Dead Space 2

The fact that Dead Space is even getting a sequel so soon after the original is a credit to their heavy branding efforts and constant hinting throughout the game at a much larger world, while still managing to keep it focused tightly on one story. The whole game, whose primary mechanic was designed around dismemberment, had the same working-class hero, claustrophobic tone and gross out factor as Alien, in the best possible way.

Dead Space 2 expands on the world and builds in some impressive multiplayer, allowing players to either take on the super creepy necromorphs, or play as them and slaughter the humans. While the gameplay still has some annoying quicktime sequences, a mixed weapon choice and the all-too-common problem of trivializing big boss fights by reducing them to “shoot the big glowing thing a lot,” the visual design is hugely impressive, there’s a great spooky feel to the atmosphere, and the expanded world makes exploration all the more fun.

These days first person shooters all have pretty standard interfaces of looking around, shooting, picking up weapons and trying not to die, and this doesn’t stray too far from the pack. Where it strives to be different (by having to dismember enemies bit by bit instead of going for a headshot, for instance), it does a solid job, and as ugly as the enemies are, the game is very pretty to look at.

It remains to be seen if the multiplayer is at the same level of popularity as Halo and Call of Duty, but this remains a hugely fun game not to be played after 2 am. Alone, anyway.