[Review] Dead Space 3

It's finally here! And here's an exclusive review on Fraggit!
 

More limbs = more pain. For you.

Like the previous two titles, Dead Space 3 sees engineer badass Isaac Clarke exploring decrepit space stations and ships, while
caught in a mess of markers and necromorphs. Once again, the player is thrust into the unknown, and is expected to fight through overwhelming circumstances to progress in the game. You dismember a variety of enemies using your plasma cutter in familiar environments, and anyone who has played either of the previous titles will be able to ease into the gameplay without much trouble. However, don't let that sense of familiarity fool you. The Dead Space series is notorious for building just the right amount of suspense and delivering scares flawlessly. Even as you start to feel relaxed with the game and grow accustomed to the mechanics, the game electroshocks you back into attention by relying on every gamer's habit- to grow lazy. Just when you think you're in a safe location, you are thrust back into the action with a bang.

You've opened the last six doors without anything jumping out at you, so there can't possibly be anything behind this seventh door, right? Right?

Beautiful in-game environments will take your breath
away (when you're not screaming for your life, that is)

The game is paced expertly, never allowing a player to assume complete safety. The soundtrack masterfully contributes to the unnerving experience by hitting the right notes at the right moments, delivering scare after scare and keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The combat system, while retaining core elements of the previous titles has seen a few changes, namely the way necromorphs approach and attack. Earlier, you'd be pretty safe to run into a corner and make a stand against three or four necromorphs because you were sure that you wouldn't get attacked from behind. Almost counter-intuitively, now necromorphs no longer attack head-on, but are capable of flanking and even busting through ventilation systems from behind.

We've always had a standard formula for dealing with enemies in Dead Space games: Aim for the limbs.

Well, in Dead Space 3, they've mixed things up a bit. An example of how dynamic the game is, is how shooting different limbs off necromorphs trigger different newer appendages from bursting out. Many times, you have to think before you shoot, something which is particularly difficult when your adrenalin levels are already off the charts. The new crafting mechanic lets you build and tweak new weapons according to schematics and spare parts that you find or purchase. Each weapon can be customized to perform differently against different types of enemies, depending on the situation. The optional side-quests give players a welcome break from the games linear nature, and unlike other games, actually contribute to the storyline and immersive narration.

Finally, for the first time, Dead Space 3 allows online co-op, letting you team up with a buddy to take on necromorphs in story mode. While the presence of a companion does help ease the tension, the game adapts to accommodate the second human player, and each character will test their psychosis by facing their own set of scares.

For those who are new to the Dead Space franchise, I would suggest to play an earlier title, just to get the essence of survival horror and to decide whether the series is really for you.
For fans of the series, this third installment will make us whole again.

FINAL VERDICT :
Gameplay: ★★★★★★★★★☆

Graphics:   ★★★★★★★★★☆
Storyline:   ★★★★★★★★☆☆