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Dead Space

The game is much greater than the sum of its familiar parts. It's also one of the best shooters so far this year.
Dead Space Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization
91% User Score Based on 10,174 reviews
Critic Score 87%Based on 6 reviews

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About Dead Space

Dead Space is a single player survival shooter game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by EA Redwood Shores and was released on October 14, 2008. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Dead Space is a 2008 science fiction survival horror video game developed by EA Redwood Shores (now Visceral Games) for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released on all platforms through October 2008. The game puts the player in control of an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who battles the Necromorphs, reanimated human corpses, aboard an interstellar mining ship, the USG Is…

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Reviews

91%Audience ScoreBased on 10,174 reviews
story959 positive mentions
stability185 negative mentions

  • story

    2,080 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    46% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The story of *Dead Space* is often described as engaging and atmospheric, effectively blending horror and sci-fi elements. Players appreciate the immersive narrative that unfolds through environmental storytelling, audio logs, and character interactions, although some find the plot predictable and reliant on familiar tropes. Overall, while the gameplay mechanics and atmosphere receive high praise, opinions on the depth and originality of the story vary, with some considering it a compelling backdrop to the action.

    • “Dead Space is a great game and very addictive; it's like a drug that traps you in everything: the story, the characters, the loneliness, the insecurity, the scares, the fate of each person, the atmosphere, the sound, the soundtrack, the designs, the enemies, the gameplay, the scarce ammunition, and the tension or fear of continuing to advance.”
    • “From the tense and creepy moments on the USG Ishimura to the edge-of-your-seat action sequences and quick-time events in the vacuum of space, to the can't-put-it-down story sequences... this game is one of the greatest I've ever played.”
    • “The story is well-written and engaging, with likable characters and a compelling mystery.”
    • “The story is predictable and filled with clichés, making it feel like a chore to progress through the game.”
    • “The story is pretty terrible too, with a plot that feels like a series of fetch quests rather than a cohesive narrative.”
    • “The story is simple and lacks depth, often feeling like a series of mundane tasks rather than an engaging experience.”

  • gameplay

    1,253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    43% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The gameplay of *Dead Space* is characterized by its unique "strategic dismemberment" mechanic, where players must target specific limbs of enemies, enhancing both combat and horror elements. While the game features solid mechanics, including resource management and innovative use of zero-gravity environments, some players note that the controls can feel clunky and the gameplay may become repetitive over time. Overall, it remains a highly engaging experience, praised for its atmosphere, sound design, and integration of narrative with gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is solid with good combat sequences and interesting, unique puzzles involving anti-gravity sections as well as puzzles requiring you to use the tools you have at your disposal.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing and the story is intriguing.”
    • “The gameplay, atmosphere, and level design are great, narrative and encounter design are a bit lacking and get stale in the late game.”
    • “The gameplay can feel a little clunky at times but doesn't take away from the game; needed to mess around with vsync in NVIDIA settings to get the mouse working properly.”
    • “The few boss encounters Dead Space presents are a mixed bag; while they are amazing in aesthetics, one feels repetitive, one falls into one of the game’s obnoxious turret segments, and the final boss, while appropriately massive and foreboding, is mechanically underwhelming, falling back on quick time events and input prompts.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, but the game can become a bit repetitive.”

  • atmosphere

    1,210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    57% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The atmosphere in "Dead Space" is widely praised for its intense, immersive quality, effectively combining sound design, lighting, and environmental details to create a sense of dread and isolation. Players frequently highlight the game's ability to maintain tension through its claustrophobic settings and eerie soundscapes, making every corner feel dangerous and unpredictable. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its status as a classic in the horror genre.

    • “The atmosphere is so thick you could scoop it up, perfectly blending gothic sci-fi with grotesque body horror.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the story is also messed up and very eerie, and the sound design is everything in this game.”
    • “The atmosphere of the ship is honestly terrifying, which makes navigating through it suspenseful as you never know what will turn the corner.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and unrelenting.”
    • “The atmosphere and the feel of being watched or something will come out of the vents makes you feel really uneasy.”

  • graphics

    934 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 56% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The graphics of "Dead Space," released in 2008, have received a largely positive reception, with many players noting that they still hold up well today despite some dated elements. The game's atmospheric design, effective use of lighting, and detailed environments contribute to its immersive horror experience, although some users mention the need for tweaks in graphics settings, such as disabling in-game vsync and adjusting settings through the graphics card control panel, to optimize performance. Overall, while the graphics may show their age in certain areas, they are often praised for their quality relative to the game's release period, making it a visually impressive title even by modern standards.

    • “For a game released in 2008, the graphics are absolutely incredible.”
    • “The graphics still look great, and the environments look gorgeously grotesque.”
    • “The graphics hold up incredibly well, the enemies are something totally unique, and the objective system is clear and concise.”
    • “The fact you have to drop your graphics settings for a specific part of the game, and at the end as well, unless you want the game to just hardlock you or just outright crash is stupid and just ruins the experience that was barely there anyways.”
    • “The graphics are a bit outdated, we are talking about 2008 here, but it is still playable and it doesn't hurt your eyes.”
    • “The graphics may be dated, but once you get over that the scares in this game are really effective.”

  • music

    296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 62% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The music in "Dead Space" is often described as atmospheric and integral to the game's horror experience, enhancing tension and unease through subtle cues and ambient sounds rather than a traditional soundtrack. While some players find the music effective in creating a chilling atmosphere, others feel it can be overwhelming or detracts from the game's suspense by signaling enemy encounters too predictably. Overall, the sound design, including the haunting score and sound effects, is praised for immersing players in the terrifying environment of the game.

    • “The music contributes fully to the unease, as do ambient noises reminding you that the environment is anti-human.”
    • “The soundtrack creates an awesome atmosphere.”
    • “The music is done so well it scares you when mundane things happen.”
    • “The music is garbage as well, no slowly revving up for a greater effect of fear, just full blast ear rape.”
    • “The only real problem with the game is that the soundtrack tries too hard to play catch-up with the game, sounding like the orchestra is being tased whenever an enemy jumps out.”
    • “So far I have found it 0% scary thanks to the music that lets you know when monsters pop out and kill you.”

  • stability

    199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    7% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 93% negative mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players managed to enjoy the game after troubleshooting and applying fixes, the overall consensus is that the PC port is poorly optimized and often unplayable, especially on modern systems. Many recommend avoiding the PC version in favor of console alternatives due to these persistent issues.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Enjoy a classic game bug-free.”
    • “The game runs great at 60 fps at high settings even with a laptop GPU (mine is a 940mx GDDR5 VRAM).”
    • “This game is a buggy mess and a genuine waste of your time; the console version of Dead Space is considered a masterpiece, but the PC port of the game is nothing more than a dumpster fire.”
    • “The 1.5 hours I have were all troubleshooting the completely broken opening.”
    • “It's a buggy mess that might work on your machine or not.”

  • replayability

    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 62% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, bolstered by features like New Game+ and various difficulty levels that encourage experimentation with different weapons and strategies. While some players noted limitations in replay value after multiple playthroughs, many appreciated the challenge and variety offered, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre. However, technical issues and a lack of achievements were mentioned as factors that could detract from the overall replay experience.

    • “Semi reminiscent of Resident Evil 4 in gunplay elements and having a unique arsenal of dynamic weapons to choose from, this game not only provides a great atmosphere of being mostly alone facing monstrosities but the replay value in experimenting with loadouts, finding secrets, and trying new difficulties holds up very well over time.”
    • “The replayability factor is definitely present, as after finishing the game, you unlock some goodies for a second playthrough as well as an impossible difficulty.”
    • “This game offers hours of fun from straight replayability to experimenting with gear and tactics used to help you survive.”
    • “The first mock-up of that game was submitted unsolicited to EA top brass, and they didn't know what to make of it, as it was a horror-themed single-player game with no additional monetization, little replay value, and was nothing like EA had ever really done in years.”
    • “Very low replayability.”
    • “Not much replay value; however, since once you learn what you will be facing and when and where best to camp difficult spawns, the game will completely lose its horror element and deteriorate into an average sci-fi shooter.”

  • optimization

    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    22% positive mentions, 45% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on the PC version, including stuttering, long load times, and bugs that can hinder gameplay. While some users managed to improve performance through manual tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, especially compared to its console counterpart. Despite these issues, many still praise the game's atmosphere and gameplay, suggesting that with the right settings, it can run smoothly on various systems.

    • “Never had any technical or performance issues with this PC port as well.”
    • “Considering how old the game is, it's fairly optimized and runs even on lower powered hardware like dedicated graphics with no problems at all.”
    • “As well as having tremendous graphics for its time, it is also amazingly optimized, being able to run smoothly on max settings on most rigs, and the sound quality is stunning.”
    • “The major issue of this game is the performance, as you need to do a variety of fixes and it's not just as easy as downloading a simple patch like with some other older games.”
    • “Absolutely unplayable in its current state, stuttering and load times pushing 3 minutes on an SSD with vsync enabled, dead bodies glitching and flying around the screen before you even enter a room with vsync disabled... great game, terrible port.”
    • “Unfortunately, though, the PC version of Dead Space is awful; it's plagued by mouse issues, resolution problems, poor performance, awful anti-aliasing, and bad v-sync implementation.”

  • humor

    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    98% positive mentions, -3% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its unexpected glitches and ragdoll physics, which lead to comical moments amidst the horror. Players find themselves laughing at the absurdity of dismembered enemies and bizarre physics interactions, sometimes overshadowing the intended scares. While the game has a serious tone, the combination of funny character interactions and humorous bugs creates a unique experience that balances horror with levity.

    • “The ragdoll physics in the game are really funny.”
    • “The combat and hilarious dismemberment is so satisfying.”
    • “It's funny because this game fails at everything it's explicitly trying to accomplish, but it absolutely nails gameplay and setting!”
    • “It's like Space Quest, except you're an engineer instead of a janitor, and it's not funny at all.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking the charm that makes humor enjoyable.”
    • “I expected clever wit, but instead, I got tired clichés that made me cringe.”

  • grinding

    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    4% positive mentions, 19% neutral mentions, 77% negative mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, often requiring significant time investment with repetitive tasks and encounters. Many reviews highlight that while the game has enjoyable elements, the slow controls and monotonous gameplay can detract from the experience, making it feel like a slog at times. Despite these frustrations, some players appreciate the tension and atmosphere that the grinding contributes to the horror experience.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Games with flat or lackluster endings really disappoint you and leave you with a bad taste in your mouth, nothing worse than grinding a game for 40 hours and getting no reward for your time.”
    • “What should be a tense and twitchy fight for survival ends up being a dreary, tedious slog of memorizing where enemies jump out at you so you don't have to restart for the umpteenth time.”

  • emotional

    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    92% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from deep sadness and anxiety to moments of heartfelt connection and immersion. Many players report feeling intense emotions, such as fear, grief, and unease, particularly during pivotal story moments, while others appreciate the game's ability to create a tense atmosphere that keeps them engaged. However, some critiques highlight that certain emotional plot points may not resonate as strongly, leading to mixed feelings about the overall emotional impact of the narrative.

    • “I cried like a little bitch playing this game.”
    • “By the game's end, I felt wrung out; my emotions were torn to shreds and I found myself lamenting the fact that I'd never get that emotionally immersed in a game again.”
    • “You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you will fall in love with this touching tale.”
    • “Boring story, bland characters, and everything was obvious. Being an errand boy was also quite boring; I barely got scared.”
    • “I recall a sickeningly narrow field of view, frustratingly restrictive range of motion, a boring story, and tedious gameplay.”
    • “A boring story and a hodgepodge of game mechanics, together with the screwed-up controls, just result in zero immersion for me.”

  • monetization

    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    16% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 37% negative mentions

    The monetization model for the Dead Space series varies significantly, with the original game and its sequel lacking any microtransactions or downloadable content, which many players appreciate as a return to a more dedicated gaming experience. In contrast, Dead Space 3 is criticized for its reliance on microtransactions and multiplayer elements, leading to concerns about the series' direction under EA's influence. Overall, players express a preference for games that prioritize gameplay over monetization strategies.

    • “Dead Space includes no purchasable DLC or microtransactions.”
    • “This game is an example of how, when done right, titles don't necessarily need to rely on in-game purchases and MMO communities to be a hit.”
    • “At least there are no microtransactions and you don't have to play on an EA server.”
    • “A reminder of a time when video games were actually made with love and dedication and not everything was fused with microtransactions and freaking NFTs.”
    • “The second game is as good as the first one if not even better, however the third one has some issues such as the microtransactions, the absolute no need to aim for the limbs.”
    • “Dead Space 3, underneath all of the mismanagement, microtransactions, and multiplayer has echoes of your masterful maintenance of dread.”

  • character development

    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    31% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 19% negative mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is criticized for being minimal, particularly for the main character, Isaac, who lacks voice acting and depth. While the character design is praised for its creativity and memorability, the narrative fails to provide substantial growth or motivation for the characters, leaving them feeling somewhat bland despite the engaging atmosphere and gameplay.

    • “The realistic design of the creatures, retaining elements of the human form that was transformed by the extraterrestrial infection, makes the necromorphs one of the most disturbing character designs you will ever come across in a video game.”
    • “The concept of being stranded on a space station far out in space while being hunted down by aliens made of human body parts is what made this title in the series far more superior than its successors.”
    • “It mixed many different aspects of good storytelling, music, environment, horror, action, violence, and character development and put it into a unique universe.”
    • “Any character development is split between the two bookends on either side of the actual game.”
    • “Overall, I would give this game a solid 10/10, and the only thing I could complain about is that there is no character development for Isaac (main character) whatsoever, as he doesn't have a voice!”
    • “The character development is bland as well.”
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Critic Reviews

87%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Play Times

10h Median play time
23h Average play time
7-14h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 31 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dead Space is a survival shooter game with horror and science fiction themes. Common tags for Dead Space include science.

Dead Space is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and others.

On average players spend around 23 hours playing Dead Space.

Dead Space was released on October 14, 2008.

Dead Space was developed by EA Redwood Shores.

Dead Space has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Dead Space for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Dead Space is a single player game.

Similar games include Dead Space, Dead Space 2, The Evil Within, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Alien: Isolation and others.