, 2011, pre-dating the launch of our News section on August 29, 2011. It is being re-published so it can be properly archived in the News section.] Dead Space™ by Electronic Arts combines the theatrical prowess (voice acting, sound effects, etc.) of BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY™ 2, super crisp graphics of Rage HD and you-want-to-close-your-eyes scary moments of movies like Aliens to deliver a superb iOS gaming experience. The Dead Space™ story unfolds as a bridge between the Dead Space and Dead Space 2 console games with a new character code-named Vandal. Vandal is sent on a mission to the Sprawl space station anchored to the Mines of Titan. Unfortunately for Vandal, things go sideways and his original mission quickly changes to one of self-survival against Necromorphs, creatures with limbs coming out where there shouldn’t be any limbs.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ptsk--A1rc&feature=player_detailpage Dead Space trailer Click here to watch on YouTube

A variety of weapons and tools are available to assist Vandal make it out alive. The basic weapons at Vandal’s disposal are his trusty Plasma Saw to sever Necromorphos’ limbs and a plasma gun that projects lasers to help aim at targets. Also available are Kinesis used to grab and throw objects like heavy wooden boxes and Stasis to slow non-organic objects such as quickly opening and shutting steel doors. Other weapons and tools are available and can be upgraded in the shop by finding and using Nodes.

We are certain some people will gripe at the sheer number of gestures necessary to master the controls. It may seem a bit overwhelming at first but you will quickly get used to it and becomes a non-issue after, say, thirty minutes of playing. Electronic Arts does a nice job of walking you through the basic controls and provides a list of hints on how to maximize your weapons and efficiently destroy Necromorphs.

Very early on you will appreciate the investment Electronic Arts made to make this app compete with its console’s predecessor and sequel. Walking the corridors of Sprawl will give you the chills as dead human bodies fall from chutes, distant footsteps are audible and the sound effects are precisely queued at the apex of anticipation. Electronic Arts has considerable resources at its disposal and it is evident nothing was spared to make this app stand up to its console brethren.

If you liked the console version of Dead Space and the newly released Dead Space 2, you will enjoy this app. If you’ve never played either, you are in for quite the experience. Dead Space™ gives console games a run for their money and raises the bar for immersive gaming experiences on the iPhone.

Read our other app reviews by clicking here. AppPicker Rating: 5 / 5 Stars App Store links: Dead Space (iPhone) and Dead Space for iPad (iPad) Other apps by Electronic Arts