Dead Space Ranked
Year: 2008-2013
Developer: Visceral Games (EA Redwood Shores)
Publisher: EA
Main Entries: 3
Spin Off's: 2
Developer: Visceral Games (EA Redwood Shores)
Publisher: EA
Main Entries: 3
Spin Off's: 2
Dead Space is a franchise that was probably the closest thing gaming has ever offered to the Alien franchise without being an Alien game. Not only with the first game heavily inspired by the 1979 horror flick, but the Dead Space sequels also followed a similar trajectory to the Alien sequels. The original Dead Space, released in 2008, was an experiment in reviving the survival horror genre by EA and one that for the most part paid off. Being one of the best horror games to have been released in years and proving that the genre was far from gone. The sequel offered up a faster pace and tons more action, much like James Cameron's outing with Ripley & the Xenomorph's, and thus creating one of gamings most beloved sequels for very different reasons to the original game. Then came the third act where despite being alright, it made too many unforgivable mistakes and ultimately paid the price compared to its two superb predecessors, much like David Fincher's Alien 3. If that's not the Alien trilogy in a nutshell I don't know what is, wonder if Visceral Games were going for that route all along?
For the purpose of this list, all non DLC game entries to the series are eligible (meaning only Dead Space 2: Severed & Dead Space 3: Awakened have been omitted).
#5 Dead Space: Ignition (2010)
For the purpose of this list, all non DLC game entries to the series are eligible (meaning only Dead Space 2: Severed & Dead Space 3: Awakened have been omitted).
#5 Dead Space: Ignition (2010)
Released as a bridge between Dead Space and Dead Space 2, Ignition was part puzzle game and part graphic novel that was universally panned due to its repetitive and underdeveloped gameplay.
You play as Franco, an engineer on The Sprawl who along with his partner Sarah must escape a Necromorph outbreak. When things inevitably go south, Franco's mission changes from survival to ensuring the outbreak is contained the only way it can be, by thawing Isaac Clarke out of cryo-sleep and thereby leading into the opening scene of Dead Space 2.
Ignition is a game even Dead Space fans like to forget exists, it's simply an awful attempt at making money off a property that was thriving without doing anything worth putting money down for, avoid at all costs!
#4 Dead Space: Extraction (2009)
You play as Franco, an engineer on The Sprawl who along with his partner Sarah must escape a Necromorph outbreak. When things inevitably go south, Franco's mission changes from survival to ensuring the outbreak is contained the only way it can be, by thawing Isaac Clarke out of cryo-sleep and thereby leading into the opening scene of Dead Space 2.
Ignition is a game even Dead Space fans like to forget exists, it's simply an awful attempt at making money off a property that was thriving without doing anything worth putting money down for, avoid at all costs!
#4 Dead Space: Extraction (2009)
The second Dead Space game to be released and a prequel to the original game, Extraction was something of a sleeper hit. One of the Wii's few mature titles, Extraction was an on rails shooter that explored the Aegis VII mining colony that acts as a significant location in the original game.
Following colonists Nathan McNeill, Gabe Weller, and Lexine Murdoch, this tale takes us through the discovery of the red marker and the initial outbreak of the Necromorphs on Aegis VII, the USG Ishimura, and the USG Kellion.
The game garnered critical praise for not only being one of the few Wii games not afraid to market itself to adult gamers, but also for being one of the Wii's best shooters. Extraction provided an entertaining and interesting addition to the Dead Space universe. It was later released on the Playstation 3 alongside Dead Space 2 with Playstation Move support too.
#3 Dead Space 3 (2013)
Following colonists Nathan McNeill, Gabe Weller, and Lexine Murdoch, this tale takes us through the discovery of the red marker and the initial outbreak of the Necromorphs on Aegis VII, the USG Ishimura, and the USG Kellion.
The game garnered critical praise for not only being one of the few Wii games not afraid to market itself to adult gamers, but also for being one of the Wii's best shooters. Extraction provided an entertaining and interesting addition to the Dead Space universe. It was later released on the Playstation 3 alongside Dead Space 2 with Playstation Move support too.
#3 Dead Space 3 (2013)
The final instalment to the main Dead Space trilogy, this closing act sees Isaac Clarke on the run from the Unitologists who are hell-bent on killing him so that he cannot destroy another of their precious markers; markers that also bring about a Necromorph outbreak whenever they are activated. After escaping The Sprawl in Dead Space 2 with Ellie Langford, the two became a couple and later split due to Isaac's psychological trauma from the events of the first two games; he is soon contacted by Sgt. John Carver and Captain Robert Norton who are on the search for Ellie and need his help finding her.
Ellie has been busy researching Tau Volantis and discovered that it is the planet the markers originate from and so the source to stopping any more outbreaks must be there.
Dead Space 3 was the largest and most ambitious Dead Space game in the series with some great environments and some jaw dropping visuals, however it was let down by its poor gameplay choices and underwhelming story. Swapping out the power nodes in weapon customisation benches in favour of a 'build your own gun' system that didn't work properly was what truly killed the game, but the below par plot just added insult to injury. It stopped being a horror and became a clumsy shooter with crappy weapons, thats where Dead Space 3 missed out on the mark.
#2 Dead Space (2008)
Ellie has been busy researching Tau Volantis and discovered that it is the planet the markers originate from and so the source to stopping any more outbreaks must be there.
Dead Space 3 was the largest and most ambitious Dead Space game in the series with some great environments and some jaw dropping visuals, however it was let down by its poor gameplay choices and underwhelming story. Swapping out the power nodes in weapon customisation benches in favour of a 'build your own gun' system that didn't work properly was what truly killed the game, but the below par plot just added insult to injury. It stopped being a horror and became a clumsy shooter with crappy weapons, thats where Dead Space 3 missed out on the mark.
#2 Dead Space (2008)
In space no-one can year you scream. Nor can they hear you dismember the limbs of the reanimated crew members of the USG Ishimura; a planet cracking mining vessel that uncovered a mysterious red rock known as 'The Marker'. When communications are lost, engineer Isaac Clarke and a small team are sent in to repair the supposedly broken ship, but what they find is not simply an electrical fault but a massacre of all the crew on board by creatures known as the Necromorph.
Isaac must regroup with his team and get off of the Ishimura whilst also searching for his wife Nicole, a medical officer on the ship, and hope to get them all out alive.
Dead Space marked the return of the survival horror genre, a game that was all about claustrophobic corridors, excellent sound and lighting design, a scary and twisted plot, and plenty of gore and scares to keep you jumping out of your seat for its entire run time.
#1 Dead Space 2 (2011)
Isaac must regroup with his team and get off of the Ishimura whilst also searching for his wife Nicole, a medical officer on the ship, and hope to get them all out alive.
Dead Space marked the return of the survival horror genre, a game that was all about claustrophobic corridors, excellent sound and lighting design, a scary and twisted plot, and plenty of gore and scares to keep you jumping out of your seat for its entire run time.
#1 Dead Space 2 (2011)
This was a tough decision to make between the original game and the sequel seeing as they are both amazing games for very different reasons.
Dead Space 2 follows Isaac 3 years after the events of the first game. He has awoken in the midst of a new Necromorph breakout in a space station above Saturn's largest moon, The Sprawl. Isaac must battle dementia as well as the Necromorph as he attempts to find out why he is the only person who can destroy the markers and why the Unitologists worship them so much.
DS2 is much faster paced than DS1, with a bigger emphasis on set pieces and action, yet it still manages to retain the claustrophobic and creepy atmosphere that the original created so well thanks to the excellent sound and lighting design.
The games biggest flaw is its short length and its lack of a real beginning or end, suffering from middle child syndrome; however it does not let them things hold it back from being truly amazing.
Dead Space 2 follows Isaac 3 years after the events of the first game. He has awoken in the midst of a new Necromorph breakout in a space station above Saturn's largest moon, The Sprawl. Isaac must battle dementia as well as the Necromorph as he attempts to find out why he is the only person who can destroy the markers and why the Unitologists worship them so much.
DS2 is much faster paced than DS1, with a bigger emphasis on set pieces and action, yet it still manages to retain the claustrophobic and creepy atmosphere that the original created so well thanks to the excellent sound and lighting design.
The games biggest flaw is its short length and its lack of a real beginning or end, suffering from middle child syndrome; however it does not let them things hold it back from being truly amazing.