Gaming Generations :: Dead Space: Extraction Review

DeuceGG · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject: Dead Space: Extraction Review

I took a break from the knifing and noob-tubing of Modern Warfare 2, to set myself up with a Wii. That means that I not only have all 3 current generation consoles now, but that I can also go over some of the games on this generations' highest selling console. I already have a library of 20 games waiting for review, with around 5 more on the way, so needless to say, I have my work cut out for me.

That being said, its time to get into the actual review, and I figured what better way to jump into a new console than with a franchise I enjoyed on the other consoles. Dead Space was originally released on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and for all intents and purposes is a great game. Dead Space: Extraction is a Wii exclusive rail shooter that leads you through the events leading up to the arrival of Isaac Clarke and the events of the first game. How does it hold up? Actually, incredibly well.

The Good
Conrols
I feel like I am betraying the very foundation of how I game, as for the most part I hate motion controls. They are often a sticky mess with little or no semblance of what they are actually supposed to be representing. How are flailing my arms helping me put out a fire? DS:E as previously mentioned is a rail shooter, meaning you have ALMOST no control on moving your character, and instead need only point and shoot. This generally works very well, and rotating the Wiimote on end will give you an alternate fire ability, comparable to the first game. This could end up unintentionally hilarious with a zapper or other gun peripheral, as you "bust a cap" in the enemies on screen gangster style.

Storyline
Graphical limitations of the Wii will be the reason you may never see the Triple A titles of this generation on the platform, but it gives developers the opportunity to flesh out characters and scenarios, without having to drop millions on the latest pixel shaders and space-marine flat top renderers. DS:E's story is far better than the first games, as an emphasis is placed on the psychological effects of the marker on the people trying to extract it. Developers Visceral Games also took liberties in dialogue that were forgone in the first game in favor of text, video and audio logs. Those logs return to flesh out some motivations, but the characters in the game actually characterize themselves, instead of being the one you relate with because his arms don't look like giant scalpels. It also has the benefit of being a prequel. You already know that everyone you are playing as is going to get axed, since you already played the first one (in theory). Its just a matter of when, where and how loud are you going to scream when it happens. That lets the plot take some liberties in how it motivates you to feel about the characters that will ultimately try to rip your face off in the next game.

Scares
Everyone raves about how scary the first game was, and while I did almost jump out of my skin on a few occasions early in the game (helped greatly by my surround sound system), I figured out the key to getting over suspenseful parts: RUN. If you just run around corners, enemies jumping out doesn't do much to scare you. Same was true with Resident Evil 4 and 5. However, in a rail shooter, you can't run. There is no avoiding what is coming. There were times I was looking at a door that said OPEN? and I was like HELL NO! The camera is also pretty good at not swinging around to reveal an enemy until the last possible moment, and although you see it coming, you don't necessarily know where to point the controller and will often times end up taking a hit.

The Bad
Controls
I may have said I liked the controls, but they were also the worst part of the game. There are times when they will be the best on the console, and times where you will be happy your remote is anchored to your hand. When enemies get close enough to jump on you, you will have to shake the Wiimote and then press a button to throw them off. Sure it adds variety, but I ended up hitting the "home" button many times, pausing the screen mid battle. More of an annoyance than a problem, but definitely something worth noting.
This also brings up my glaring annoyance with the Wii as a gaming platform. Just because you have motion controls, doesn't mean you have to use them!! Tacking the famous "waggle" onto games make the actions feel arbitrary and alienating. Why is it when I pop a "glow-worm", a flare like device you find that is basically your flashlight in many dark parts of the game, that I have to shake it to recharge it? Did they not think of a better way to create artificial light in the future than shaking up a can of chemicals? Or was it just another reason to give a control programmer something to do? CUT IT OUT!

A Dead End
The hardest part about a prequel is that you already know what is going to ultimately transpire. Its too bad that this game had to be directly before the the original, as its ending was already foretold and predictable. That said, if you are starting the franchise with this game, it is the perfect tie in. I only file this under bad because it made it feel like a cliche movie at times. As mentioned before, it is a positive for the franchise on the whole and can stand on its own, its just a shame that it is predictable. I suppose it is all a matter of perspective...

The Ugly
Polish
Lets be clear, this game is fantastic and very well presented. Im going to have to go with the Wii bashing habit of "bad graphics" to justify this one, but there are some stupid things you will see. Those health bar things that display on characters' backs are back from the first game, but they are outside their clothing... I can understand why you would have a tube on the outside of armor, but outside a turtleneck? It looks tacked on, and despite the games great immersion, really looks like a health bar now instead of part of a suit like in the original. Had it appeared glowing through a shirt or something, that would have been fine, but the point was to see your characters health in the first game. Now that it is first person, it doesn't serve much purpose...

Overall, I started my reviews with this because I knew it was going to be fun. Dead Space is a bit played out in concept, but was a great game and a franchise that has a lot of potential. Buy it, play it, love it. It has Co-op and challenges for added fun, and is overall one of the real gems Ive played on the Wii
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